Joe DAscoli

9.5

Procured via auction. Have had bad bottles before but cork looked solid (used Durand to take no chances).

This bottle was excellent and the wine developed nicely in the glass over about 1.5 hours. Kept in my ETO.

Nice black and dark fruits with a little muscle. Oak integrated and not overpowering.

Lovely pairing with steak. — a month ago

"Odedi"

9.1

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

Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with nice complexity.

Showing black fruits with light wood, spices, coffee, dark chocolates, earth, tobacco leaf, light black pepper, herbs, light vanilla and licorice.

Tangy finish with soft tannins.

This 5-year-old Merlot from Napa Valley is peaking now, and drinking very nicely. Fruit forward with an elegant mouthfeel.

Wine Spectator 91 points.

Good by itself as a sipping wine, and good for parties. Good with food too.

A blend of 77% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc, 4% Petit Verdot and 2% Syrah. Aged in French oak barrels for 18 months.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$35. — 8 months ago

Mark Simmons

9.2

Picked up the bottle a Ferreo at Ritz Carlton, had a glass with dinner and corked the rest. Second day it was fantastic. Beautiful floral flavors, no oak, excellent. — 3 years ago

Tom Garland

9.1

Pop and pour. A majestic medium gold color. On the nose: apple, lemon, crushed granite, vanilla oak, herbs, ripe peach. Taste: silky composed wine with apple, lemon, minerals, saline, lime peel, white pepper, and some tangerine. YUM! plenty of acidity and entering a waxy phase as it ages. — 2 months ago

with Brenda

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Located halfway up the hill dominating the principal valley of Barolo, supported by steep slopes lined by orderly vineyards, lies the 15th century Abbey of Annunziata. Medium Ruby with aromas of ripe berry fruits with earthy herb notes, aged for 12 months on oak. On the palate flavors of cherry, strawberry and raspberry with sweet vanilla spice. Fine tannins, vivid acidity, medium+ finish ending with earthy fruit character. Good value, Barolo like without $$! — 2 years ago

Scott Koles

9.3

Fabulous Chardonnay, ripe fruit, mild oak. — 3 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.4

A Fav! Medium lemon color with aromas of stone fruits, spice, floral, cedar, biscuits and citrus. On the palate flavors of apple, pear & ripe apricot with citrus zest, honeysuckle and nutty toasty oak notes, rich with creamy tones. Smooth, long finish, well balanced with acidity, ending with fruit and integrated creamy oak. Nice! — 3 months ago

Andrea Watt

9.5

Still delicious and has changed less with age than I expected. Not sure if I should have sat on it longer. It has gotten nuttier with hazelnut becoming more prominent. Still a lot of oak and lemon, with a touch of flint and brioche. It’s — 5 months ago

Kelley Raymond

9.1

Always well balanced and good, but not big on flavor or oak — 2 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.6

Served blind by me at Sue Bell’s dinner party with Bruce Redman. After being tricked by Sue all week with blind tastings at the winery I was determined to get square. She was up to the task getting just the state wrong. Once I said Adelaide Hills she knew it was a Gruner. Hahndorf Hill are acknowledged as the best producers of Gruner in Australia. Taking its lead from the GV’s of Austria’s Kamptal region. Grapefruit, Citrus and stone fruit. A multi award winner on the Australian Show circuit. A gold medal at the Decanter World Wine Awards London 2020. — 4 years ago