Dark ruby in color with a reddish rim. Fruity nose with red and blue fruits, light oak, tobacco leaf, licorice, light eucalyptus, spices and chocolates. Medium in body with medium plus acidity. Dry on the palate with red currants, cherries, plums, light oak, chocolates, peppercorn, light herbs and spices. Tangy finish with fine grained tannins and cranberries. This is a tasty Single Vineyard Grenache from California. Nicely balanced and complex. Tangy, spicy and elegant. Good right out of the bottle, even better after 60 minutes of airtime, and best with a light chill. Easy drinking and good by itself or with food. Paired nicely with hard cheeses. A blend of 76% Grenache and 24% Syrah. Aged for 16 months in (40% new) French Oak barrels. A small production of only 1,200 bottles. 14.5% alcohol by volume. 90 points. $62.

Optio Vineyards Grenache 2023, San Luis Obispo, California

#grenache #syrah #vinRouge #California #wine #vino #wineoclock #vinho #lovewine #sommelier #winetime

Heir Apparent Cellars Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2022, California Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim. Fresh red fruits on the nose with light oak, chocolates, light licorice, earth, sweet tobacco, herbs, mediterranean spices, tea leaf and light green vegetables. Medium plus in body and elegant with medium acidity. Dry on the palate with black currants, plums, cherries, light oak, spices, dark chocolates, earth, tobacco leaf, herbs, bell pepper and peppercorn. Tangy and spicy finish with fine grained tannins. This young Napa Cabernet feels very fresh and youthful, and needs a few years in the bottle to mature properly. Juicy and tangy, complex and interesting. Spicy and entertaining, elegant and easy drinking Not your typical Napa Cabernet Sauvignon, and feels more like a Left Bank Bordeaux. The Cabernet Franc seems to be very dominant right now. Earthier than I expected, and showing more fruits on the nose than the palate at this point. Will continue to age nicely in the next 10 years. I had a few different vintages of this wine, and my favorite so far is the 2016. Good right out of the bottle, and even better the next day, when much of the vegetable notes dissipate. A good sipping wine that paired very well with my Lamb T-bone dish. A blend of 93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc and 3% Merlot. Aged for 22 months in (50% New) French Oak barrels. 14.5% alcohol by volume. 92 points. $50.

Heir Apparent Cellars Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2022, California

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#cabernet #NapaValley #cabernetfranc #wine #merlot #redwine #goodwine #winesky #winewriter #vinRouge #odedi #wineblog #sommelier #wineenthusiasts

Occidental Wines SWK Vineyard Pinot Noir 2014, Sonoma Coast, California Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim. Beautiful nose of red and black fruits with light wood, black tea, spices, light licorice, chocolates, herbs and tobacco leaf. Medium plus in body with medium acidity. Dry on the palate with black currants, plums, cooked cherries, chocolates, tobacco, light cedar, herbs, licorice, light earth and black pepper. Long finish with soft tannins and tangy cherries. This is a delicious Pinot Noir from Sonoma Coast. Rich and fruit forward. Elegant and complex. Nicely balanced and easy drinking, with a nice mouthfeel. This 12-year-old Pinot Noir is drinking beautifully now, and drinking at its peak. Will continue to drink nicely in the next few years. Wine Advocate 95 points. Drinking beautifully by itself with a light chill. 100% Pinot Noir grapes were aged in (30% new) French Oak barrels for 12 months. Unfiltered and unfined. 14.1% alcohol by volume. 92 points. $120.

Occidental Wines SWK Vineyard Pinot Noir 2014, Sonoma Coast, California

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#pinot #pinotnoir #vinRouge #topwine #sonoma #winesky #winewriter #odedi #winereview #redwine #goodwine #ilovewine #wine

This is a very tasty and easy drinking Grenache from France. Medium plus in body with medium acidity. Showing red and black fruits with earth, wood, spices, coffee, dark chocolates, tobacco leaf, herbs and peppercorn. Still young and needs a few years in the bottle to mature properly. Elegant, nicely balanced and a good food wine. A blend of 95% Grenache and 5% Grenache Gris. 14.7% alcohol by volume. 91 points. $70.

