"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. — a year ago

John Bratincevic

9.1

NOSE: charcoal, wood, muted herbs, cassis and blackberry. Lavender, mint. Restrained but good.

TASTE: good! Cassis, blackberry, graphite, iron, dark chocolate, mint, wood ash. A little simpler than expected, but still very enjoyable. 91. — 2 years ago

Carter White

9.4

Its that real sticky icky, woowee. Dark cherry and blackberry, turned earth, pickled mushroom, cedar, and leather. Soft and delicate, good verve, and those aforementioned tannins. Really hums after some time open. Was still gaining some funky complexity on night 3, although I preferred the simpler/cleaner flavors it displayed earlier. — 3 years ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.0

2019 vintage. Enjoying the simpler, 2018 vintage of this wine a bit more currently. The 2019 is pretty tight and very youthful. Laying off for a 5-spot might help but a 10-spot would be better. OTOH, if you wanted to pour this btg or drink throughout the course of 4 nights without the worries of it losing steam or going bad, you just might be onto something. 1.24.24. — a year ago

Conrad Green

9.1

Zippy and bright. Slightly candied violet notes. Sweeter. Simpler than some here. — 2 years ago

with Ara and Paul

John Bratincevic

9.2

Poured through an aerator and sat for 15 minutes…

NOSE: strong, clear cassis. Meat. Pine, forest. Very mild chocolate and a little ash - and some raisin - but the cassis dominates.

Taste: medium weight, elegant, fruity bordeaux, with enough tannin to balance it perfectly - as on the nose, cassis and dark berry flavors dominate, but with a good herbal backbone. Simpler than I’d hoped, but just so very well made it doesn’t matter. Would love to taste this in a few years. 92. — 2 years ago

Pooneet K

9.0

Very enjoyable simpler dolcetto. Great with pizzas on a warm summer day by the pool with a slight chill. — a year ago

John Bratincevic

9.3

NOSE: marshmallow, peach, papaya, mango, melon, vanilla bean, custard.

TASTE: baked peach, creme brûlée, vanilla bean, sugar cookie, banana (very slight)…apricot…date honey…simpler than others I have had, but I do love this chateau. 93. — 2 years ago

Joe Carroll

Owner/Wine Director Spuyten Duyvil, Fette Sau, St. Anselm & Gotham Artisanal Provisions

9.2

A little softer and simpler than expected — 2 years ago

Cathy Corison

Owner/Winemaker Corison Winery

9.1

Mute. Simpler than 2017 — 3 years ago