Jay Kline

9.3

This is my first go with the 2014 Montecillo. Based off my experience with the 2013 vintage, I opened this bottle seven hours ahead of time, well in advance of our dinner. I poured a small taste and the wine seemed to have quite a bit of vigor with noticeable, but not obnoxious, volatile acidity so I poured the rest through a Soirée and into a ship’s decanter to breath. Eight hours later, the VA was still present but integrated. One thing is for sure, this wine is unique. Unusual notes of Middle Eastern spiced meat, herbs de Provence, orange zest, and eucalyptus. Not exactly what I would normally expect from Cabernet Sauvignon and yet, this is utterly satisfying. This is a high acid wine and the tannins are mostly imperceptible which makes this bottle quite a bit different from the 2013 version which is a bit of a beast. The 2014 Montecillo is about as fresh as they come out of California these days and the finish is long. The acid leads me to believe it will cellar a long time but it’s hard to say how beneficial that would be. One thing is for certain, these wines from Ketan Mody are wholly unique and probably won’t be for everyone…but I love them. I’m hoping the Jasud Estate can bounce back from the fires of 2020. — 17 days ago

Joe Roth

9.2

Very nice Sonoma Grenache. — a month ago

with Jeff and Michael

Neil Valenzuela

9.5

Deep ruby color. I opened this up last night and let it decant for a few hours. Yesterday I had a lot of cumin, sulfur smoke and dark berries. Today it had softened to baking spices, warm berries, cassis and a gorgeous toasted oak finish. Superb! — 13 days ago

Stephen Redenbaugh

9.2

No butter-popcorn or sugared fruit-bomb here. Tart Granny Smith and slightly crunchy pear notes... touch of oak but no toasted brioche. The wine exhibits tight, acid-fruit weight and balance in the mouth. What strikes me most and keeps me interested is the serious weight and amazeball long and powerful finish. Call me crazy, but I prefer Bedrock’s whites/Rose to their vaunted reds! — 13 days ago

Jim McCusker

9.2

From Gerhard Reisacher’s now defunct Delectus winery (actually, the winery might still be active, but he’s long gone and has his own excellent eponymous label out of Knight’s Valley), this is drinking quite well! — 7 hours ago

with Vanessa

Tom Casagrande

9.1

This is very “old world” in style and feel. Nose has smoke-tinged crushed rock dust, high-pitched tangy boysenberry fruit, and a mossy forest floor note. Relatively lean in style, it’s got jolting acids and good tannic scaffolding, and some dark fruit and savory notes in the close. I feel like this one could last quite a few more years. Reminds me of those VDP Syrahs that many of the best Cote Rotie growers produce. — 8 days ago

"Odedi"

9.0

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

Dark purple in color with a reddish rim.

Full bodied and bold with medium acidity.

Dry to off dry on the palate with blackberries, black plums, cooked cherries, oak, vanilla, licorice, cloves, herbs, spices, dark chocolates, light medicine, coffee and peppercorn

Medium length on the finish soft tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a very enjoyable Merlot from a great vintage. I actually expected more from this, but I believe it is still young. Too fruity for me, and that would hopefully calm down in the future. Would be nice to revisit it in 5 years.

Good right out of the bottle and better after 3 hours of airtime.

A good quality wine, but a little unbalanced.

Robert Parker 90 points.
Thank you Wendy for sharing this with me.

I paired it with a Charcuterie board of meats and olives.

A blend of 82% Merlot and 18% Cabernet Franc. Aged for 22 months in French Oak Barrels ( 60% new).

14.8% alcohol by volume.

90 points.

$65. — 20 days ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.4

The 2017 ‘Component Collection’ Malbec shows bright violets with blackberry compote and white pepper dusted mocha tones alongside scorched earth that all take shape in the glass. The palate is plush showing a gorgeous sense of richness and complexity. Blueberry cordial and Black Forest Cake flavors march on parade with espresso bean and dark currants on the palate. The length here is really good, as this beautiful and decadent Malbec wine will provide drinking enjoyment for the next fifteen years. Drink 2021-2036- 94 — a day ago

Meg Herring

8.9

Quite ripe but plenty of zip too. I find their Cabernet Sauvignon more impressive but i did like this. — a month ago

Ira Schwartz

8.9

One thing the pandemic has provided is the opportunity to organize the collection . I was shocked when I found this, the last bottle of 6 purchased on release. I was very happy when the well preserved cork came out with zero issues. A subdued nose of leather,plum and old furniture. Restrained fruit on the palate but some satisfying spice, and herbal notes that were swimming in a wave of acidity. No doubt the acidity was the life saving backbone for this bottle. I must be honest sentimentality added a point or two to my score.
A visit to Paloma and then off to Pride was one of the highlights of my early wine years. — 15 days ago