Freddy R. Troya

9.6

Chappellet – Malbec – 2022
Napa Valley (Pritchard Hill), California, USA 🇺🇸

Overview
A bold and unapologetically powerful 100% Malbec from Chappellet’s iconic Pritchard Hill estate, a site known for producing some of Napa’s most intense, structured, and deeply concentrated reds. Crafted by Phillip Corallo-Titus, this is no soft, plush Malbec: it’s a mountain-grown, high-tension version that delivers immediate impact and remarkable depth.

Aromas & Flavors
Black plum, blackberry compote, blueberry skin, cocoa, graphite, and dark spice. Subtle violet notes and a savory, mineral backbone that reflects the rocky hillside terroir.

Mouthfeel
Full-bodied and bone-dry, with gripping tannins and commanding structure. This is Malbec with power, layered, muscular, and unapologetically firm. The finish is long, dark, and seriously satisfying.

Food Pairings
Ribeye, lamb chops, smoked brisket, grilled sausages, peppered steak, or aged Manchego. Anything charred or protein-rich sings with this wine.

Verdict
A fierce, mountain-born expression of Malbec that redefines what Napa can do with the grape. Intense, structured, and explosively flavorful, this bottling is as rare stylistically as it is visually. A standout in the Chappellet lineup and a thrill for Malbec lovers seeking something more serious.

Did You Know?
The dragon on the label is “TeaCup,” the 14th character in Carissa Chappellet’s collectible dragon series. Each dragon is unique, playful, and designed to make these bottlings artistic keepsakes within the Chappellet portfolio.

🍷 Personal Pick Highlight
One of the boldest, most powerful Malbecs I’ve ever tasted from Napa, and naturally, that Pritchard Hill signature intensity shows through in every sip. Absolutely stunning. — a day ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.3

Chapellet Mountain Cuvée Proprietor’s Blend 2023
Pritchard Hill, Napa Valley, California – USA 🇺🇸

Overview
A vibrant Bordeaux-style blend from Chapellet, a pioneering family-owned estate high on Pritchard Hill since 1967. Known for its rocky, elevated vineyards and bold mountain-grown fruit, Chapellet crafts this approachable yet terroir-rich blend for both immediate enjoyment and graceful aging.

Blend Composition
• 51% Cabernet Sauvignon
• 24% Merlot
• 10% Petit Verdot
• 8% Malbec
• 7% Cabernet Franc 

Aromas & Flavors
Effusively aromatic with dark cherries, blackberries, and plums, framed by spicy oak notes of clove, cardamom, cedar, plus touches of black pepper and savory herbs. The palate mirrors this with plush ripe berry layers, framed by fine-grained tannins, and finishes with lingering dark chocolate and anise.  

Mouthfeel
Medium to full-bodied with a luxuriously textured core. The fine-grained tannins wrap the fruit beautifully, balanced by inherent freshness—creating a long, silky, and satisfying finish.  

Winemaking Notes
Crafted under the guidance of Winemaker Phillip Corallo-Titus, the 2023 vintage benefitted from a cool growing season and carefully managed canopy work to preserve freshness and reduce yields. Fermented and aged to deliver immediate appeal without compromising structure. 

Food Pairing
A versatile pairing wine—ideal with grilled ribeye, slow-braised short ribs, or herbed lamb chops. It also complements rich pasta sauces and grilled mushrooms—luxurious yet approachable.

Verdict
Mountain Cuvée 2023 is a powerful yet elegant Napa blend, showcasing depth, freshness, and mountain intensity. It’s a beautifully balanced wine that offers a compelling mix of immediate pleasure and layered complexity. A benchmark for mountain-grown Bordeaux blends. — 3 months ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.5

The V.2021 Titus Family Estate Reserve Cab. Sauv. is one their finest expression of their Ehlers Lane vineyard. Situated in the core of the St. Helena AVA, along the base of Howell Mountain AVA, with the Silverado Trail on its Eastern border and the Napa River to its West. This place has a very long and rich history in the fines wines that has produced Beaulieu, Charles Krug, and Cuvaison.

