Jake Hajer

9.2

Flowers and chocolate. Rose, lavender, hibiscus and milk chocolate. Aging well. — a month ago

"Odedi"

8.9

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

Dark ruby in color with a wide brick rim.

The nose is simpler than I expected right out of the bottle, but beautiful once it opens up.

Medium plus in body and elegant, with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with nice complexity.

Showing black plums, cooked cherries, light oak, licorice, spices, chocolates, tobacco, herbs, espresso, earth, light forest floor and black pepper.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This Merlot based blend from Bordeaux is drinking nicely now, and feels young, especially on the nose.

Good right out of the bottle, and better with airtime. I did not decant it and left it in the bottle. I was actually worried that it will die sooner, but it still has a lot in it. Love to see that. Only after 2 hours, the nose opened up and tannins showed up.

This 26 years old is easy drinking and good by itself or with food. I had the 2010 vintage, five years ago, and I liked it better this time.

Robert Parker 94 points.

Paired nicely with a Charcuterie board of meats and cheeses.

13.5% alcohol by volume.

89 points.

$100. — 3 months ago

"Odedi"

9.2

It is time for my #FridayCabernetfix. Here is a delicious one.

Deep purple in color with a short purple rim.

Strong nose of black currants, plums, cooked cherries, violets, licorice, spices, chocolates, tobacco and herbs.

Full bodied and elegant with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry and very fruity on the palate with blackberry pie, black currants, plums, cooked cherries, cedar, herbs, vanilla, spices, chocolates and black pepper.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.

This 6 year old Napa Cabernet is still young, but already very enjoyable, even by itself. Rich and extracted. Fruit forward, but calm.

Good right out of the bottle, and better after 2 hours of airtime.

Very flowery once it opens up. I liked the nose better than the palate. A very enjoyable wine.

This Single Vineyard will continue to age nicely in the next 7 to 10 years.

100% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes were aged in French oak barrels (40% new) for 26 months. A tiny production of only 5 barrels.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$95. — a year ago

Henry Fuseler

9.2

3/2024. Full of flavor and nice on the palate. A little “chewy”. Would like to try it again in 5 years. — a month ago

Raul Puga

9.5

Zin is my happy place 🍷 — 6 months ago

Tom Casagrande

9.3

Delectable does not have this wine. It’s the 2021 Once & Future Napa Valley Zinfandel. Since this is supposedly Joel Peterson’s “earlier” drinking Zin, I figured I’d pop it while it’s still wearing diapers. Gorgeous nose. So Zin. Gorgeously ripe and vibrant spicy blackberry. Warm gravel. A beam of vanilla. Soft and mouthfilling but nowhere near jammy. The fruit is ripe and bright. Goods acids, and there’s a saline earthiness there too. A moderate amount of soft tannin for structure will ensure this is even better in 2-3 years. Delicious, even at this young stage. 90 year old vines.
— a year ago

Paul T- Huntington Beach

9.3

Had to try one off the truck,
Last Bottle sale for $30.00, winery $100.00.. bought 4 should of bought 6
With proper rest period easy 95-96.

Blend of 89% cabernet sauvignon, 10% cabernet franc, 1% merlot from Nuns Canyon (62%) and Hamel Family Ranch (38%). Interesting fermentation program: 52% stainless steel, 38% concrete tanks, 10% neutral French oak barrels. Aged 26 months in 66% new French oak, 34% once-used French oak. — a year ago

Tom Casagrande

9.2

These are night 2 notes. On night 1, it was pretty unforthcoming and brooding. But one night 2 it showed much better. The nose is more open, which deep, pure blackberry fruit, baking spice, and stony gravel. On the palate, it’s concentrated and nicely structured. The tannins are there but are soft and buried in the waves of flavor. Very nice balance. This will age nicely over the next several years. — 3 months ago

Erik Longabardi

9.2

Should have gotten more. So beautiful. — 9 months ago

Willie Carter

9.5

So young, so very young. But so pretty and so damned delicious. Sparkling pale salmon with effusive perlage. It’s a very aesthetically pleasing champagne. Strawberries in cream are prominent on the nose with rose petals. Fresh brioche and daisies. The nose just goes on and on.

As is typical with Bara champagnes, this is Pinot Noir from Bouzy. Complex, alluring, and lithe, this has all the trademarks of becoming a great wine in the future. As it is, it’s already an utterly felicitous wine. Nice acidity and typically wonderful structure. Silky and luxurious but you just know it’s going to get better.

A sudden burst of seductive fruit in the mouth. Red apples, red cherries, and more strawberry on the palate. Plenty of citrus here, as well. Just the faintest hint of fresh mint on the long finish for an added boost. I should say hold these for a years so it can truly become itself, but go ahead now. Why not, you only live the once. — a year ago