92-93 for me.
Consumed half bottle at pop, then corked for another 4hrs before consuming the rest. No change.
What a beautifully elegant and refined ‘09. The highest compliment I can give this is that it was a simplistic joy. Some wines make it easy to get nerdy and command your attention…some wines are underwhelming and not worth your time. This was squarely in the middle. It was a joy to not feel the need to overthink…it’s exactly what it should be. No bricking at almost 15yrs. Decidedly black fruit heavy (black currant, cassis, underripe blackberries) with a sprinkling of raspberries and black cherries. Aromas of sweet pipe tobacco, dark florals. Integrated on the palate with good structure and acidity…not a massive wine, but it put on a bit of weight/length the longer it was open. Still sporting a fair bit of tannin at the finish, but it’s balanced. Drink or hold. — 2 years ago
On the eye it’s definitely showing some age and sediment. The nose is dusty, leathery, and smokey with blueberry and plum. The pallet is earthy and well integrated upfront. No outliers just beautiful flow: mushroom, game, dark fruit, some vanilla, still bold, low alcohol, medium tannic and round finish.
This bottle and I have history; after ten years of carrying it, babying it, and nurturing it. I decided to pop it open for my forty second nameday. Could have gone several more years, easy, but it was perfect timing for me, and this is why I love wine. Cheers. — 4 years ago
Pop and pour. A majestic lite gold color. On the nose: crisp apples, lemon, almonds, floral, and honey. Taste: creamy, beautiful texture and nice acidity wine with apple, pear, lemon zest, saline, flint, and a minerally lime peel medium plus finish. YUM! Maturing gracefully and time to go. — 2 months ago

Deep ruby in color with slight brick color on the rim. Nose is quite pleasing with berry compote, lavender, and dark chocolate. Also a bit of earthiness. Wow. A great mouthfeel on this wine. Well balanced with tannins still a bit heavy. That said, I like my wines with a bit more tannic backbone. These notes are from pop and pour taste. Will let it open up a bit and will update if it changes significantly. — a year ago
Pop and pour, notes from 1 hr open. Better than I remember my last btl being, but still not up to the level of that first '11. On the nose: lavender, incense, loads of garrigue, and soft red raspberry..very pure grenache. On the palate: serious acidity, hi-toned red raspberry, more herbal notes, with some salinity, almost olive brine/game, though I believe this is 100% grenache, and attenuated tannin on the finish. This has taken a very savory turn, and the tannin on the finish is slightly attenuated. Yum! — 4 years ago
Pop and pour. A brilliant medium gold color. On the nose: lemon, grilled pear, crushed stone, apricot, caramel, and honey. Taste: chalky, lean acid driven style with pear, steely minerality, green apple, saline, orange/lemon rind, and a medium plus finish. YUM! My favorite Napa chardonnay. — 3 months ago

Had this wine at Penny’s Wine Shop in Richmond, VA 9/3/2025 with Lisa. — 4 months ago
Pop and pour at Luce in San Francisco. A majestic dark ruby red color. On the nose: bursting from the glass are beautiful notes of plum, stewed meat, cedar, some black raspberry, smoke, floral. Taste: smooth, rich, juicy wine with dark fruit, worn leather, meaty, bitter chocolate, and a spiced graphite long finish. YUM! A day before fire up for the Kevin Hart show in SF. Cheers! — 3 years ago


Paul T, Missing My Beautiful Wife 24/7
Had mine with Round Table Double Pepperoni 🍕 🤷🏼♂️
"Odedi"
It is time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday.
Reddish in color with medium plus intensity and a wide reddish rim.
Strong nose of red fruits with light cedar, earth, tobacco leaf, black pepper, herbs and black tea.
Medium plus in body with medium plus acidity.
Dry on the palate with cherries, plums, light oak, spices, chocolates, licorice, tobacco leaf, herbs and peppercorn.
Tangy finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.
This is a delicious Merlot from Napa Valley. Fruity and rich. Complex and entertaining.
Good right out of the bottle, and better after 90 minutes of airtime.
This Single Vineyard Merlot is elegant and nicely balanced. Will continue to age nicely in the next 10 years.
I had different vintages of this wine and it is very consistent.
Easy drinking and good by itself as a sipping wine.
100% Merlot grapes were aged in French oak barrels. A tiny production of only 300 bottles.
14.5% alcohol by volume.
92 points.
$100. — 10 days ago