Clos Lointain The Spectra Grenache 2023, France

#wine #grenache #frenchwine #winereview #odedi #wineblog #winewriter #vinRouge #topwine #winesky

Realm Cellars The Tempest 2018, Napa Valley, California It is time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday. Let's bring Merlot back! Dark inky in color with a short purplish rim. Fruity nose and full-bodied with medium acidity and long legs. Dry on the palate and very fruity. Showing black currants, plums, cooked cherries, dried figs, cedar, vanilla, cooked raisins, chocolates, light earth, herbs, spices, dark coffee, peppercorn and licorice. Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries. This is a delicious Merlot from Napa Valley. Fruit forward and extracted. Rich, and in your face kind of wine. Still young, and needs 7 years in the bottle to mature properly. Will continue to age nicely in the next 15 years. This 8-year-old is nicely balanced and dense, with enough acidity for the fruits. Complex with a nice mouthfeel. Big, bold and beautiful, with a teeth staining color. Not a good choice for a first date. Wine Advocate 94 points. The blend varies with each vintage. I've had the 2014 vintage a year ago, and loved it even more. A great sipping wine that will also pair nicely with food. A blend of 75% Merlot and 25% Cabernet Sauvignon. 14.6% alcohol by volume. 93 points. $160.

Realm Cellars The Tempest 2018, Napa Valley, California

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#merlot #NapaValley #cabernet #FineWine #redwine #goodwine #winesky #winewriter #vinRouge #odedi #wineblog

Caroline Parent Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru 2012, Burgundy, France #AgedWineTuesday Purple in color with medium plus intensity. Nice nose of red fruits with red flowers, light wood, spices, earth, tobacco leaf, herbs, light barnyard and dark chocolates. Medium plus in body with medium acidity. Dry on the palate with raspberries, cherries, light wood, spices, coffee, earth, dark chocolates, tobacco leaf and light forest floor. Medium finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries. This 14 year old Pinot Noir from Burgundy is still drinking very nicely. Elegant, complex and interesting. Nicely balanced with a nice mouthfeel. Soft and smooth, spicy and entertaining. Good right out of the bottle, and good by itself or with food. I paired it with pasta and Ragu sauce. 13% alcohol by volume. 91 points. $300.

Caroline Parent Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru 2012, Burgundy, France

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#burgundy #pinotnoir #vinRouge #topwine #frenchwine #vin #luxurylife #winereview #odedi #wineblog #winewriter #redredwine #Sommelierlife #finewines #winefreak

Calla Lily Estate Audax Valor 2023, Napa Valley, California Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim. Earthy nose with red and black fruits, light wood, coffee, earth, dark chocolates, tobacco leaf, herbs, peppercorn and spices. Medium plus in body with medium acidity and long legs. Dry on the palate with cherries, plums, raspberries, light oak, spices, dark chocolates, tobacco leaf, herbs, earth, light vegetables and green tea. Tangy finish with fine grained tannins and raspberries. This Cabernet Franc based blend from Napa Valley is already drinking nicely, even by itself. Still young, and needs more bottle time to mature properly. Would be nice to revisit it in 5 to 7 years. Fruitier on the palate than the nose, nicely balanced and elegant. Earthy and spicy. Tangy and interesting. Feels like a Right Bank Bordeaux Red. Good right out of the bottle, and better with airtime. A good sipping wine and very easy drinking, so watch out. A blend of 56% Cabernet Franc, 31% Merlot and 13% Cabernet Sauvignon. 14.1% alcohol by volume. 91 points. $150

Calla Lily Estate Audax Valor 2023, Napa Valley, California

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#cabernetsauvignon #redwine #wine #vino #cabernetfranc #cabsauv #NapaValley #redwine #goodwine #winesky #winewriter #vinRouge #odedi #wineblog #sommelier #wineenthusiasts