This terroir is fully expressed on this bottle with has a blend of 87% Cab Sauv., 9.5% Petit Verdot, 3.5% Malbec which offers an immense concentration of dark berries aromas with some hints of violet all the way. It has an extremely approachability on the palate with an incredible delicacy of ripen red fruits, yet the coffee espresso mouthfeel is beyond enticing, together with the chewing tannins blending with texture of the cacao beans and the long but not over lingering oak at the very end, it takes you to next level.

Incredibly, this wine is just climbing its prime time and will evolve even more in the next 10 years, but can it be enjoyable now like I did as well. Cheers to this caliber of wines! — 7 months ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.7

Dutton-Goldfield – Pinot Noir – 2022
Dutton Ranch – Russian River Valley – USA 🇺🇸

Overview
A benchmark New World Pinot Noir that consistently punches above its category. Dutton Ranch fruit has become one of my most trusted sources for precision, purity, and that signature RRV silkiness. Every time I taste this site through different top-tier producers, it exceeds expectations, 2022 is no exception.

Aromas & Flavors
Vibrant red cherry, cranberry, and pomegranate with rose petals, baking spice, and a whisper of forest floor. Hints of cola and raspberry pop through as it opens.

Mouthfeel
Silky and polished with bright acidity, supple tannins, and a beautifully lifted mid-palate. Finishes long, red-fruited, and gracefully persistent.

Food Pairings
Roast duck, herb-crusted salmon, mushroom risotto, or a simple truffle-salted chicken. Equally charming with soft-ripened cheeses.

Verdict
A pure, expressive, and impeccably balanced RRV Pinot that reaffirms why Dutton Ranch is one of the most reliable vineyards in the New World for this grape.

Did You Know?
Dutton Ranch is one of Sonoma’s most sought-after vineyard sources, prized by top houses like Chappellet and Sonoma-Loeb. Even acclaimed winemaker Phillip Corallo-Titus (Chappellet’s legendary winemaker) sources fruit from Dutton Ranch for his Sonoma-Loeb project, an endorsement that speaks volumes about the site’s pedigree and precision.

🍷 Personal Pick Highlight
One of my absolute favorite New World Pinots, every vintage reminds me why this site is so revered. Consistency, elegance, and that irresistible “Dutton Ranch magic.” — 7 days ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.5

Chappellet – Signature Chenin Blanc – 2024 🇺🇸
Pritchard Hill, Napa Valley AVA – California, USA

Overview
An exceptional and expressive Chenin Blanc from the iconic slopes of Pritchard Hill. Crafted by winemaker Phillip Corallo-Titus, this small-production white showcases the precision and elegance that Chappellet is known for.
Molly Chappellet’s signature featured on the label, along with the distinct bottle silhouette, reflects her refined aesthetic and the wine’s singular personality.

Aromas & Flavors
A vibrant aromatic spectrum: lemon, fresh pineapple, nectarine, and tropical white flowers. Subtle French-oak influence reveals whispers of nutmeg, vanilla, and lightly toasted spice without overshadowing the fruit purity.

Mouthfeel
Bright and lively with toned acidity that keeps the wine energetic. Layers of citrus, lychee, and stone fruit unfold across the palate, finishing with candied lemon zest, mineral lift, and a refreshing, persistent length.

Food Pairings
Perfect with grilled halibut, lemon-herb chicken, shrimp scampi, soft goat cheese, or spring vegetable risotto. Its acidity and texture make it incredibly versatile at the table.

Verdict
A stunning, beautifully composed Chenin Blanc that highlights Napa Valley’s ability to produce world-class whites beyond Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. Elegant, complex, and irresistibly fresh, a wine that captivates from first aroma to final sip.

Did You Know?
Chenin Blanc was once widely planted in Napa Valley in the 1960s–70s. Chappellet is one of the rare estates preserving and elevating this noble Loire variety on premium hillside terroir.

