Terroir India Wineries
Pascual Toso
Limited Edition Mendoza Malbec 2014
Pascual Toso – Malbec Limited Edition 2014
Mendoza, Argentina 🇦🇷
Overview:
A rare Limited Edition Malbec from Pascual Toso, one of Mendoza’s oldest and most respected wineries (founded in 1890). The vines grow in the heart of a natural canyon carved by an ancient river stream, fed by snowmelt from the Andes Mountains. This unique terroir adds intensity, freshness, and a striking mineral backbone to the wine.
Aromas & Flavors:
The bouquet opens with deep layers of ripe blackberries, plums, and black cherries, woven with cocoa, violets, and subtle tobacco leaf. On the palate, the fruit is concentrated yet refined, laced with graphite, vanilla, and a faint savory spice.
Mouthfeel:
Silky and waxy in texture, yet powerfully structured. Tannins are polished and integrated, giving a sense of elegance within its robust frame. The finish is long, lingering with dark fruit, earth, and a whisper of Andes minerality.
Winemaking Notes:
Only made in exceptional vintages, this Malbec undergoes extended maceration and aging in new French oak barrels, amplifying its depth and age-worthiness. At nearly a decade in bottle, the 2014 vintage is showing a beautiful balance between fruit richness and tertiary development.
Food Pairing:
An outstanding match for grilled ribeye, slow-braised short ribs, or lamb chops with rosemary. Also excellent with aged cheeses or earthy mushroom dishes.
Verdict:
A powerful yet elegant Mendoza Malbec, shaped by the drama of its canyon terroir. The silky, waxy texture stands out, making it not just bold but also sophisticated. Truly a wine for collectors and connoisseurs—drink now or cellar further to enjoy its evolution.
Personal Pick Highlight:
For me, this 2014 Limited Edition stood out as one of the most memorable Mendoza Malbecs I’ve had in recent years. The combination of silkiness and power felt like a perfect snapshot of the region’s soul. A bottle I’d happily revisit again and again. Cheers! — 7 months ago
Lamoreaux Landing
Riesling 2016
The basic Riesling from this winery. One of the most consistent quality wineries in the Finger Lakes. The tasting room is worth a visit with classic architecture and great views of the lake. The Riesling has a very discernible finger lakes terroir, with some flint to balance the fruit. Dry but not austere. Really very good and great value. — 8 years ago
Château Cos d'Estournel
Les Pagodes de Cos Saint-Estéphe Red Bordeaux Blend 2005
Is there anything better than Ribeye & Claret? From my perspective, no. This is the second wine from one of more prestigious Chateaus in St. Estephe. Bordeaux rule number 2, buy the hell out of good producers second wines in very good vintages, like 2005. You’ll get great wines at more affordable prices. Providing, you exercise patience; which is rule number 1. Decanted for 3 plus hours. On the nose, ripe; blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, baked strawberries, black plum & cherries pull up the rear. Incense, herbaceous character, anise, scorched dark earth, burnt ambers, anise, baking spices dominated by vanilla, black tea, black cherry cola, loamy dry soils, dry & fresh red florals with violets for days. It’s in a great phase with many years ahead. The body is full and round. The texture has you wanting more. It’s velvety and ripe. Tannins soft and powdery, around 65-70 resolved. The fruits are ripe & ruby...showing the excellence of the 05 vintage. Blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, baked strawberries, black plum & cherries pull up the rear. Incense, herbaceous character, anise, scorched dark earth, dry stones, leather, cigar with ash, burnt ambers, anise, baking spices dominated by vanilla, black tea, black cherry cola, loamy dry soils, dry & fresh red florals with violets for days. The acidity is dead on. The length, structure, length & balance is harmonizing like America on the album, “ Horse with No Name.” The long finish is; ruby, rich, elegant, round, beautiful and lasts a minute plus. Beautiful wine. 9.4 with the steak. 9.2 on its own. Photos of; Chateau Cos d’ Estournel, hosting/tasting area, private wine stock and barrel cellar. Producer notes and history...Chateau Cos d’Estournel has a long history in the appellation of St. Estephe. Louis Gaspard d’Estournel, gave his name to the estate after founding it in 1811. It only took a few years before Chateau Cos d’Estournel became famous with wine lovers and royalty all over the world. In the early days, the wines of Cos d’Estournel were not sold through the Negociant system. The owner preferred selling his wine directly to his customers. In fact, Chateau Cos d’Estournel was exported to numerous countries across the globe, with a large portion of the production being sold to India. It was that connection to India that inspired much of the unique, east Indian design we see at Cos d’Estournel today. Chateau Cos d’Estournel was one of the first Chateaus to bottle, label and sell their own wine. This practice continued until the death of Louis Gaspard d’Estournel in 1852. After his death, the estate was purchased by an owner that sold their wines on the Place de Bordeaux, using the negociant system. If the Chateau had not been selling their wines through the negociant system, it would never have been included in the 1855 Classification! Chateau Cos d’Estournel was sold to the Charmolue family, the owners of the neighboring Chateau Montrose. They continued to own the estate until 1917, when it was bought by Fernand Ginestet. The purchase was the next major step in the development of Cos d’Estournel. The next era in the development of Chateau Cos d’Estournel took place in 2000, when Chateau