Ad Vivum Cellars Sleeping Lady Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2018, Napa Valley, California It is time for my #FridayCabernetfix. Inky in color with a short purple rim. Nose of blueberries, black plums, cooked cherries, black currants, cedar, licorice, light vanilla, tobacco, dark chocolates and black pepper. Medium plus in body with medium acidity. Dry on the palate with black currants, plums, cooked cherries, spices, licorice, cedar, light earth, light vanilla, chocolates, black pepper and coffee. Long finish with round tannins and tangy cherries. This 8 year old Napa Cabernet is still young, but already delicious. Rich and powerful, yet elegant, with a soft mouthfeel. Nicely balanced, fruit forward and complex. Good right out of the bottle, and better after 2 hours in the decanter. This Single Vineyard Cabernet needs another 5 years in the bottle to mature properly. Has good potential to become a 95+ point wine. I've had a few vintages of this Cabernet Sauvignon and it is so much better with age. Good by itself as a sipping wine, and paired beautifully with food too. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes were aged in (70% new) French oak barrels for 20 months. 14.5% alcohol by volume. 92 points. $200.

Ad Vivum Cellars Sleeping Lady Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2018, Napa Valley, California

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#cabernet #NapaValley #FineWine #redwine #goodwine #winesky #winewriter #vinRouge #odedi #wineblog

Chateau Canon la Gaffeliere Saint Emilion Grand Cru Classé 2010, Bordeaux, France It is time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday. Let's bring Merlot back! Dark ruby in color with a short reddish rim. Fruity nose and medium plus in body with medium acidity. Dry on the palate with nice complexity and mouthfeel. Showing black currants, plums, cooked cherries, cedar, chocolates, toast, licorice, spices, earth, tobacco and herbs. Long finish with round tannins and tangy cherries. This is a delicious Merlot based blend from Bordeaux. Rich and extracted. Nicely balanced and complex. This 16 year old is starting to drink at its peak now, and will continue to age nicely in the next 10 years. Wine Advocate 96 points. Wine Spectator 96 points. I've had the 2012 a few years ago, but this 2010 vintage is showing so much better. Needs a couple of hours to open up properly, so be patient. Good by itself as a sipping wine, or with food. A blend of 55% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. Aged for 17 months in French Oak barrels. Unfiltered and unfined. 14.5% alcohol by volume. 92 points. $180.

Chateau Canon la Gaffeliere Saint Emilion Grand Cru Classé 2010, Bordeaux, France

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#merlot #frenchwine #SaintEmilion #vinRouge #odedi #wineblog #winewriter #wine #vin #CabernetFranc #cabernetsauvignon #FineWine #goodwine #redwine #ilovewine

Optio Vineyards Aer 2023, Paso Robles, California Dark inky in color with a short purple rim. Strong nose of blackberries, black currants, cooked plums, cedar, vanilla, licorice, tobacco, coffee, dried figs, spices, chocolates, black pepper and light herbs. Full-bodied and smooth with medium acidity and long legs. Dry and very fruity on the palate with black currants, blackberries, black plums, cooked cherries, spices, cedar, licorice, chocolates, tobacco, herbs and peppercorn. Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries. This is a delicious Petite Sirah/Tempranillo blend from Paso Robles. Elegant, spicy and smooth. Complex, bold and entertaining. Tangy and interesting. Drinking very nicely right out of the bottle with lots of Petite Sirah notes. As it opens up, the Tempranillo shows up. Really loved the nose after 3 hours of airtime. Delicious now, and will continue to age nicely in the next 7 to 10 years. Good by itself as a sipping wine or with food. Paired very nicely with Havarti cheese. A blend of 50% Petite Sirah, 40% Tempranillo and 10% Mourvedre. 15.3% alcohol by volume. 92 points. $62.

Optio Vineyards Aer 2023, Paso Robles, California

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#petitesirah #Tempranillo #Mourvedre #PasoRobles #redwine #goodwine #winesky #winewriter #vinRouge #odedi #wineblog #wine #vino #vinho

