Freddy R. Troya

9.3

Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste 2023 – Pauillac, Grand Cru Classé en 1855, BDX France 🇫🇷

Overview
A benchmark Pauillac delivering depth, precision, and classical balance at a very high level, driven by a 75% Cabernet Sauvignon–dominant blend with 20% Merlot, and 5% Cabernet Franc as a support. The wine shows beautifully layered red fruit, refined structure, and seamless integration, expressing terroir purity and composure from start to finish.

Aromas & Flavors
Blackcurrant, red cherry, wild raspberry, cassis, graphite, cedar, pencil shavings, subtle tobacco leaf, gentle cocoa and crushed gravel.

Mouthfeel
Medium-plus to full-bodied with finely polished tannins, excellent mid-palate density, vibrant yet controlled acidity, elegant grip, and a long, harmonious finish that remains lifted and precise.

Food Pairings
Prime rib, grilled ribeye, rack of lamb, beef Wellington, mushroom-forward dishes, aged hard cheeses.

Verdict
A beautifully executed Pauillac that balances power and finesse effortlessly. Everything feels aligned, fruit purity, structure, tension, and length, making this a top-tier reference for the appellation and vintage.

🍷 Personal Pick
This is Pauillac done right, deep fruit, flawless execution, and a finish that feels complete and satisfying rather than forced. A wine that earns admiration through balance and quiet authority. Hard to pass, even harder to forget. — 14 days ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.4

Saint-Joseph V.2018
Northern Rhône Valley, France 🇫🇷

Overview
Made entirely from 100% Syrah, this wine hails from one of the most celebrated AOCs of the Northern Rhône. The 2018 vintage was a powerful, structured year, known for ripe fruit and depth, making it one of the standout recent harvests in the appellation.

Aromas & Flavors
Nose: blackcurrant, blackberry, plum, and spices (notably black pepper, nutmeg) with floral hints of honeysuckle.
Palate: savory notes of smoked meats, olives, herbs, licorice, chocolate, and a touch of oak, layered beautifully with rich black fruit.

Mouthfeel
Full-bodied, meaty, and concentrated with ripe tannins, round structure, and long finish. Balanced acidity ensures freshness while delivering intensity and elegance.

Winemaking & Style
Traditional Rhône winemaking highlights the terroir’s granite soils and classic Syrah character. The 2018 vintage is built for longevity, with the richness of fruit and structure to age gracefully for another decade.

Food Pairing
Ideal with duck confit, braised short ribs, lamb shank, venison stew, or wild mushroom risotto. Pairs just as well with aged cheeses like Comté or Manchego.

Verdict
A textbook Saint-Joseph: bold yet elegant, savory yet fruity, with the hallmark spice and depth that defines Northern Rhône Syrah. Aging potential of 10+ years, but already showing incredible balance and drinkability now. — 7 months ago

Lauren Goetz

9.0

The 2020 Pinot Noir (Sonoma Coast) is a lovely appellation-level wine. Crushed red berries, spice, floral top notes and a touch of blood orange give this tasty, ethereal Pinot a good bit of brightness and enough complexity to support fine drinking over the next few years. — 3 years ago

Tom Barras

9.2

I have enjoyed many vintages of the excellent single vineyard Reserva (Bucerchiale) from Selvapiana, but the fruity 2018 is one of the more satisfying ones. Perfumed red and black fruit aromatics soar from the stemware. It is Medium >full, balanced and well structured with crisp acidity and light tannins at the satisfying finish. This Sangiovese star from the Rufina appellation East of Florence, always punches well above its price point. If you’re unaware of it, time to check it out. (It continues to identify it as 2013, but please note it is 2018.)
— 3 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Ruby color with aromas of red fruit, herb spice and earthy notes. On the palate flavors of raspberry and cherry with dried herb notes, vanilla and toasty oak. Fine tannins, long finish ending with fresh fruit, spice and earthy tones. — 5 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

In southern Burgundy, at the northern border of Beaujolais, lies the Pouilly-Fuisse appellation. Pale lemon color with aromas of citrus, stone fruits and sweet floral notes. On the palate flavors of apple, melon and lemon citrus with notes of honey and vanilla oak. Medium+ finish, vivid acidity and ends with minerality. Consistent quality! Nice! Good value! — 7 months ago

Joe Cornwall

9.0

2018, Rich, fruity and with a really interesting finish. Kind of earthy, kind of funky. I like it — 3 years ago

Eric Grasser

9.3

Took awhile to open up but turned out to be a stunner. Nose of fresh violets with explosive Kirsch, dark raspberry and sandalwood flavors. Mouthfeel is tantalizing, smooth and well balanced. Racy acidity, fine tannins and long finish. Really exceptional for an appellation wine. — 3 months ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.3

Chenevièrs – “Grandes Vignes” Chablis 2023
Chablis, Burgundy, France 🇫🇷

Overview
100% Chardonnay grown on a plateau of Kimmeridgian limestone soils in “La Chapelle Vaupeltigne,” a northern sector of the Chablis appellation. This terroir is prized for its fossil-rich soils, which impart the minerality and precision that make Chablis so distinctive.

Aromas & Flavors
Fresh-cut lemon, crisp green apple, and white peach layered with chalky minerality and subtle floral notes. Hints of oyster shell and wet stone nod to the limestone soils beneath the vines.

Mouthfeel
Light to medium-bodied with razor-sharp acidity, dry and mineral-driven. A very clean and linear style, finishing with elegance and a lingering citrus zest freshness.

Winemaking Notes
Fermented in stainless steel to preserve fruit purity and terroir transparency. Unoaked, ensuring the vibrancy of Chardonnay shines in its most authentic Burgundian expression.

Food Pairing
Ideal with oysters, mussels, or any shellfish. Also pairs beautifully with goat cheese, light poultry, or simply as a crisp aperitif.

Verdict
A textbook Chablis that captures the essence of its limestone terroir. Elegant, refreshing, and precise—an affordable way to enjoy one of Burgundy’s most distinctive white wines. Cheers! — 5 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

Sourced from the Saint Joseph and Grand Crus subzones of the appellation, which give fine, stony wines, from 80-year old vines. A high-lying sandy parcel gives more complexity, structure, and acidity to the wine. Medium Ruby with red fruit and floral spice aromas. On the palate flavors of red raspberry, cherry, banana and earthy mint. Vivid acidity, fine tannins, medium+ finish, ending with fruit and spice. Very good, bottle age will benefit! — 2 years ago