Cos d’Estournel was bought by Michel Reybier, who made his fortune in the food industry. Michel Reybier hired the son of Bruno Prats, Jean-Guillaume Prats to manage Cos d’Estournel. Things improved with the efforts of Jean-Guillaume Prats who helped design the most modern wine making facilities in the entire Bordeaux wine making appellation at the time. A complete renovation of Cos d’Estournel took place in the winemaking facilities and cellars. The wine making facilities are completely modern, using 100% gravity. On October 15, 2012, Jean Guillaume Prats announced he was leaving Chateau Cos d’Estournel to join LVMH. Jean Guillaume Prats was replaced by Aymeric de Gironde. Following the departure of Aymeric de Gironde in 2017, the owner, Michel Reybier took over managing the estate. In 2018, the estate released COS100, produced from their oldest Merlot vines that were 100 years of age. It was limited in production to a 100 Jeroboams, (3 litres) and 10 Balthazars (12 litres) and a few other sizes were produced from only 2 barrels of wine. The proceeds from COS100 go to the charity, Elephant Family, that is devoted to protecting and nurturing Asian elephants in their own, natural habitat. Cos d’Estournel’s new cellar is a joint reflection by the technical team, the architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte and Jean Guillaume Prats. It’s a marvel blend of simplicity and modern technology. Cos d’Estournel is unique to Bordeaux and the rest of world. What makes this special is that the cellars of Cos d’Estournel are entirely operated by gravity. There are no pumps of any kind to force the wine. The purpose is to allow a gentleness to the wine and improve its purity allowing for expression of their special terroir. It set a new benchmark for cellars not only in the Left Bank, but in all of Bordeaux. The new cellars at Chateau Cos d’Estournel include 72 isothermal cone shaped stainless steel vats. The vats are specifically designed for thermal inertia. The 72 vats have a wide range of capacities to correspond with the needs of each parcel of vines. The vats range in size from as small as 19 hectoliters all the way up to 115 hectolitres. 12 of the smaller vats that are designed to handle between 19 and 60 hectoliters that have two levels in each vat. In other words, this offers the technical equivalent of 24 separate vats. Each of the vats are double lined, which allows for more exact and temperature control. None of the vats use interior heat coils. Perhaps the most inventive part of the cellars is the four 100 hectoliter lift tanks or wine elevators that replace the pumps used in the traditional pumping over and racking off processes, which introduce air and often destabilize the marc. From the moment the grapes arrive, everything travels by the flow of gravity. Jean Guillaume Prats called this process a pumpless, pump over. What takes place is, the wine is released from the main vat where the skins remain. By gravity, the juice is then moved into smaller vats which are on wheels. These small vats are sent to the glass elevators where they are moved up one floor and returned back into the vat by gravity to cover the skins. At this point, the process is still unique to Chateau Cos d’Estournel. The wine production of Cos d’Estournel is labor intensive starting the moment the grapes enter their new facility. The berries travel through a tunnel that instantly lowers the temperature of the fruit to 3-5 degrees Celsius. This sudden chilling stops the loss of juice while also slowing oxidation. Next, the grapes are cold macerated at 7-9 degrees Celsius for about a week. Pump overs are done by gravity recycling. The juice from the top of the vat moves to the bottom of the vat entirely by gravity. The fermentation takes place at low temperatures to avoid over extraction or harsh tannins. The 91 hectare vineyard of Chateau Cos d’Estournel is planted to 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot. The vineyard is located close to the border of Pauillac and Saint Estephe at the southern tip of the Saint Estephe appellation. The vineyard has cultivated 84 hectares of vines. Even though the vineyard has been expanded over the years, the grape varietals planted here have remained consistent. The vineyard, located on the hill of Cos, has gentle elevations of up to 20 meters. On average, the vines are 35 years of age. However, the estate has very old Merlot vines as well, which date back more than 100 years. Part of the terroir is situated on the hill of Cos, which is at a high elevation for the Medoc at 20 meters. Cos d’Estournel is translated from old Gascon speech; which means the hill of pebbles. It describes the terroir along with clay, gravel, sand and limestone soil. However, there is a unique aspect to the soil at Cos d’Estournel, as you find more gravel and less clay here than you do at other neighboring vineyards. Because the fruit is grown close to the Atlantic ocean in a cool climate, Cos d’Estournel is often among the last of the properties in the Medoc to harvest. The vineyard is managed by teams and each team member is given 45,000 vines to look after. The vineyard, which is almost one large block, can be further divided into 72 separate parcels. — 8 years ago
Moraga Vineyards
Estate Sauvignon Blanc 1999
Moraga Estate – Sauvignon Blanc – Vintage 1999
Bel Air, Los Angeles, California, USA 🇺🇸
Overview
A remarkable bottle of 100% Sauvignon Blanc from Moraga Estate, located in the rolling hills of Bel Air. Despite its 25+ years of age, this wine has defied time, showing incredible vitality and freshness. A rare showcase that Sauvignon Blanc, under the right terroir and winemaking, can achieve serious longevity.