Ghost Block Estates Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2022, Oakville, California It is time for my #FridayCabernetfix. Here is a delicious one. Dark ruby in color with a reddish rim. Pretty nose of blackberries, black currants, black plums, cedar, licorice, vanilla, chocolates, herbs, eucalyptus, light spices and black pepper. Full-bodied with medium acidity and long legs. Dry on the palate and fruit forward with blackberries, plums, currants, cedar, licorice, peppercorn, coffee, cola, light vanilla, tobacco, herbs and light earth. Long finish with fine grained tannins, red chili pepper and tangy cherries. This young Cabernet Sauvignon from Oakville is already drinking beautifully. Nicely balanced, complex and engaging. Elegant, tangy and rich. Soft and smooth. Delicious right out of the bottle, easy to drink, and very approachable. As it opens up, more earth notes show up. Showing a great nose. Spicy and entertaining. Will continue to age nicely in the next 15 years, and showing good potential to become a 94+ point wine. I've had a few vintages of this wine and it is very consistent, and so much better with age. A great sipping wine that paired nicely with my Leg of Lamb dish. A blend of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Malbec and 2% Petit Verdot. Aged for 24 months in (60% new) French Oak barrels. 14.5% alcohol by volume. 93 points. $80.

Ghost Block Estates Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2022, Oakville, California

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#cabernet #NapaValley #FineWine #redwine #goodwine #winesky #winewriter #vinRouge #odedi #wineblog #winewriter #Oakville

Domaine La Bastide Blanche Cuvée Fontaneou Bandol Rouge 2022, Provence, France Dark ruby/ purple in color with a short reddish rim. Fruit nose and medium plus in body with medium acidity. Dry on the palate with nice complexity. Showing red cherries, currants, plums, chocolates, spices, tobacco leaf, dark coffee, peppercorn and licorice. Short finish with grippy tannins and tart cranberries. This is a very young Single Vineyard Mourvedre from Bandol. Rich, complex and powerful. In your face kind of wine, and not very approachable right now, but showing good potential. Needs a long time to open up, and will continue to age nicely in the next 10 to 15 years. Would be nice to revisit it in 5 years. Better with food at this point. A blend of 92% Mourvedre and 8% Grenache. Aged in large French oak barrels. 13.5% alcohol by volume. 90 points. $40.

Domaine La Bastide Blanche Cuvée Fontaneou Bandol Rouge 2022, Provence, France

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#Mourvedre #Bandol #frenchwine #grenache #vinRouge #topwine #wine #vin #redwine #winetasting #winelover #winetime

Light reddish in color. Medium bodied with medium plus acidity. Dry on the palate with mild complexity. Showing red fruits with earth, light wood, spices, coffee and light vegetables. This is a simple Pinot Noir from New Zealand. Soft, smooth and elegant. Not showing much typicity, and could be from anywhere really. Needs 30 minutes to open up properly, and remove some of the stinky notes. 12% alcohol by volume. 86 points. $15.

Matua Wines Marlborough Pinot Noir 2022, New Zealand

#pinot #pinotnoir #vinRouge #NewZealand #Marlborough #redwine

Fates' Lieutenant Winery La Rinconada Vineyard Pinot Noir 2021, Santa Rita Hills, California Reddish in color with light intensity. Fruity nose of red berries with light oak, spices and chocolate notes. Light to medium in body with medium acidity and long legs. Dry on the palate with fresh cherries, raspberries, spices, light oak, tobacco leaf and herbs. Nice finish with soft tannins and tangy raspberries. This 5-year-old Single Vineyard Pinot Noir from Santa Rita Hills is drinking very nicely now, and will continue to get better in the next 5 to 7 years. Spicy, fruit forward and elegant. Wine Enthusiasts 90 points. Showing nice complexity with a soft mouth feel. Nicely balanced and good right out of the bottle. Good by itself as a sipping wine, and paired nicely with my Charcuterie board. 13.5% alcohol by volume. 91 points. $70.

Fates' Lieutenant Winery La Rinconada Vineyard Pinot Noir 2021, Santa Rita Hills, California

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#pinot #pinotnoir #vinRouge #redwine #goodwine #California #odedi #winewriter #winereview #vin #wine #vino

Frias Family Vineyard Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva 2023, Spring Mountain District, California Inky in color with a short reddish rim. Fruity nose of blackberries, sweet plums, cooked cherries, licorice, cedar, vanilla, leather, spices, tobacco, chocolates, coffee, peppercorn, cola and light metal notes. Full-bodied with medium acidity and long legs. Dry and very fruity on the palate with blackberries, black currants, plums, cooked cherries, cedar, coffee, toast, light vanilla, spices, dark chocolates, peppercorn and herbs. Long finish with round tannins and tangy cherries. This is a delicious Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley. Rich and expressive. Fruit forward and elegant. Spicy and entertaining. Complex and nicely balanced. Soft and smooth. Already approachable, yet still very young, and needs more time in the bottle to mature properly. Will continue to age nicely in the next 20 years. Showing good potential to become a 94+ point wine. Good right out of the bottle, and better after 3 hours of airtime. Good by itself as a sipping wine or with food, like a big piece of steak. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes were aged in (54% new) French oak barrels for 21 months. A small production of less than 3,000 bottles. 14.5% alcohol by volume. 92 points. $175.

