"Odedi"

9.3

It's time for #MerlotThursday. Here is a beautiful one from Chalk Hill.

Dark ruby in color with a short brick rim.

Fruity nose of blackberries, blueberries, plums, cherries, licorice, cedar, vanilla, leather, spices, chocolates, smoke, vinaigrette, black pepper, tobacco leaf, earth and leather.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with plums, black currants, coffee, oak, vanilla, licorice, spices, chocolates, tobacco, coke, graphite, herbs, light vegetables and earth.

Long finish with firm tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a great 16 year old Merlot from Sonoma County, California.

Well balanced and enjoyable by itself or with food. Showing nice complexity and a great mouthfeel. Love the tangy finish, which makes it interesting.

Good right out of the bottle and better after an hour of airtime.

Wine Enthusiasts gave it 82 Points, but that was 12 years ago. Time did a great job here. This has aged beautifully.

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

15% alcohol by volume.

93 points.

$55. — 4 days ago

Meg Herring

9.0

Plum and bitter cocoa. A great example of how Merlot can be in FLX. — 4 days ago

Ron from VA

8.9

Loudoun County fruit used exclusively here in this 100% Merlot offering. I let this rest for six years and was rewarded with a really useful varietally accurate gem. When I tasted at the winery in 2015, I realized just how much Tannic structure was present and deemed this as a fitting project to age. I was right :) — 24 days ago

Shay A

9.3

This was my bottle, and it was opened alongside a ‘15 for comparison sake. Aromatics were similar to the ‘15 (red and black fruit) but less candied. More dirty, but not off putting. However, the finish on this was very unique...it turned very umami/earthy/herbal. Maybe an odd phase as it wakes up? Structure was still very solid (as expected for mountain fruit) so this may hold a while...

Almost two hours later: Better with air. Became more dark chocolate covered. Wow. The savory notes have faded and it’s showing a more rich and dark cocoa type finish. Very enjoyable. — 17 days ago

with Dan, Mark and 2 others

Hayden B. Oothout

9.0

One of the best Merlots that I have had. Black fruit takes the stage with well rounded tannins. This is a tad one dimensional, but what more do you expect from merlot? Damn good merlot. Drink now! — 17 days ago

Warren Grossman

9.4

This 1993 100% merlot was still with lively fruit. Finished long, a treat — a month ago

with Richard

Kirk F

9.2

Consumed way too young but oh so good. Enjoyed over two hours watching some US Open action after 3 tough matches. Magnum. — 10 days ago

Doctor Alex

9.8

Chocolate, plums, nuts, venous blood colour, ten years age is enough to take the maximum pleasure. — 9 days ago

Vasanth Balakrishnan

8.9

Solid widely-available Charles Smith #merlot. Some dried plum, cigar box on the nose, fruit forward yet well balanced with acidity and some surprising pepper/spice notes. It paired very well with mixed beef tenderloin and chicken kebabs. Nice by-the-glass offering at a restaurant. — 3 days ago

Yen Boubel

9.0

I’ve learned to appreciate Merlot more after being around it for a while. This one is a wonderful example of a well-done Merlot - cherries, plums, chocolate, dried herbs, and vanilla. Light to medium acidity with supple tannins. A little smoky finish which is nice. — 7 days ago