Aromas & Flavors
Notes of preserved lemon, dried apricot, lanolin, and beeswax unfold gracefully, interlaced with hints of chamomile tea and subtle nutty oxidative tones. The acidity remains vibrant, keeping the palate lifted, with a saline, mineral edge that speaks of its unique site.
Mouthfeel
Still taut and structured, with an oily richness balanced by a linear, mouthwatering acidity. The texture is round yet precise, with a finish that lingers beautifully.
Food Pairings
Ideal with aged goat cheese, seared scallops, or roast chicken with lemon and herbs. A wine this nuanced also shines solo, worthy of quiet contemplation.
Verdict
Astonishing endurance from a varietal not usually associated with long-term cellaring. This is more than a wine, it’s history in a glass.
Did You Know?
Moraga Estate is one of the only commercial wineries operating within Los Angeles city limits, with vineyards planted in the limestone-rich canyons of Bel Air facing south west. Its wines have long been a hidden treasure, often snapped up by Hollywood insiders.
🍷 Personal Pick Highlight
This bottle was a revelation, proving that California Sauvignon Blanc, under the right conditions, can rival the ageability of Old World whites. A true collector’s gem and a memorable experience. — 6 months ago
Cliff Lede Vineyards
Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
On the nose; very ruby, floral plum fruits of; blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, Thompson raisins, fresh dates and prunes. Black licorice, creamy dark fruit cola, caramel, milk & dark chocolate, soft beautiful dark spice, touch of eucalyptus, fresh herbs, limestone, soft presence dry crushed rocks, a whiff of pepper, fresh lavender, violets and dark withering floral bouquet.
The body is full and lush. Fine meaty, tarry, tannins. Very ruby, floral plum fruits of; blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, Thompson raisins, fresh dates and prunes. Black licorice, creamy dark fruit cola, caramel, milk & dark chocolate, soft beautiful dark spice, touch of eucalyptus, fresh herbs, limestone, soft presence dry crushed rocks, suede leather, dry clay, dry top soil, dry underbrush, a whiff of pepper, fresh lavender, violets and dark withering floral bouquet. The acidity is very nice. There is good structure, tension, length and balance that needs 10 years plus to flush out. The finish is good, well balanced with fine powdery sticky tannins.
Photos of, Cliff Lede tasting facility, wire woven sculptures that decorate the grounds, Owner David Lede and the Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard.
Producer history and notes...Cliff Lede Vineyards (pronounced LayDee) was founded in 2002 on what used to be S. Anderson Vineyard, a winery that was founded in 1971 by Stanley and Carol Anderson primarily known for their sparkling wines.
Cliff Lede is from Leduc, Alberta a small town just south of Edmonton. The reason you see a Canadian flag in front of the parking next to the US Flag. David and Cliff helped run their father’s construction company he founded in 1947, Leduc Construction. Later the company was renamed to Ledcor Construction in 1982. They ultimately built the business into one of the world’s largest construction companies. Through Cliff, the company established business in the Napa Valley focusing on wineries, restaurants, premium resorts and private residences. Some of their more notable works include; Morimoto Restaurant, Davis Estate Winery, Lokoya Winery, Marciano Estate and the Riverfront Residences in downtown Napa.
After several decades at Ledcor, Cliff decided to pursue his passion for wine. His first introduction to wine was helping his mother make wine at home. Later he began collecting wines from Bordeaux, and even considered purchasing property there. However, he fell in love with Napa after business took him to Northern California.