Frias Family Vineyard Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva 2023, Spring Mountain District, California

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#NapaValley #cabernetsauvignon #FineWine #goodwine #redwine #ilovewine #vinRouge #topwine #wine #luxurylife #lovewhatyoudo

Netofa Winery Latour Red 2018, Galilee, Israel #KosherWineSunday Ruby in color with a wide reddish rim. Fruity nose and medium plus in body with medium acidity. Dry on the palate and very fruity. Showing red and black fruits with light wood, spices, licorice, coffee, dark chocolates, peppercorn, tobacco, bitter herbs, light vegetables, dried meats and light iron notes. Medium plus on the finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries. This 8 year old Syrah blend from Israel is drinking at its peak now. Elegant and nicely balanced. Spicy and fruit forward. Complex and interesting. I had this vintage 5 years ago, and it is drinking better now. Will continue to drink nicely in the next few years. Wine Enthusiasts 90 points. Good right out of the bottle, and good by itself or with food. A blend of 70% Syrah and 30% Mourvedre. Aged in French oak barrels for 13 months. Kosher and not Mevushal. 14% alcohol by volume. 91 points. $30 (at release).

Netofa Winery Latour Red 2018, Galilee, Israel

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#syrah #Mourvedre #Israeliwine #kosherwine #redwine #goodwine #winesky #winewriter #vinRouge #odedi #wineblog #israel #kosher

thanks Dr Olabisi for a great night out to enjoy great friends and great food #vinrouge

Marchesi di Barolo Sarmassa Barolo 2010, Piedmont, Italy #AgedWineTuesday Dark ruby in color with a reddish rim. Nose of red and black fruits with light wood, spices, coffee, dark chocolates, earth and light barnyard. Medium plus in body with medium acidity. Dry on the palate with black currants, black plums, earth, light oak, spices, dark chocolates, light tar, vegetables and peppercorn. Medium minus in length on the finish with fine grained tannins, and tangy raspberries. This 16 year old Barolo from the great 2010 vintage, is drinking very nicely now. Soft and elegant. Complex and interesting. Nicely balanced with a nice mouthfeel. Good right out of the bottle, and better after 45 minutes of airtime. Wine Spectator 91 points. Wine Enthusiasts 93 points. Will not get better from this point on, but will continue to drink nicely for a while. I had the 2018 a couple of years ago, and it was too young. A good food wine that paired nicely with my pizza. 14% alcohol by volume. 91 points. $130.

Marchesi di Barolo Sarmassa Barolo 2010, Piedmont, Italy

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#Barolo #italianwine #Nebbiolo #Piedmont #redwinelover #odedi #winewriter #winereview #vin #luxurylife #goodwine #vinRouge #topwine #Italy

Clos Saint Jean Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rouge 2022, Rhône, France Reddish in color with medium intensity. Fresh picked cherries and strawberries on the nose with light chocolates notes. Medium bodied with medium acidity. Dry on the palate with cherries, strawberries, raspberries, chocolates, earth and spices. Medium plus on the finish with fine grained tannins and raspberries. This is a very young Grenache blend from Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Complex and engaging. Nicely balanced and spicy. The high alcohol is well integrated already. Ripe and fresh tasting at this point, and will continue to age nicely in the next 10 years. Easy drinking and good by itself as a sipping wine. A blend of 75% Grenache and 15% Syrah with some Mourvedre and Cinsault. Aged mostly in concrete vats for 12 months. 16% alcohol by volume. 91 points. $50.

