Jay Kline

9.2

First pour of this and I was like, “uh-oh”. It was clearly full of flaws (Brettanomyces, VA and maaaaybe some slight TCA) but would they be too much to appreciate the wine? Only time would tell so into the decanter it went. After a lot of air, it became clear this was Brett and VA. The wine pours a deep ruby/purple with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing (still) with notes of blackberries, umeboshi, animale, purple flowers, black pepper, red Flintstone vitamin, horse blanket, wood varnish, and sous bois. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. An elegant, complicated bottle. This is my second time with the 1997 vintage and due to the flaws, a different adventure than previous. That being said, this decidedly grumpy, Burgundian expression of Clape’s Cornas paired really well with the dry-aged steaks. Drink now, with a lot of patience, through 2037? — 2 months ago

"Odedi"

9.1

Reddish in color with light intensity.

Medium bodied with medium plus acidity.

Dry on the palate with nice complexity.

Showing raspberries, sweet strawberries, cherish, earth, light wood, spices, dark chocolates, herbs and black pepper.

This 8 year old Pinot Noir from Oregon is drinking very nicely now. Complex and interesting. Feels like a lightly aged Burgundy.

Good right out of the bottle, and gets earthier as it opens. Will continue to drink nicely in the next few years.

I had a few vintages of this wine and it is very consistent.

Elegant and good by itself or with food.

13.5% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$45. — 9 months ago

Jay Kline

9.5

Opened earlier in the day and double-decanted several hours prior to service; enjoyed over the course of three hours. The 1982 pours a deep garnet with a near opaque core. On the nose, the wine is developing (still!) and slightly green compared to the ’82 Mouton that was poured alongside. Cassis, purple Chewy SweeTarts, green bell pepper, old wood, some earth and baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry and has massive structure still. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and slightly bitter. Drink now with a long decant but there are decades of life left. — 2 years ago

Brad Jensen

9.2

Deep florals are pronounced on the nose, with hints of violet, but also blueberry cobbler or some flaky pastry. It doesn’t beat you over the head, but it’s definitely refined. This is a young one, with prominent acidity that clings to the finish, but jammy dark berry notes on the palate are also pronounced, with hints of dry minerality, pomegranate, pepper and ashy, dry wood. Takes a while to open up but definitely another unique and special German pinot. — 3 years ago

Hum

9.7

Truly a lesson in finesse. Bright refreshing but substantial and textured. Pepper, wood smoke, pomegranate and cranberry, rosewood. So much! — 5 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.3

Dark tawny and opaque. Herbal nose. Notes of herbs de Provence, wispy dark fruit, white pepper, some old wood and a little kirsch. Great balance in the mouth. I would call this at peak and doubt it improves with more age, but no need to be in hurry to drink these. Plenty of life ahead of it. — 6 years ago

"Odedi"

9.2

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

Dark ruby/ purple in color with a wide reddish/ brick rim.

Pretty nose of red and black fruits with light wood, herbs, light chocolates, earth, coffee and black pepper.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with black currants, black plums, cooked cherries, light oak, tobacco leaf, herbs, peppercorn, earth, dark chocolates and black tea.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a delicious Merlot from Pomerol. Well balanced and complex. Tangy and tasty.

Rich and elegant, with enough fruits to compliment the earth notes. Spicy and entertaining.

This 18 year old is drinking at its peak now, and will continue to drink nicely in the next few years.

I've had a few vintages of this wine, and it is much better with age.

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

A blend of 80% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Cabernet Franc. Aged for 12 months in (50% new) French oak barrels.

13% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$80. — 4 months ago

Jay Kline

9.6

How did this sneak in here? Considering our penchant for the Rhône, it’s almost inevitable that something like this was getting opened. Popped and poured, the 1997 “La Turque” pours a deep ruby/purple color with a slightly hazy, near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with significant staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of ripe slightly wizened black and ted fruits: black brambles, black cherry, strawberry, smoked and spiced meat, olives, purple flowers, black pepper, dried herbs, rocky earth, fine wood and warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. While this may not be my favorite expression of Côte Rôtie, it is undeniably delicious after nearly 30 years. It still has a long life ahead. Drink now through 2042. — a year ago

Jane Nuss

9.3

Plum, oak, vanilla, pepper, cherry. Bold palate with ripe dark fruits. Blackberry, fig, prune. Silky tannins.
— 2 years ago

"Odedi"

9.1

A pretty color of ruby, with a wide brick/ reddish rim.

Full bodied and elegant.

Dry on the palate with medium acidity.

Showing red currants, plums, cherries, wood, spices, coffee, dark chocolates, earth, tobacco leaf, herbs and black pepper.

Medium finish with soft tannins and tangy raspberries.

This 15 year old Rioja Reserva is drinking very nicely now. Showing nice complexity at this point.

Still young and will continue to age nicely in the next 10 years.

Nicely balanced with a nice mouthfeel. A very tasty aged Rioja, and a good food wine.

Robert Parker 95 points.

I Had this vintage a year ago, and it feels pretty much the same.

A blend of 75% Tempranillo, 15% Garnacha, 5% Mazuelo and 5% Graciano. Aged in used American oak barrels for 6 years.

13% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$55. — 3 years ago

"Odedi"

9.0

This is a nice and easy drinking Pinot Noir from Anderson Valley.

Dry on the palate with nice complexity and a great mouthfeel.