Cliff Lede owns 60 acres of vineyards in the Stags Leap District. This includes the Twin Peaks Vineyard surrounding the winery and tasting room. The Poetry Vineyard was acquired a year after Cliff established Cliff Lede Vineyards. It is planted on steep hillsides down to the Silverado Trail. It’s planted with red Bordeaux varietals, mostly Cabernet Sauvignon. The soils there are extremely rocky. Despite being so close to the Poetry Vineyard, the soils in the Twin Peaks Vineyard are dramatically different. They are gravelly loam.
From a viticulture aspect, this diversity of terroir is a good representation of what the Stags Leap District has to offer, ranging from its upper most reaches of 400 feet to the valley floor. Even among their two Stags Leap properties, there are micro-climates. The west facing vineyard hillsides become quite warm during the day in the summer but cool off significantly in the evenings. This diurnal temperature swing is important for growing premium grapes including maintaining acidity.
The winery also owns a 20 acre vineyard in Calistoga at the base of Diamond Mountain planted primarily to Cabernet Sauvignon as well as a small block of Sauvignon Blanc.
Further to the north in Mendocino County is their Savoy Vineyard, which is a 42 acre site in Anderson Valley. It is planted mainly to Pinot Noir along with Chardonnay. It provides fruit for their FEL Wines (a name that Cliff chose to pay homage to his mother, using the first three initials of her full name Florence Elsie Lede.
Cliff’s love for all things “Rock and Roll”, he named all their blocks in their Stags Leap District Vineyards after famous rock and roll songs or albums such as “Dark Side of the Moon”, “Walk on the Wildside”, “Light my Fire” and “American Girl. ”Collectively these are referred to as the “Rock Blocks.”
David Abreu quickly realized the exceptional terroir of the Poetry Vineyard as did Cliff when they initially tried some of the S. Anderson wines from this site. Abreu oversaw its replanting and clonal material sourced from a number of premiere Napa vineyards. While Abreu was the original vineyard architect, he is no longer involved in the management of the their vineyards. They are now controlled by their in-house vineyard team.
The winery, tasting room and the nearby luxury Poetry Inn all opened around 2005. Architect Howard Gillam was hired to design the winery. Cliff’s background in construction and architectural preferences certainly influenced its design. The tasting room has a more contemporary feel rather then some of his more rustic looking designs. It features beautiful views of the Napa Valley. Inspired by the shape of tanks during a visit to Château Latour in Bordeaux, Cliff commissioned Missouri based Paul Mueller Company to create special truncated tanks for fermentation to help submerse more of the cap. Each tank corresponds to a specific vineyard block. During harvest, a specially designed crane gently moves and lowers a hopper full of whole berries into each tank.
Sorting is a big part of their attention to detail before fermentation. After the grapes come into the winery, they are sorted by hand, then run through an optical sorter and then finally put through an additional final hand sorting. Nearby is a 20,000 square foot cave that connects directly to the winery. World famous Michel Rolland was brought on in the early years as a consultant. Philipe Melka also made Cliff Lede wines for several years and today Christopher Tynan is the Winemaker. He was formerly Assistant Winemaker at Colgin.
Total annual production is between 18,000 and 20,000 cases depending on what Mother Nature gives them. The majority of this is comprised of their Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc and their Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon. — 8 years ago
Casa Madero
Valle de Parras Cabernet Sauvignon 2021
Casa Madero – Cabernet Sauvignon / 2021
Valle de Parras – Coahuila, Mexico 🇲🇽
Overview
Casa Madero, founded in 1597, is officially recognized as the oldest winery in the Americas. This bottling is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the high-altitude vineyards (about 1,500m/5,000 ft) of Valle de Parras in northern Mexico. The unique terroir offers warm days, cool nights, and excellent diurnal variation, giving structure and freshness to the fruit.
Aromas & Flavors
Vibrant red and black fruit lead the way, ripe cherries, cassis, and blackberry, layered with subtle notes of vanilla, baking spices, and a touch of green bell pepper that reflects the grape’s varietal character.
Mouthfeel
Medium to full-bodied with persistent tannins that are firm yet approachable. The structure carries the wine steadily, offering depth and a lingering, elegant finish without overbearing weight.
Food Pairings
Perfect with grilled ribeye steak, slow-cooked barbacoa tacos, or roasted lamb with rosemary. It also works beautifully with aged cheeses like Manchego or Cotija, highlighting the wine’s balance of fruit and tannin.
Verdict
A deliciously polished Cabernet from one of the New World’s oldest and most storied wineries. Casa Madero captures both history and modern winemaking finesse, resulting in a wine that’s as educational as it is enjoyable.