Clos Saint Jean Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rouge 2022, Rhône, France

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#grenache #syrah #vinRouge #chateauneufdupape #frenchwine #Rhone #redwinelover #odedi #winewriter #winereview #vin #luxurylife #goodwine #Mourvedre #Cinsault #redblend #redwine

Timbre Winery The Rhythm Riverbench Vineyard Pinot Noir 2023, Santa Maria Valley, California Timbre Winery The Rhythm Riverbench Vineyard Pinot Noir 2023, Santa Maria Valley, California #KosherWineSunday Reddish in color with medium intensity. Fruity nose of red fruits with light wood, chocolates, mediterranean spices, light earth and herbs. Medium plus in body with medium acidity. Dry on the palate with red cherries, red currants, earth, light tobacco leaf, herbs and black pepper. Nice length on the finish with soft tannins and sour cherries. This is a young Pinot Noir from Santa Maria Valley in California. Elegant and complex. Nicely balanced and fruit forward. This Single Vineyard Pinot Noir is already drinking nicely, and will continue to age nicely in the next 5 to 7 years. Has good potential to become a 92+ point wine. Spicy and entertaining. Tangy, interesting and very true to the Terroir. Good by itself or with food. A small production of only 4 barrels. Kosher and not Mevushal. 14% alcohol by volume. 91 points. $70.

Timbre Winery The Rhythm Riverbench Vineyard Pinot Noir 2023, Santa Maria Valley, California

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#pinot #pinotnoir #vinRouge #California #wine #vino #redwine #odedi #winewriter #winereview #vin

It is time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday. Let's bring Merlot back! Deep ruby in color with a reddish rim. Nose of black currants, blackberries, black cherries, cedar, coffee, toast, light vanilla, dark chocolates, peppercorn, licorice, light earth, herbs and spices. Full-bodied with medium acidity and long legs. Dry on the palate with cooked plums, currants, cedar, vanilla, spices, espresso, earth, tobacco leaf, herbs and peppercorn. Long finish with medium tannins and tangy cherries. This is a young Bordeaux blend from Yountville in Napa Valley. Rich and extracted. Dense and fruit forward. Chewy and interesting. This Single Vineyard is very dry right out of the bottle, and better after 90 minutes of airtime. Nicely balanced and complex. Will continue to age nicely in the next 10 to 15 years. Good by itself or with food. A blend of 51% Merlot, 47% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Malbec. 14.2% alcohol by volume. 92 points. $80.

Tamber Bey Vineyards The Lotus Collection Deux Chevaux Vineyard Red Blend 2023, Yountville California

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#merlot #drinkmoreMerlot #bringbackMerlot #vinRouge #California #wine #vino #vinho #NapaValley #cabernet #malbec

Chateau Fortia Cuvée du Baron Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rouge 2018, Rhone, France Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim. Beautiful nose of red fruits with earth, light wood, coffee, spices, dark chocolates and peppercorn. Medium bodied with medium acidity. Dry on the palate with black currants, plums, cooked cherries, spices, chocolates, light oak and licorice. Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries. This 8 year old GSM blend from Châteauneuf-du-Pape is delicious now. Complex, well balanced and entertaining. Elegant and fruit forward. I had the 2020 vintage not too long ago, and this one drinks so much better. Will continue to age nicely in the next 5 to 7 years. Robert Parker 93 points. Easy drinking and good by itself as a sipping wine. A blend of 40% Grenache, 40% Syrah and 20% Mourvedre. Aged in large French oak barrels for 18 months. 15% alcohol by volume. 92 points. $55.

Chateau Fortia Cuvée du Baron Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rouge 2018, Rhone, France

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#grenache #syrah #Mourvedre #vinRouge #chateauneufdupape #redwinelover #wein #redwine #goodwine #winereview #redredwine #redblend #france #odedi #winewriter

Force Majeure Red Mountain Syrah 2018, Washington State Inky in color with a short reddish rim. Strong nose of black fruits with cedar, licorice, chocolates, earth, herbs, mediterranean spices and black pepper. Full-bodied and smooth with medium acidity and long legs. Dry and very fruity on the palate with black currants, black plums, dried fruits, cedar, figs, light alcohol, black licorice, dark chocolates, light earth, tobacco, herbs and peppercorn. Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries. This 8 year old Syrah from Red Mountain is drinking beautifully now. Rich and fruit forward. Nicely balanced and elegant. Complex and entertaining. Delicious now, and drinking close to its peak. Will continue to age nicely in the next 5 to 7 years. Good right out of the bottle, and better after 2 hours of airtime. Good by itself as a sipping wine or with food. A blend of 98% Syrah and 2% Viognier. Aged for 18 months in (23% new) large French oak barrels. A small production of only 500 cases. 14.9% alcohol by volume. 92 points. $100.

