Joe DAscoli

9.5

Procured via auction. Have had bad bottles before but cork looked solid (used Durand to take no chances).

This bottle was excellent and the wine developed nicely in the glass over about 1.5 hours. Kept in my ETO.

Nice black and dark fruits with a little muscle. Oak integrated and not overpowering.

Lovely pairing with steak. — a month ago

Neil Valenzuela

9.0

Medium gold color. Aromas of lemon, peach and vanilla/oak. Not too oaky on this one- very good balance, citrus and stone fruit on the palate. — 7 months ago

"Odedi"

9.1

It's time for some Merlot on this MerlotThursday. Let's bring Merlot back!

Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with nice complexity.

Showing black fruits with light wood, spices, coffee, dark chocolates, earth, tobacco leaf, light black pepper, herbs, light vanilla and licorice.

Tangy finish with soft tannins.

This 5-year-old Merlot from Napa Valley is peaking now, and drinking very nicely. Fruit forward with an elegant mouthfeel.

Wine Spectator 91 points.

Good by itself as a sipping wine, and good for parties. Good with food too.

A blend of 77% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc, 4% Petit Verdot and 2% Syrah. Aged in French oak barrels for 18 months.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$35. — 8 months ago

Tom Garland

9.1

Pop and pour. A majestic medium gold color. On the nose: apple, lemon, crushed granite, vanilla oak, herbs, ripe peach. Taste: silky composed wine with apple, lemon, minerals, saline, lime peel, white pepper, and some tangerine. YUM! plenty of acidity and entering a waxy phase as it ages. — 3 months ago

with Brenda

Paul J

8.9

Classic orange/gold color. Citrus/orange on the nose with some subtle oak. Wine is thinner than usual and lacking depth and flavor. Very short finish. — 8 months ago

with Brooke

Kelley Raymond

9.1

Always well balanced and good, but not big on flavor or oak — 2 years ago

Brad Jensen

9.4

A bold nose of apricot pastry, maybe sweet apple tart, with notes of cinnamon, pineapple and subtle sweet lemon. Medium to heavy body, beautiful deep golden color inside, with lighter gold on the edges. The palate explodes with delicate oak, orange peel, roasted pineapple, lemon peel, bright acidity, slightly burnt brioche crust, apricot and a long lingering finish of tingly acid, with a slight dryness, but it goes running forever and it’s beautiful. Maybe even a slight wet-slate minerality at the verryyyy end. — 2 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.4

A Fav! Medium lemon color with aromas of stone fruits, spice, floral, cedar, biscuits and citrus. On the palate flavors of apple, pear & ripe apricot with citrus zest, honeysuckle and nutty toasty oak notes, rich with creamy tones. Smooth, long finish, well balanced with acidity, ending with fruit and integrated creamy oak. Nice! — 3 months ago

Andrea Watt

9.5

Still delicious and has changed less with age than I expected. Not sure if I should have sat on it longer. It has gotten nuttier with hazelnut becoming more prominent. Still a lot of oak and lemon, with a touch of flint and brioche. It’s — 5 months ago

Paul J

9.4

Dark gold color. Thick with buttery flavor as well as lemon curd and oak. Age served this well. Drink sooner rather than later. — 2 years ago

with Thomas and Brooke