"Odedi"

9.2

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

Ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.

Beautiful nose of black fruits with cedar, vanilla, licorice, spices, chocolates, tobacco leaf, herbs and black pepper.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

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

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.

This is a delicious Merlot from Napa Valley. Rich and fruit forward. Elegant and nicely balanced.

Still young, but already showing beautifully, and will continue to age nicely in the next 10 to 15 years. Complex and interesting.

A great sipping wine that will also pair nicely with food.

A blend of 89% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. Aged in (40% new) French oak barrels for 20 months.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$72. — a month ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.2

2019 vintage. Light-medium body. The prettier side of dirty/earthy. 4.8.26. — 3 months ago

Beatriz Ribeiro

9.1

Perfect after 11 years. Smooth and lite fruit. Taste of vanilla and berries. Great with our gnocchi with ossobuco — 5 months ago

Brian Montgomery

9.6

Favorite Merlot so far — 8 months ago

with Jessica

Rani Yadav

9.3

Great red - had with Anaita Pete and Shireen after magic show — a year ago

Hugh O'Riordan

9.4

Fruit but not too much. Maybe pear. Very smooth and long finish. A delicious wine and will age. — 4 years ago

Hugh O'Riordan

9.6

Simply delicious. Wonderful cab aroma. I prefer claret . This is a gem. Lingering dark fruit, well balanced . I’m not sharing! — 5 years ago

Bill Mowry

9.2

Well balanced acidity with bright lemon, lime, and grapefruit flavors. Paired deliciously with roasted pork and polenta. — a month ago

with Cristian, Amelia and 1 other

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.3

2023 vintage. Medium body. A clear and firm, not loud, voice. Drinking nicely currently. 4.8.26. — 3 months ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.0

2023 vintage. Light-medium/medium body. On the more feminine side of Syrah. 4.8.26. — 3 months ago

Paul J

9.6

1hr+ decant. Dark red color with some garnet. Very similar to the Continuum from the prior night. Great fruit integrated with sweetness and cedar. Juicy wine, with nice depth and medium finish. — 5 months ago

with Brooke

Norman

9.3

Still performing well. — a year ago

Doug Griffin

9.2

What you expect. Saturated dark fruit, med tannins, chocolate, cherries — 3 years ago

Hugh O'Riordan

9.5

Deep color. Took hour to open up and was delicious and well balanced . Hints of dark chocolate. DaRk berries.long finish. I’m a fan! — 4 years ago

Kyle Kemmer

10

What a great tasting Merlot! — a month ago

with Renee

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.3

2025 vintage. Medium body without being unctuous. Florals. Stone fruit. Minerals. A little crispy and clean but definitely a good time. Picked some up in both 750ml’s and 375ml’s (!!!!!). 4.8.26. — 3 months ago

Norman

8.9

I have a lot of these and most have been ok but this one was further along in its development. Knew I needed to drink these. Faster is the word of the day. — 5 months ago

Charlie Tapp

9.3

Dark fruit, iodine, red candy and espresso. — 9 months ago

Dave Moench

9.8

West Bank Golf League Party — 10 months ago

Doug Powers

9.3

So, Barbara and Jim Richards (RIP) planted 5 acres back in 1991 (1990?) of Syrah on the northeast (downslope) corner of their Paloma vineyard on Spring Mountain in what visually looked like a “low spot” (partially shaded and also maybe an area that maybe occasionally got standing water back in the days when California got enough rain). The rest of the vineyard was of course Merlot and also some Cabernet Sauvignon used mostly for blending with their fantastic mountain Merlot. The vineyard is just east of Pride Mountain and across the road from what used to be (??) Schweiger Vineyards.

Anyway, Bob Foley, who was making the wines for Pride in those early days, was consulting for Barbara and Jim early on, but I have ZERO information as to what involvement he had with the Syrah, if I recall correctly, the first Syrah in 1995 was less than a barrel (12-15 cases), and was aged in a super OLD, neutral barrel. My Chicago friends, who knew the Richards, dragged me along to taste that fateful day. That 1995 Syrah, first wine they ever made from those young Syrah vines, was, frankly, eye-opening and FANTASTIC, as I told Jim Richards that day. After tasting the INCREDIBLE 1995 Syrah, which was so northern Rhône-like and so pure, I begged Jim to sell me a bottle or two, but he politely declined. Later that day, after tasting the rest of their great wines, as we were leaving, Jim GAVE me a 4-pack box of that 1995 Syrah, which he wouldn’t accept any $$$ for, and that 1995 Syrah still in my memory remains the GREATEST CA Syrah I’ve ever tasted!!

As you can probably tell, I adored Jim and Barbara Richards, amazing people and generous to a fault!! Amazing people!!! I don’t think I ever met their son, Sheldon, but from all accounts he is continuing the tradition of great Paloma wines, though that great Syrah vineyard was pulled out in the early 2000s — Sheldon, if you happen to see this post, I welcome any corrections if I got any details wrong!!

Oh, and this Syrah is pretty dang good as well!!! — 2 years ago

with Jim