Force Majeure Red Mountain Syrah 2018, Washington State

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#wine #winereview #odedi #wineblog #winewriter #vinRouge #topwine #syrah #viognier #washingtonstate #redwine #redmountain

Chateau du Tailhas Pomerol 2019, Bordeaux, France It is time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday. Let's bring Merlot back! Pretty color of dark ruby, with a wide reddish rim. Fruity nose of red and black fruits with wood, earth, tobacco and chocolate notes. Medium plus in body with medium acidity. Dry on the palate with blueberries, plums, cooked cherries, oak, licorice, spices, chocolates, tobacco, earth and herbs. Nice finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries. This is a very tasty Merlot from Pomerol. Complex and interesting. Spicy, elegant and fruit forward. Drinking very nicely now, and will continue to age nicely in the next 7 years. I had the 2016 vintage last year and it was even better. Would be nice to revisit it in a few years. Nicely balanced and easy drinking. Good by itself or with food. A blend of 80% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Cabernet Franc. Aged for 12 months in (50% new) French oak barrels. 14% alcohol by volume. 91 points. $65.

Chateau du Tailhas Pomerol 2019, Bordeaux, France

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#merlot #pomerol #cabernetfranc #cabernetsauvignon #wine #winereview #odedi #wineblog #winewriter #vinRouge #topwine #BordeauxWine #AgedWine

Domaine Tempier La Migoua Bandol Rouge 2022, Provence, France Ruby in color with a wide reddish rim. Red fruits on the nose with light oak and red candy notes. Medium plus in body with medium plus acidity. Dry on the palate with red and black fruits, light wood, chocolates, tobacco leaf, earth and dark coffee. Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries. This is a delicious red blend from Bandol. Fruit forward, and still very young. However, it is very approachable right now. Will continue to age nicely in the next 15 years. This Single Vineyard Mourvèdre based blend is very interesting. Well balanced and complex with a nice mouthfeel. A good quality wine. A tasty sipping wine that will pair nicely with food too. A blend of 50% Mourvèdre, 20% Grenache, 26% Cinsault and 4% Syrah. Aged in French oak barrels for 18 months. 14.5% alcohol by volume. 92 points. $100.

Domaine Tempier La Migoua Bandol Rouge 2022, Provence, France

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#Bandol #Mourvedre #grenache #vinRouge #topwine #wine #vin #luxurylife #odedi #redwinelover #sommlife #Cinsault #frenchwine

Holocene Wines Codex Pinot Noir 2023, Willamette Valley, Oregon Ruby in color with a wide reddish rim. Fruity nose of raspberries, cherries, currants, spices, tobacco leaf herbs and black pepper. Medium bodied with medium acidity. Dry on the palate with plums, cherries, spices, light wood, tobacco, chocolates and peppercorn. Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries. This young Pinot Noir from Williamette Valley in Oregon is starting to drink nicely now. Elegant and nicely balanced. Fruity, tangy and interesting. Needs a few years in the bottle to mature properly, but already enjoyable, even by itself. A good quality wine that will continue to age nicely in the next 5 to 7 years. Complex, and good by itself or with food. 100% Pinot Noir grapes were aged for 19 months in (20% new) French oak barrels. A small production of less than 3,500 bottles. 13.3% alcohol by volume. 91 points. $50.