Did You Know?
Casa Madero was founded by decree of King Philip II of Spain, making it the first winery in the entire Americas. Their manuscripts, still kept in archives, are so central to their history that excerpts appear on the label itself. — 6 months ago
Monte Xanic
Valle de Guadalupe Chardonnay 2020
Monte Xanic – Chardonnay 2020
Valle de Guadalupe, Baja California – Mexico 🇲🇽
Overview:
100% Chardonnay from one of Mexico’s pioneering and most acclaimed wineries. The warm, sun-drenched vineyards of Valle de Guadalupe impart a distinctive richness while preserving freshness through careful vineyard management.
Aromas & Flavors:
Tropical and expressive, with baked mango, ripe pineapple, and a touch of papaya. Subtle floral hints and a light buttery note give added dimension.
Mouthfeel:
Medium-bodied with weight and intensity, balanced by a lively streak of acidity. The palate carries a fine texture and lingers with a long, elegant finish.
Food Pairings:
Pairs beautifully with grilled sea bass, ceviche, roasted chicken with citrus glaze, or even creamy pasta with shrimp.
Verdict:
A Chardonnay that showcases Mexico’s unique terroir, warm, bold, and tropical, yet elegant in its balance. A strong reminder that Valle de Guadalupe is producing wines worthy of global attention. Cheers!
Did You Know?
Monte Xanic was one of the first boutique wineries in Mexico (founded in 1987) and is often credited with helping elevate the reputation of Mexican wines internationally. — 4 years ago
Araujo Estate
Eisele Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2001
The 35 acre Eisele Vineyard has an interesting history, named after its original owners. Originally planted in the 19th Century, the Vineyard became recognised as a special terroir when Ridge and then Joseph Phelps purchased grapes to craft rich complex wines. In 1990 Bart and Daphne Araujo purchased the Vineyard located southeast of Calistoga st the foot of the Palisades Mountains. The wine is 75% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Cabernet Franc aged in 100% new French Oak barrels for 22 months. The wine is very dark crimson - amazing for its age. Aromas of Cassis Blackberry with touch of mint which became more apparent with time in Decanter. On the palate Rich profound and concentrated but held in balance finishing with silky supple Tannins. The oak has melded seamlessly. I see from the label they have used Bordeaux based Oenologist Michel Rolland who consults to wineries around the world. Not unlike Quilceda Creek in my limited USA experience. A joy to drink with 5 to 8 more years of great drinking left in it. — 8 years ago
Trefethen Family Vineyards
Oak Knoll District Merlot 2014
Merlot monday. Solid 30 dollar wine from napa.
Preparing my wine contribution for saturday's festivities. Showing some friends around livermore wineries so picked out some wines to show the terroir. These are my top 5 livermore wineries. And a couple napa wines for dinner as well.
2001 Kalin Semillon
2001 Kalin Sauv blanc
2016 Nottingham Fraser Howard Chard
2016 Occasio Chard
2015 Murrieta's Well Chard
2015 Murrieta's Well tempranillo
2009 Steven Kent Premier cab
2014 hunnicutt cuvee equite
2014 d.r. Stephens collateral cabernet — 8 years ago
Freddy R. Troya
10 NINTHS — Vertex Pinot Noir 2023 Sta. Rita Hills, California. USA 🇺🇸
Overview A more elevated and refined expression from 10 Ninths, 100% Pinot Noir showcasing greater precision, delicacy, and polish. This wine leans clearly into elegance and restraint, aligning beautifully with a terroir-driven, finesse-focused Pinot profile.
Aromas & Flavors Subtle red fruits, red cherry, raspberry, pomegranate, layered with delicate floral tones, gentle spice, and a whisper of mineral tension. Everything feels finely etched rather than bold or overt.
Mouthfeel Silky, lifted, and impeccably balanced. The palate glides with finesse, showing purity of fruit, clean structure, and a graceful, lingering finish that emphasizes clarity over power.
Food Pairings Duck breast, herb-roasted poultry, tuna crudo, porcini dishes, truffle pasta, or alpine cheeses.
Verdict A beautifully composed, terroir-driven Pinot Noir that prioritizes elegance, nuance, and transparency. This sits squarely in my preferred stylistic lane, refined, precise, and intellectually satisfying.
Did You Know? Only 140 cases were produced, making this an ultra-limited bottling and a true micro-production expression within the Sta. Rita Hills AVA.
🍷 Personal Pick I have particular appreciation for small-batch wineries producing exceptional wines. This one earns my admiration for its precision, restraint, and quiet confidence. — 3 months ago