"Odedi"

9.1

It's time for some #MerlotThursday. Here is a fruit forward Merlot from Bordeaux.

Showing black and red fruits with wood, vanilla, earth, vegetables, spices, tobacco leaf, wet leaves, black tea, black pepper, spices, dark coffee, earth and leather.

Medium finish with firm tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is still young and a little harsh, even after opening up, with nice complexity and a great mouthfeel. Needed 3 hours to open up.

Showing great potential. This is from a great vintage, and will age nicely in the next 20 years. I would suggest not to touch it for another 3 years.

I've had the 2012 last year, and although this is much younger, it is much tastier already.

Robert Parker 94 points.

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

A blend of 84% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Franc and 2% Cabernet Sauvignon.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$100. — 2 days ago

"Odedi"

9.2

Time for some #MerlotThursday.

This is a very young,
yet approachable, Right Bank Bordeaux with a soft and elegant mouthfeel.

Dry and fruity on the palate with wood, vanilla, earth, spices, leather, tobacco, milk chocolates, black pepper, vegetables, bitter herbs and peppercorn.

Medium plus in body with medium plus acidity and nice legs.

Long finish with grippy tannins and tangy cranberries.

Already delicious and will age nicely in the next 15 years. Needs 3 hours to open up properly.

A blend of 83% Merlot and 17% Cabernet Franc.

14% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$60. — 23 days ago

"Odedi"

9.0

Time for #MerlotThursday. Here is a very enjoyable Pessac Léognan red.

Earthy with black fruits, chocolates, forest floor, black tea, peppercorn, leather, earth, oak, licorice, spices, coffee and pencil lead.

Still young and needs many more years in the bottle to mature properly.

This vintage is Merlot based, which is unique to this region. A blend of 57% Merlot, 37% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the rest Petit Verdot.

Wine Enthusiasts 94 points.

Needs 3 hours to open up properly.
Good with food or just by itself.

Had it together with the 1998 and boy, what a difference. Time works its magic here in a big way.

I paired it with a charcuterie board of meats and cheeses, but it is really nice with Brie cheese.

Aged for 20 months in 100% new French Oak barrels.

13.5% alcohol by volume.

90 points.

$90. — a month ago

"Odedi"

8.9

It is time for #MerlotThursday. Here is a nice surprise from the Right Bank of Bordeaux.

Dark ruby in color with a brick rim.

Earthy nose of blueberries, plums, currants, oak, vanilla, cloves, spices, earth, wet leaves, herbs, barnyard, black pepper, vegetables, bell pepper, black tea, graphite, leather and tobacco.

Full bodied with medium acidity and nice legs.

Dry on the palate with black currants, blueberries, wood, earth, light vanilla, vegetables, tobacco, black pepper, spices, dark coffee, wet leaves, bitter herbs, pencil lead, bell pepper and earth.

Medium finish with round tannins and tangy cherries.

This is a nice Merlot blend from Bordeaux. Earthy and nicely balanced, with a nice mouthfeel.

This 4 year old is drinking very nicely now, but not one for long term aging, even though it is from a great vintage. Tastes much more aged than a 4 year old.

Good right out of the bottle and better as it opens up and shows some tannins (2 hours).

Wine Enthusiasts 89 points.

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

A blend of 63% Merlot, 21% Cabernet Sauvignon and 16% Cabernet Franc.

14% alcohol by volume.

89 points.

$15. — 2 months ago

"Odedi"

9.0

This is #MerlotThursday and it is time for some Merlot.

Dark ruby in color with a short purple rim.

Fruity nose with black currants, blackberries, cherries, vanilla, earth, wood, spices, pencil lead and peppercorn.

Full bodied and bold with medium acidity and long legs.

Fruity on the palate with blackberries, black currants, sweet cherries, oak, vanilla, licorice, spices, tobacco leaf, light vegetables and peppercorn.

Medium plus in finish with grippy tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a young Right Bank Bordeaux. Fruit forward and big, with a grippy mouthfeel.

This second wine from this iconic winery, needs a couple of hours to open up properly.

This 7 year old is very young and unbalanced, but already drinking very nicely, and will be better in 5 to 10 years.

I had it at a blind tasting, called it, but missed the vintage by 2 years. Good enough for me. 😊

I paired it with light appetizers.

A blend of 85% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Franc and 1% Cabernet Sauvignon. Aged for 12 months in French oak barrels (100% 1 year old barrels).

14.5% alcohol by volume.