Holocene Wines Codex Pinot Noir 2023, Willamette Valley, Oregon

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#pinot #pinotnoir #vinRouge #oregonwine #willamettevalley #wine #redwine #goodwine #ilovewine #winesky #odedi #winewriter #winereview #vin

Dama Wines Painted Hills Vineyard Grenache 2022, Columbia Valley, Washington State Purple in color with medium plus intensity, and a wide purplish rim. Fruity nose and medium plus in body with medium acidity. Dry on the palate and spicy. Showing sweet raspberries, cherries, red currants, earth, light wood, spices, dark chocolates, peppercorn and herbs. Nice finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries. This is a tasty Grenache from Columbia Valley in Washington State. Elegant and fruit forward, with a soft mouthfeel. Nicely balanced and complex. This Single Vineyard Grenache is easy drinking and very approachable already. Would be nice to revisit it in 5 years and see how it evolves. A nice sipping wine that will pair nicely with food too. Grenache grapes were aged in (20% new) French oak barrels for 23 months. 14.8% alcohol by volume. 90 points. $45.

Dama Wines Painted Hills Vineyard Grenache 2022, Columbia Valley, Washington State

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#grenache #Washingtonwine #columbiaValley #wine #redwine #goodwine #winesky #winewriter #vinRouge #odedi #wineblog #winewriter #SingleVineyard

The Vice Wines Coyote Chief Cabernet Sauvignon 2022, Howell Mountain, California Inky in color with a short purple rim. Fruity nose of black currants, plums, cherries, light oak, spices, licorice, dark chocolates and black pepper. Medium plus in body with medium acidity. Dry and fruit forward on the palate with black plums, black currants, light oak, spices, coffee, peppercorn, dark chocolates and light herbs. Long finish with round tannins and tangy cherries. This young Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon from Howell Mountain is starting to drink very nicely now, but needs a few years in the bottle to mature properly. Shows good structure with a nice mouthfeel. Nicely balanced and complex. Needs time to open up properly. I gave it 4 hours in the decanter. Will continue to age nicely in the next 10 years. A good sipping wine that will also pair nicely with a nice piece of steak. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes were aged for 18 months in (50% new) French Oak barrels. Unfiltered. A small production of 521 cases. 14.5% alcohol by volume. 92 points. $65.

The Vice Wines Coyote Chief Cabernet Sauvignon 2022, Howell Mountain, California

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#cabernet #NapaValley #FineWine #redwine #goodwine #winesky #winewriter #vinRouge #odedi #finewines #winefreak

Pale purple in color. Strong nose of black currants, plums, light oak and chocolate notes. Medium plus in body with medium acidity. Dry on the palate with red and black fruits, light wood, spices, coffee, earth, dark chocolates, tobacco leaf, herbs and peppercorn. Tangy finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries. This Single Vineyard Syrah from Walla Walla Valley is much lighter than I expected it to be. Engaging and interesting. Complex, fruit forward and easy drinking. A nice sipping wine. A blend of 97% Syrah and 3% Viognier. Grapes were fermented with wild yeast in concrete vats and aged in neutral French oak barrels for 22 months. A small production of less than 3,500 bottles. 13.5% alcohol by volume. 90 points. $65.

Gramercy Cellars Forgotten Hills Vineyard Syrah 2020, Walla Walla Valley, Washington State

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#syrah #vinRouge #Washingtonwine #viognier #redwine #goodwine #winesky #winewriter #odedi #winereview

Seven Hills Winery Rocks District Syrah 2021, Walla Walla Valley, Washington State Deep purple in color with a purplish rim. Strong nose of black currants, cooked plums, barnyard, tobacco leaf and herbs. Medium plus in body with medium acidity. Dry on the palate with black plums, cooked cherries, spices, oak, licorice, chocolates, tobacco leaf, herbs, vegetables and peppercorn. Nice finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries. This young Syrah from the Rocks District in Walla Walla Valley is nicely balanced, rich and extracted. Bold, yet elegant. Already complex and approachable, and will continue to age nicely in the next 10 years. Stinky in a good way, and feels like a new world Syrah with a Northern Rhone feel. Good by itself or with food, like game meats. Grapes were aged for 18 months in French oak barrels. 14.5% alcohol by volume. 91 points. $50.

Seven Hills Winery Rocks District Syrah 2021, Walla Walla Valley, Washington State

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#wine #syrah #WallaWallaValley #RocksDistrict #redwine #goodwine #winesky #winewriter #vinRouge #odedi #wineblog #winewriter #SingleVineyard