Jay Kline

9.2

First pour of this and I was like, “uh-oh”. It was clearly full of flaws (Brettanomyces, VA and maaaaybe some slight TCA) but would they be too much to appreciate the wine? Only time would tell so into the decanter it went. After a lot of air, it became clear this was Brett and VA. The wine pours a deep ruby/purple with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing (still) with notes of blackberries, umeboshi, animale, purple flowers, black pepper, red Flintstone vitamin, horse blanket, wood varnish, and sous bois. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. An elegant, complicated bottle. This is my second time with the 1997 vintage and due to the flaws, a different adventure than previous. That being said, this decidedly grumpy, Burgundian expression of Clape’s Cornas paired really well with the dry-aged steaks. Drink now, with a lot of patience, through 2037? — 21 days ago

"Odedi"

9.2

#kosherwineSunday

This is a delicious kosher wine from Walla Walla Valley.

Pretty color. Deep Inky with a reddish rim.

Beautiful and powerful nose with notes of wild flowers.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Showing black plums, licorice, light oak, vanilla, light vegetables, tobacco, bonefire smoke, chocolates, coffee, peppercorn, cola, herbs, black tea and graphites.

Long tangy finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This young Cabernet Sauvignon from Walla Walla Valley is drinking very nicely now. Rich yet Elegant and fruit forward.

Soft, spicy and interesting, with nice complexity and mouthfeel.

I had it a year ago and it is already drinking better. Will continue to age nicely in the 7 to 10 years.

Good by itself or with food. Will pair nicely with BBQ Meats. I paired it with cheeses and crackers.

Kosher and not Mevushal.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$90. — 3 years ago

"Odedi"

9.2

Deep purple in color with a tiny purple rim.

Fruity nose of blackberries, sweet plums, cooked cherries, oak, light vanilla, tobacco leaf, earth, dark chocolates, black pepper and Mediterranean spices.

Full bodied with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry and fruity on the palate with currants, plums, cherries, sweet raspberries, spices, cedar, chocolates, tobacco leaf, licorice, herbs and peppercorn.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a delicious Petit Verdot from Lake County in California. Big, bold and spicy. Feels like a Napa Petite Sirah.

Nicely balanced with a nice mouthfeel and a teeth staining color.

The mix of black and red fruits is very interesting. Tangy and rich.

Good right out of the bottle and better with airtime. Drinking very nicely now, and will continue to age in the next 5 to 7 years.

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

Organic Petit verdot grapes are grown at 2,200 feet of elevation on red volcanic soil. A tiny production of only 1,300 bottles.

15.1% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$65. — 4 years ago

Michael Chelus

9.2

Black cherry, raspberry, cassis, blackberry, eucalyptus and oak. Full-bodied and soft tannins. — 2 months ago

"Odedi"

9.0

Deep purple in color with a short purplish rim.

Nice fruity nose with black plums, blackberries, light herbs, light oak, light barnyard and vegetables.

Full-bodied and elegant with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with black currants, plums, cooked cherries, spices, coffee, earth, dark chocolates, tobacco leaf, herbs and peppercorn.

Spicy finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This Single Vineyard is nicely balanced and rich. Tasty and enjoyable by itself.

A blend of 98% Syrah with 2% Grenache. Aged in (31% new) French oak barrels for 20 months.

14.2% alcohol by volume.

90 points.

$32. — 3 years ago

"Odedi"

9.2

Trothe Winery Horse Heaven Hills Cabernet Sauvignon 2019, Washington State

It is time for my #FridayCabernetfix. Here is a delicious Cabernet Sauvignon from Horse Heaven Hills.

Dark purple in color with a purplish rim.

Very pretty nose of blueberries, black plums, black cherries, currants, oak, spices, tobacco leaf, pencil lead, wildflowers, vegetables, earth, dark coffee, dark chocolates and black pepper.
Showing great complexity already.

Medium plus in body with medium plus acidity.

Very dry on the palate with currants, cherries, oak, light vanilla, spices, tobacco leaf, dark coffee, black pepper, vegetables, herbs, chocolates, earth, black tea, wet leaves and pencil lead.

Nice length on the finish with dusty tannins and raspberries.

This is a very interesting Cabernet Sauvignon from Washington State. Much earthier than I expected.

This 3-year-old is showing very nice complexity already. Still very young, and needs 5 years in the bottle to mature properly. A good quality wine that will continue to age nicely in the next 10 years.

Feels like a good quality Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon. Really enjoyed the nose here.

Needs 4 hours in a decanter to open up properly, and balance itself out.

Will pair nicely with a nice piece of steak. I paired it with cheeses and crackers. Paired nicely with the Double Brie cheese.

Aged for 23 months in (77% new) French Oak barrels. A tiny production of only 9 barrels.

14.7% alcohol by volume.

$190. — 4 years ago

"Odedi"

9.1

Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish /brick rim.

Medium plus in body with medium plus acidity.

Very dry on the palate with nice complexity.

Showing red and black fruits with light wood, spices, barnyard, blood, dried meats, dark chocolates, tobacco leaf, earth, herbs, peppercorn and licorice.

Nice finish with soft tannins and tangy raspberries.

This Single Vineyard Grenache from Walla Walla Valley is very stinky and austere on the nose.

Complex and very interesting, but not what I expected at all. Feels more like an old world wine.

Wine Advocate 95 points. Wine Spectator 94 points. Wine Enthusiasts 94 points.

I had a recent vintage a couple of years ago and it showed much better. Might just be this particular bottle, or it could be past its prime by now.

A good quality wine and still very drinkable.

13.2% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$120. — 3 months ago

Tara Wood

9.0

This is a great everyday drinker. Aromatic nose, burst of fruit on the palate. Medium-low acid, smooth tannins. Nice warming finish. Black cherry, currant, raspberry, plum. End notes of oak, vanilla, and a hint of cocoa. Adding to my regular rotation. — 3 years ago

Michael Chelus

9.1

Black cherry, raspberry preserves, dark chocolate, vanilla, licorice, blackberry and oak. Full-bodied and soft tannins. — 4 years ago

"Odedi"

9.2

It's time for my #FridayCabernetfix. Here is a yummy Cabernet Sauvignon.

Inky in color with a short purple rim.

Full bodied, smooth and elegant, with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate and spicy, with nice complexity and a great mouthfeel.

Showing blackberries, black currants, cooked plums, raisins, licorice, cedar, light vanilla, tobacco, mint, chocolates, coffee, cola and peppercorn.

Long finish with round tannins and tangy cranberries.

This is a delicious Cabernet Sauvignon from Lake County in California. Fruit forward and rich. Smooth and elegant.

Shows nice complexity already, although still young. Would be nice to revisit it in 5 years. Will continue to age nicely in the next 10 years.

Nicely balanced with a nice mouthfeel. Opulent and delectable. Delicious and engaging.

Good by itself as a sipping wine. Good right out of the bottle, and better with some air time.

A blend of 98% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Petit Verdot. Aged in French oak barrels. A small production of only 300 cases.

14.3% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$75. — 4 years ago