90 points.

$35. — 9 days ago

"Odedi"

8.5

Time for #MerlotThursday.

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

Light nose of cherries, blueberries, plums, vanilla, light oak, earth, spices, wet leaves, vegetables and black pepper.

Medium plus in body with medium plus acidity and nice legs.

Dry on the palate with black currants, plums, bell pepper, oak, wet leaves, mushrooms, licorice, spices, coffee and pencil lead.

Medium plus in finish with firm tannins and tangy cranberries.

This is a young Merlot from Long Island. Needs an additional 3 to 5 years of bottle time to mature.

This 6 year old is a little austere at this point, and unbalanced.

Wine Enthusiasts 93 points (sorry, can't get there 😊).

Remind me of a $20 Merlot based Bordeaux Supérieur.

Aged for 15 months in French oak barrels (30% new).

13% alcohol by volume.

85 points.

$40. — a month ago

"Odedi"

9.2

It's time for #MerlotThursday. Here's a delightful one.

Deep purple in color with a purplish rim.

Fruity nose of blackberries, blueberries, cherries, spices, cedar, licorice, vanilla, light vegetables, dark coffee, herbs, tobacco leaf, spices, earth and black pepper.

Full bodied and bold with medium plus acidity and nice legs.

Dry and fruity on the palate with blackberries, black currants, sweet cherries, cedar, leather, earth, vanilla, licorice, spices, chocolates, tobacco, coke, graphite and peppercorn.

Medium plus on the finish with round tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a very enjoyable Merlot from Napa Valley. Fruit forward, rich and big, with a great mouthfeel and nice complexity.

Good right out of the bottle and better as it opens up and shows the tannins {90 minutes).

Drinking very nicely now and will be better in the next 5 years.

I had it all by itself. So delicious.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$40. — 2 months ago

"Odedi"

9.0

Time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday. Here's a great one from Tuscany.

Dark ruby in color with a reddish rim.

Great nose of blueberries, cherries, oak, vanilla, licorice, spices, wild flowers, chocolates, tobacco, herbs, vegetables, graphite, light alcohol, bell pepper and peppercorn.

Full bodied with medium plus acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with blackberries, plums, cherries, oak, licorice, spices, coffee, pencil lead, cola, leather, smoke, vegetables, light bell pepper and peppercorn.

Long finish with firm tannins (but not grippy any longer).

This Merlot based, Super Tuscan Red, is very enjoyable now as a 5 year old. Showing nice complexity and a great mouthfeel.

Needs a couple of hours to open up properly and show the beautiful nose.

Still young, but already drinking very nicely. Would be nice to try it again in 3 years.

A blend of 72% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, 4% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Petit Verdot.

Good by itself or with food. I paired it with a cheeses and crackers.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

90 points.

$20. — 16 days ago

"Odedi"

8.9

Time for #MerlotThursday. This is a nice Right Bank Bordeaux.

Showing red and black fruits with earth, chocolates, wood, earth, bell pepper, spices, vegetables, cedar, leather, wet leaves, herbs and peppercorn.

Full bodied and bold with medium acidity and nice legs.

Dry on the palate and earthy with nice complexity. A good food wine.

Needs 2 hours to open up properly and show some tannins.

Still young and needs 5 to 10 years of bottle time. Not from a great vintage, and it is showing.

Had it blind and called it correctly, including the vintage. Love it when that happens 😉

A blend of 68% Merlot and 32% Cabernet Franc.

13% alcohol by volume.

89 points.

$25. — a month ago

"Odedi"

9.3

Time for #MerlotThursday. Here's a gorgeous one from Napa Valley.

A pretty color of dark ruby with a wide reddish rim.

Strong nose of blackberries, sweet cherries, black currants, oak, vanilla, cedar, leather, chocolates, tobacco, licorice, spices, coffee, mocha, light medicine and black pepper.

Full bodied and smooth with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with blackberries, black currants, sweet cherries, raisins, vanilla, cedar, licorice, cloves, earth, cola, chocolates, tobacco, spices, mocha, coke, earth, light vegetables, pencil lead and peppercorn.

Long finish with round tannins and tangy cherries.

This is a wonderful Merlot from Napa Valley. Well balanced with a great mouthfeel. Showing nice complexity, but needs 5 to 7 years in the bottle to mature.

Already very soft and good right out of the bottle. Very chocolatey, delicious and yummy.

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

14.1% alcohol by volume.

93 points.

$30. — 2 months ago