Medium plus in body and very smooth, with medium acidity.

Showing red fruits with earth, wood, spices, tobacco leaf, chocolates and black pepper.

Still young and would be better in a few years.

13.1% alcohol by volume.

90 points.

$75. — 5 years ago

Brandy Markovich

9.1

Bit of wood and pepper on nose. Sweet berry. Light tannins. Definitely get again! — 5 years ago

M. Christopher Roebuck

9.3

A spicy Pinot. White pepper, light red fruit, pine needles, oak, and a hint of motor oil. On the palate, it starts with a mild sweet/nuttiness. I suppose it's almond. It subsides with pronounced nuts, with low tannins..

Had this with baked cod. Nice pair .


UPDATE:
Wow, so Delectable is great. I just learned that I had this wine/vintage last year, and rated it 89+ points. Nevertheless, this disturbed me. I can say that the residual sugar isn't hitting me this time (maybe bottle age is helping) otherwise, some notes are redundant-- e.g., spice. Also, the wood has definitely mellowed and now I find it enjoyable.

93 points — 7 years ago

"Odedi"

9.0

Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.

Fruity nose of black fruits with light wood, spices, coffee and chocolates.

Medium plus in body and elegant, with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with blackberries, black currants, cooked plums, light cedar, earth, herbs, chocolates and black pepper.

Nice finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.

This 5 year old, second wine from this Fifth Growth Bordeaux winery is drinking very nicely now.

Well balanced with nice complexity. Spicy, rich and fruit forward.

Will continue to drink nicely in the next 5 years.

Good by itself or with food.

A blend of 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 14% Cabernet Franc. Aged in (50% new) French oak barrels for 15 months.

13.5% alcohol by volume.

90 points.

$40. — 9 months ago

"Odedi"

9.1

Dark ruby/ purple in color with a purplish rim.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with nice complexity and a soft mouthfeel.

Showing red and black fruits with light wood, tobacco, peppercorn, espresso, bell pepper, earth, herbs and vegetables.

Spicy finish with fine grained tannins and bitter herbs.

Fruit forward and elegant. Rich and nicely balanced. Complex and interesting.

Good right out of the bottle and better with airtime. Gets earthier after an hour in the bottle.

13.6% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$65. — 9 months ago

Christian Ramirez Romanini

9.1

Powerful aromas of red and black fruits, there is a touch of wood infuence with some black pepper notes.

On the palate the wine is perfectly balanced and has excellent concentration. It is classic and not overly extracted, with tannins that are pronounced, and is very aproachable because of the perfect acidity.

The complex notes of tobacco, spices, chocolate, and red fruits are complemented by a lengthy, intense finish. — a year ago

Brad Jensen

9.3

Silky smooth nose, velvety and soft, with forewarned black currants, just a LITTLE pepper, dark cherry and maybe a little pine forest floor? Some sediment and still grippy tannin, but starting to really loosen, with prominent ripe red fruits of dark , brooding plum, cherry and dark fruits, with hints of graphite, wood, and smoke over a still zingy finish. — 3 years ago

"Odedi"

8.9

Ruby in color with medium intensity and a wide reddish rim.

Fruity nose of raspberries, strawberries, sweet cherries, light oak, chocolates and light spices.

Medium bodied with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with cherries, raspberries, light wood, earth, bitter herbs, light vegetables, spices, tobacco leaf, dark coffee and black pepper.

Nice spicy finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is an enjoyable Pinot Noir from Sonoma Coast.

Easy drinking and good for parties. Showing mild complexity with a nice smooth mouthfeel.

Spicy and entertaining. A good porch wine, too. Would be interesting to try it again in 3 years.

Shows light barnyard on the nose, that gets lighter after an hour of airtime. After 2 hours of airtime, it drinks more like a Beaujolais. Interesting stuff.

Good by itself or with food. Paired wonderfully with a fresh brick oven pizza with prosciutto, parmesan and arugula.

Aged in French oak barrels.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

89 points.

$36. — 4 years ago

Brandon Boesch

9.5

This is great. Wonderful nose. Smells like Napa red. There’s a nice lightness to all the fruit, jam, flowers, cedar, cassis. Palate is also very well balanced. A ton of fruit, cassis, a bit of wood, earth, well integrated tannins. Benefited from 1.5 hour decant. Would love to try more of this one in the future especially 2018 release. — 5 years ago

"Odedi"

9.7

For my 5,000th review on Vivino, it's time for a special bottle. Here is a gorgeous Bordeaux blend.

Dark ruby in color with a short brick rim.

Gorgeous nose of blueberries, cherries, oak, vanilla, licorice, spices, chocolates, smoke, eucalyptus, black pepper, tobacco, herbs, leather, wet leaves, earth, vegetables and graphite.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity and long legs. Smooth and elegant.

Dry on the palate with blueberries, plums, cherries, figs, licorice, wood, vanilla, sweet cherries, graphite, spices, earth, wet leaves, herbs, light vegetables and black pepper.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

What a great surprise. This Bordeaux blend is drinking so beautifully right now. Well balanced and very complex. Gentle with lots of fruits and earth notes.

This 14 year old from Knights Valley needs a couple of hours to open up properly and really show up. Delicious.

Robert Parker 95 points. Wine Spectator 95 points.

A blend of 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Cabernet Franc, 12% Merlot and 2% Petit verdot.

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

15.1% alcohol by volume.

97 points.

$200. — 7 years ago