"Odedi"

9.2

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

Deep purple in color with a reddish rim.

Beautiful nose of black plums, black cherries, red currants, light cedar, coffee, light earth, herbs, light vegetables and black pepper.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity and long legs.

Very dry on the palate with black plums, black currants, coffee, oak, light cloves, earth, tobacco leaf, bitter herbs, peppercorn, light licorice and green tea.

Tangy finish with fine grain tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a delicious Merlot from Napa valley. Showing nice complexity with an elegant mouthfeel.

Needed 2 hours in a decanter to open up.

This 8-year-old Merlot is still drinking beautifully. Lost some of its fruits, and it is very dry now.

Drinking at its peak, and will not get any better from here. Really loved the nose at this point.

Good by itself or with food. Will pair nicely with barbecue meats or burgers. I paired it with a charcuterie board of meats and cheeses.

A blend of 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon.

14.4% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$65. — 6 months ago

Shay A

9.1

I find myself between scores on this wine, but the reason I’m pushing it to 91 is because it showed better (for my preferred taste) on day two, suggesting more time in the cellar could slightly improve this. To me, this is almost totally Chablis like, though it’s just missing a hint of steeliness. Lemon oil, honeysuckle, and crushed rocks on the nose. Day 1 showed razor sharp acidity...electric like. Day 2 it became a touch more rounded. My first remark about this wine to someone was “it’s like licking fresh squeezed lemon juice off of limestone”. Tart, vibrant and definitely best with food. Day 2 added some stone fruits and a touch more sweetness to the finish. My thanks to @David T for introducing me to this producer, who I’m starting to hear about more and more often. — 6 years ago

Amanda Barth

9.6

This is all the simultaneous sweet and dry of your best friend’s well-timed sarcastic remark. Would pair well with sushi and best friends. — 7 years ago

Cassie Nelson

9.3

W Frank and marilyn — 8 years ago

Scott

9.4

A wine of genuine remark. Barbera from old world vineyards in Pavia. A gorgeous pungent nose rightly suggests a little air once in the glass before tasting. The palette opens with lovely round dark blackberry and ripe currents contrasted with balanced leathery tannins. The finish dries out with an earthy, grassy finish. Wonderful with a hearty beef dish. Love this wine. — 8 years ago

Heather Seeno

9.0

Enjoyed in Johns Creek with Marilyn and Cliff. $40. Nice — 9 years ago

J.

9.1

Nice fruit and spice. Available at A Taste of Monterey.
This is the winery's attempt at a Rhone blend.
2012 is at it peak...drink now. — 9 years ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a couple of hours. The 1997 pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with light staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is vinous with beautiful notes of cherry lozenges, star anise, leather, horse blanket, black pepper, organic earth, and fine warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. I recently got to spend some time with Ren and Marilyn Harris of Paradigm and he shared with me that he thought Zinfandel was a variety that has the potential of being longer lived than Cabernet Sauvignon. I didn’t argue with him. Anyway, this is a killer Rafanelli Zinfandel that is aging ever so gracefully. Drink now through 2037. — a year ago

Michael B

9.3

Stunning California Cabernet Sauvignon. Decanted x2hrs. Medium depth, Red fruits (red cherries, raspberries, strawberries) followed by soft leather and cigar box haze. There was an evolving spice that grew more prominent as the hours went by. Fiery Peppercorn and red peppers were very lively. — 6 years ago

"Odedi"

9.1

Time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday. Here is a nice one from Napa Valley.

Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.

Fruity nose of blueberries, black plums, black cherries, spices, cedar, vanilla, earth, coke, chocolates, dark coffee, black pepper, pencil lead and light vegetables.

Full bodied with medium plus acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with black currants, plums, cooked cherries, oak, vanilla, licorice, cloves, herbs, spices, dark chocolates, coffee, peppercorn, light vegetables, pencil lead and earth.

Medium plus in length on the finish, with fine grained tannins and tangy cranberries.

This is a very enjoyable Merlot from Napa Valley. Nicely balanced and fruit forward with a great mouthfeel. Showing nice complexity with more vegetables notes than I expected.

Still young and needs three to five years to mature, but already very yummy.

Good right out of the bottle and better as it opens up (90 minutes).

I paired it with a charcuterie board of meats and cheeses.

A blend of 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon.