🍷 Personal Pick Highlight
A uniquely compelling white that impressed me from the first whiff, polished, aromatic, and brimming with personality. One of the most memorable Chenin Blanc expressions coming out of California today. Cheers! — 13 days ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

Blend of mostly Sauvignon Blanc with a splash of Viognier, pale lemon with aromas of ripe stone and tropical fruits with citrus and floral notes, nice phenolics. On the palate fresh fruit flavors of melon, pear and apple with grapefruit/lemon citrus wrapped in lively acidity, medium+ length ending with creamy citrus texture. Very Nice! — 6 months ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.4

Chappellet – Grower Collection Chardonnay – 2023 🇺🇸
Sangiacomo Vineyard – Carneros AVA, Sonoma/Carneros, California, USA

Overview
A brilliant expression of Carneros Chardonnay, crafted by Phillip Corallo-Titus as part of Chappellet’s distinguished Grower Collection. Sourced from the famed Sangiacomo Vineyard, this bottling captures the cool-climate precision, natural richness, and textural beauty the region is known for.
A polished and impeccably layered Chardonnay, shaped by 70% malolactic fermentation and thoughtful French oak integration.

Aromas & Flavors
A captivating aromatic profile of orange zest, lemon custard, nectarine, honeydew melon, and tropical white flowers. Subtle notes of nutmeg, vanilla, and warm spice glide in from the oak, lending complexity without overshadowing the fruit.

Mouthfeel
Creamy yet vibrant , the best of both worlds.
Bright citrus, kiwi, guava, and fresh pineapple weave across a supple, mouth-filling palate. A fine line of acidity maintains tension and lift, while hints of brioche add depth on a long, elegant finish.

Food Pairings
Ideal with seared scallops, lemon-thyme roast chicken, creamy lobster pasta, crab cakes, mushroom risotto, or soft-ripened cheeses. A versatile food wine with both brightness and richness.

Verdict
A standout Chardonnay and one of the most compelling examples from Carneros and all of California. Balanced, complex, and beautifully sculpted, a Chardonnay that speaks with equal parts grace and power.

Did You Know?

Sangiacomo Vineyard is one of California’s most respected Chardonnay sites, farmed by a family with over 90 years of viticultural heritage. Their Carneros parcels consistently deliver fruit of remarkable precision and purity, a key reason top producers like Chappellet source from them.

🍷 Personal Pick Highlight
Undeniably one of my favorite Chardonnays across Sonoma, Napa, and beyond. Elegant, expressive, and impeccably crafted, the kind of wine that reminds you why Carneros Chardonnay remains iconic. Cheers! — 13 days ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.3

Sonoma-Loeb “Dutton Ranch” Pinot Noir 2021
Sonoma Coast, California – USA 🇺🇸

Overview
Crafted by Phillip Corallo-Titus, who has been the guiding hand at Sonoma-Loeb since 1990, this 100% Pinot Noir captures Burgundian elegance while showcasing Sonoma’s coastal vibrancy. The Dutton Ranch site is a prized cool-climate vineyard, where fog and breezes create the perfect conditions for balance and finesse.

Aromas & Flavors
Ripe cherry, raspberry, and red currant lead the bouquet, layered with spice notes of anise, clove, and baking spice. A gentle touch of toasty oak and vanilla rounds out the fruit, adding warmth and texture without overwhelming.

Mouthfeel
Silky, polished, and seamless on the palate. Soft tannins and graceful structure allow the fruit to shine, striking an elegant balance between restraint and vibrancy.

Winemaking Notes
The 2021 vintage reflects Corallo-Titus’s vision: careful vineyard sourcing, traditional fermentation, and judicious oak use that enhances complexity without excess.

Food Pairing
Perfect alongside roast duck, mushroom risotto, cedar-plank salmon, or simply with a cheese board of triple-cream Brie and charcuterie.

Verdict
A thoughtful and layered Pinot Noir that proves Sonoma can deliver not just power, but grace and finesse. A bottle worth cellaring or savoring at the table—✨pure craftsmanship in a glass.
— 5 months ago

Wade Wennik

8.9

High in sweetness but not too much. Very smooth. Good wine. — 5 months ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.2

The V.2022 Titus Cab Franc, has great composition blend of 80% Cab Franc, 8% Merlot, 6% Cab Sauvignon, and 6% Malbec. This is beautiful wine that delivers tons of aromas sharp raspberry, pomegranate, unripe plum, and red flowers. Very savory on the tip of the tongue, and solid but not overpowering tannins, the medley of berries seats at the back-end of the palate.

Loved the elegancy and the generosity of dark chocolate along with some spices with barely any texture, simply smooth and crazy delicious! — 7 months ago