Michelle Connely

9.0

2021 red blend Columbia Valley. Consumed in July 2024. I have previously rated the same bottle, but since this is a different vintage, I thought I would do it again. It’s still consistently a good wine. Goes great with food. I also enjoy it by itself. The bottle does not tell me what the blend is And the bottle talks about mixing street art with wine making.  — 23 days ago

"Odedi"

9.1

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

Deep purple in color with a wide reddish rim.

Strong nose of black currants, plums, cooked cherries, tobacco, cedar, chocolates, vanilla, licorice, light herbs and light alcohol.

Full bodied and soft, with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with black plums, cooked cherries, currants, blueberries, light oak, licorice, vanilla, spices, espresso, light earth, herbs and peppercorn.

Nice length on the finish with round tannins and sweet spices.

This 5 year old red blend from Washington State is drinking at its peak right now.

Elegant and easy drinking right out of the bottle. Gets better after 30 minutes of airtime, when more complexity and tannins come in to play.

Rich and extracted. Fruit forward and spicy, with a really nice nose, once it opens up.

Wine Enthusiasts 91 points.

Showing nice complexity and good by itself or with food.

A blend of 45% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petit Verdot, 10% Malbec, 17% Syrah and 4% Grenache. Aged for 9 months in neutral oak barrels.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$20. — 3 months ago

"Odedi"

9.2

It is time for my #FridayCabernetfix.

Ruby in color with medium plus intensity.

Fruity nose with lots of fruits, cedar and chocolate notes.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

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

Showing sweet cherries, currants, cedar, licorice, light vanilla, tobacco, chocolates, light earth, coffee, herbs, spices and black pepper.

Long finish with soft tannins and cherries.

This 7 year old Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa is peaking now, and will continue to drink nicely in the next 5 years.

Delicious, complex and fruit forward. Nicely balanced and soft. Reminds me of a Left Bank Bordeaux.

This Single Vineyard is easy drinking and good by itself or with food. A great sipping wine.

I paired it with a Florentine steak.

A blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Merlot. Aged in French oak barrels for 20 months. A very small production of 1,500 bottles.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$125. — 6 months ago

"Odedi"

9.2

Inky in color with a short purplish rim.

Strong nose with black fruits, cedar, licorice, chocolates, light vegetables, wild flowers and peppercorn.

Full-bodied and smooth, with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with blackberries, black cherries, currants, cedar, vanilla, spices, espresso, cola, herbs, licorice, dark chocolates, light earth and peppercorn.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.

This young Cabernet Sauvignon blend from Napa Valley is already delicious.

Rich and engaging. Powerful and dark. Still a little unforgiving. Spicy and fruit forward.

Much earthier on the nose than on the palate. Only after 2.5 hours it balances out, so be patient.

Will continue to age nicely in the next 10 to 15 years, and has good potential to become a 94+ point wine. Would be nice to revisit it in 5 years.

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

Good by itself as a sipping wine or with food. Will pair nicely with a big piece of steak.

A blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petit Verdot and 5% Malbec. Grapes were handpicked and aged for 18 months in mostly French oak barrels.

14.2% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$95. — 9 months ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

From one of my favorite co-ops. I believe they are still the third largest co-op in Europe. Their tasting room sits on the top of the hill in the center of Barbaresco under & to the side of the church with an easy downhill short walk to Gaja.

2019 was a very good vintage in Piedmont.

The nose shows some light smokiness and lightly grilled meats. Dullish fruits of; blackberries, dark cherries, poached strawberries, raspberries with notes of black raspberries. Sandstone, dark earth and dark withering flowers with red roses.

The palate is ripe, juicy and lush. Quite pleasant for a youthful Barbaresco. Blackberries, dark cherries, poached strawberries, black raspberries, raspberries & blueberry hues. Crushed sandstone & limestone, nice mid spice, dry tobacco, tough leatheriness, barrel shavings, soft presence mix of dry & fresh herbs, dry river stone, red cola, brilliant red florals, red & pink roses, excellent acidity with a nicely tensioned, structured, balanced, elegant finish that lasts minutes landing on wood & dry earth.

Another one to cellar 8-10 plus years. — 20 days ago

"Odedi"

9.0

Deep ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.

Nose of red fruits with light earth notes.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with nice complexity.

Showing black currants, black plums, cherries, spices, tobacco, earth, light wood, dark coffee and black pepper.

Smooth finish with fine grained tannins and cherries.

This 6 year old is a very easy drinking Cabernet Franc from the Loire Valley in France.

Good right out of the bottle, and gets more complexity as it opens up. Tannins show up after 45 minutes of airtime.

I had it 4 years ago, and it is drinking pretty much the same, although it did gain more complexity. Will not get any better from this point, so drink up.

Good by itself as a sipping wine and good with food. I gave it a light chill and paired it with cheeses and crackers.

13.5% alcohol by volume.

90 points.

$40. — 4 months ago

"Odedi"

9.0

Deep ruby in color, almost Inky, with a short reddish rim.

Full bodied and smooth with medium acidity and long legs.

Very dry on the palate with nice complexity.

Showing blueberries, plums, cooked cherries, black currants, light cedar, dark coffee, chocolates, earth, peppercorn, pencil lead, tobacco leaf, light vegetables and bitter herbs.

Short, tangy finish with fine grained tannins and pomegranates.

This 8 year old Rioja Reserva is still young and very dry, but already drinkable.

Lacking a bit of fruits on the palate, but the nose is gorgeous, once it opens up. The nose is more interesting than the palate at this point.

Needs a few hours to open up properly, so take your time.

Will continue to age nicely in the next 5 to 10 years. Would be interesting to try it again in 5 years.

A good food wine that will pair nicely with a nice piece of steak.

A blend of 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha, 7% Mazuelo and 3% Graciano.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

90 points.

$50. — 8 months ago

"Odedi"

9.1

Pretty ruby in color with medium intensity and a wide reddish rim.

Red fruits on the nose with light wood, roses, spices, licorice and chocolates.

Medium bodied with medium plus acidity.

Dry on the palate with raspberries, bing cherries, red currants, earth, light wood, spices, coffee and peppercorn.

Spicy finish with soft tannins and tangy cranberries.

This is a very tasty Single Vineyard Pinot Noir from Russian River Valley in california. Flowery and engaging. Nicely balanced with a soft mouthfeel. Tangy and interesting.

Good right out of the bottle and easy drinking. spicy and fruit forward.

I had the 2018 a few years ago, and enjoyed it just as much. Will continue to age nicely in the next 5 to 7 years.

Good by itself as a sipping wine, or with food.

13% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$75. — 2 months 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. — 3 months ago

"Odedi"

9.2

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

Inky in color with a wide reddish rim.

Pretty nose of blackberries, black currants, black plums, light cedar, licorice, chocolates and coffee notes.

Full-bodied with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with currants, plums, sweet cherries, Mediterranean spices, light cedar, earth, chocolates, tobacco, peppercorn and herbs

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This young Merlot from Israel needs 3 hours to open up properly. Rich, spicy and engaging. Drinking very nicely now, and good by itself or with food. Smooth and elegant.

Will continue to age nicely in the next 10 years. Has good potential to become a 94+ point wine.

This 4 year old is robust and good by itself as a sipping wine. Will also pair nicely with a big piece of steak.

Aged in French oak barrels for 18 months. Unfiltered. Kosher and not Mevushal.

16% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$50. — 8 months ago