14.4% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$36. — 6 years ago

Ryan Mullins

9.7

Like riding in the back of a motorcycle that a topless Marilyn Monroe is driving — 7 years ago

Luisa Maria

10

One of my favorites! — 8 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

Owned by Ren and Marilyn Harris who purchased Paradigm in 1976 and began producing wine with the 1991 vintage. Marilyn is a third generation grower in Napa Valley and Ren has been farming since the 1960’s. A blend of 98% Merlot & 2% Cab Sauvignon, aged for 20 months in French Oak. Dark Ruby with sweet black berry fruit aromas with notes of toasty oak. On the palate black cherry and blackberry flavors with pepper and vanilla oak spice on smooth fine tannins, nicely done. Lingering finish ending with toasty oak tones. — 9 years ago

David Watts

9.1

Very impressed, a nice bottle of Bordeaux. Well balanced dark fruit with an oaky peppered finish. — 9 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

Tasted this at the property & bought three & three of the 14 Moose. It is even better than I envisioned at this stage and will only continue to evolve to something even more grand.

The nose shows a little paraffin wax at first with gentle, beautiful, elegant floral, ruby, ripe, fruits of; blackberries, dark cherries, black plums, black raspberries, plum, baked strawberries & hints of raspberries. A weave of faint; molasses, brown sugar & dark chocolate, some of the sexiest, gently layered baking spices of; cinnamon, clove, even lighter cinnamon & vanillin, hints of sweet tarriness, blossoming tree sap with a touch of bark, melted caramel, amazing, caressing, Marilyn Monroe, mid, dark spice, steeped fruit teas, limestone volcanics, a little dry, crush rocks, black licorice with gorgeous, candied, ruby, florals that are fresh & slightly withering; dark, red, blue that are set in violets & quiet lavender.

The body is wet, supple, rich and as good as it gets. She is flat out gorgeous with perfect viscosity. A little paraffin wax with gentle, beautiful, elegant floral, ruby, ripe, fruits of; blackberries, dry dark cherries, black plums, black raspberries, plum, baked strawberries & dry cranberries & hints of raspberries. A weave of faint; molasses, melted, brown sugar & dark chocolate, some of the sexiest, gently layered baking spices of; cinnamon, clove, even lighter cinnamon & vanillin, hints of sweet tarriness, blossoming tree sap with a touch of pine bark, melted caramel, dark cola, amazing, caressing, Marilyn Monroe, mid, dark spice with perfect, soft heat, steeped fruit teas, haunting here & there fresh herbaceousness, understated eucalyptus & mint, Christmas pudding over a touch of Christmas fruit cake, limestone volcanics, a little dry, crush rocks, black licorice with gorgeous, candied, ruby, florals that are fresh & slightly withering; dark, red, blue that are set in violets & quiet lavender. The acidity is simply insane. The finish falls into fantasy. It’s; sexy, gorgeous, elegant, round, rich, the definition of balance that persists for minutes falling on to a spice ending.

Most interesting Pinot of the year(s).

This will add a couple of points in 5 years.

The one is another bottling of Christmas Magic. Shots around the house on Christmas Eve-Eve. Yup, I even have a Wine Santa to enjoy wine with my Wine Snowman.

Merry Christmas Eve-Eve. 🎄🎁🎅❄️🌟⛄️

@Jason and Jennie Thank you for the introduction to DR Stephens. The 14 Moose is still better & will further stun one day but, their 15 Pinot is outstanding now. We will hold our other two bottles of their 15 another 3-5 years before opening. The first 14 Moose in 2026.

12/23/20 — 6 years ago

Bhuvana Husain

9.0

Delicious full bodied red wine courtesy of Marilyn — 7 years ago

Cassie Nelson

9.2

W Frank and Marilyn — 8 years ago

JKT

9.0

Neuro reunion at 10/13/18. Excellent bubbles though not at level of that 2005! Was bought when visiting region with Marilyn Thor. — 8 years ago

Fred Calatayud

9.4

Been away from Delectable for a while, still drinking wine, but took a break from writing about. When I had this Innisfree tonight, I thought I owed it to Joseph Phelps to remark about it. I wrote about this vintage 2 years ago, and this wine tonight is even better. It is right in its sweet spot, reflecting an openness on par with its maturity. 20 minutes in the glass, paired with a grilled NY Strip, it led the way for this meal. Strong nose of deep, dark fruit, a hint of licorice and leather, but a balanced finesse of dark chocolate and the slightest touch of earth. A couple of bottles of this vintage left, but no need to let it rest any longer. If you have ‘em, drink ’em - you won’t be disappointed, and you’ll taste the readiness of the wine. It’s why we let them rest until they are ready. — 8 years ago

Jon Ruyle

8.9

Nice round fruit, gains herby finish with time in the glass. — 9 years ago