Freddy R. Troya

9.0

Ropiteau Frères – Meursault – 2023
Meursault AOP – Côte de Beaune – Burgundy – France 🇫🇷

Overview
A classic expression of Meursault Chardonnay, showcasing the richer, broader style of the Côte de Beaune. The 2023 vintage leans into ripeness and texture while maintaining balance, delivering a layered and refined interpretation of this iconic village.

Aromas & Flavors
Stone fruit leads the profile, ripe peach and apricot, supported by baked apple and subtle citrus. Notes of toasted hazelnut, light vanilla, and a gentle touch of oak add complexity without overwhelming the fruit.

Mouthfeel
Medium to full-bodied with a broader, more enveloping texture. Creamy yet balanced by fresh acidity, creating a harmonious and polished palate. The finish is smooth, layered, and persistent.

Food Pairings
Lobster, scallops, roasted chicken, creamy pasta, or mushroom-based dishes. Also shines with richer seafood preparations.

Verdict
A sophisticated and well-balanced Meursault that captures the essence of Côte de Beaune richness, textured, layered, and quietly complex. Elegant without being heavy.

Did You Know?
Meursault is famous for its nutty, buttery nuances, often enhanced by lees aging and oak influence, yet the best examples, like this, keep everything in balance rather than leaning too rich.

🍷 Personal Pick
A beautiful step up in texture and complexity, when I want Chardonnay with depth, presence, and that unmistakable Burgundy signature. — 2 months ago

Ted

9.3

Digging this watching the final 4. Really good stuff. — 3 years ago

Sharon Ambrose

9.1

Light enough for fish yet heavy enough for duck — 4 years ago

Russ W

9.2

Savory curry notes and red fruits — 4 years ago

Kevin Løk

8.9

Total Wine wine find around $12. Everything you need in a cheap GSM blend from the Southern Rhône. Definite re-buy for those weeknight needs. — 4 years ago

with Caroline

Jay Kim

9.2

Kennedy Town - December 10, 2020 — 6 years ago

Alvaro Bustillos

9.1

Oppliger bill h jkh 6/17
Bl bistro amarillo tx — 6 years ago

Freddy R. Troya

8.9

Ropiteau – Bourgogne Chardonnay – 2024
Bourgogne AOC – Burgundy – France 🇫🇷

Overview
A regional Bourgogne Chardonnay that highlights the accessible and versatile side of Burgundy. Crafted to be approachable, clean, and easygoing, this wine reflects the broader regional style, fresh, balanced, and unfussy, without the intensity of village-level expressions.

Aromas & Flavors
Light citrus, green apple, and subtle orchard fruit, with a gentle hint of floral tones. Straightforward and clean, without heavy oak influence.

Mouthfeel
Light to light-plus body with moderate acidity. Smooth, approachable, and easy on the palate, offering a soft and balanced finish without sharp edges.

Food Pairings
Grilled chicken, light pasta dishes, soft cheeses, salads, or casual appetizers. Also works effortlessly as a standalone sipper.

Verdict
A simple yet well-executed Chardonnay that delivers exactly what it promises, clean, approachable, and versatile. Not about complexity, but about everyday enjoyment and wide appeal.

Did You Know?
“Bourgogne” AOC wines can source grapes from across the entire Burgundy region, making them ideal entry points to understand the house style before stepping into village or Premier Cru wines.

🍷 Personal Pick
A perfect “anytime Chardonnay”, easy to enjoy, easy to pair, and a reminder that not every Burgundy needs to be complex to be satisfying. — 3 months ago

Tom Casagrande

9.1

A surprisingly gorgeous evening in DC tonight at a favorite classic bistro. This Giggie has loads of ripe fruit, but is drinking really well already. Very soft, decent acids. Some savory notes. The alcohol (15%) pooks through on the back half of the palate. But it was served a little warmer than I’d like, so that probably amplified it. — 10 months ago

Winston Jones

Host OrganicWineReview, Assistant Buyer Savvy Cellar Wine Bar

9.3

I had this at Vintage Bistro in Athens. Mind blowing! — 4 years ago

Phil S.

8.9

crisp and light — 5 years ago

Kate

9.5

Easy drinking organic red — 6 years ago

Andrew Schirmer

9.0

A cut above! Fragrant, palate is iron-rich, olives, roasted meat, moss/foliage, big finish with a touch of heat. Great QPR. If I owned a bistro I’d sell the shit out of this. — 6 years ago

with Alsu

Freddy R. Troya

9.0

Domaine Derey Frères – Marsannay “Les Vignes Marie” 2021 🇫🇷
Marsannay AOC, Côte de Nuits – Burgundy, France

Overview
100% Pinot Noir from Marsannay, the only Côte de Nuits village allowed to produce wines in all three colors (red, white, and rosé). “Les Vignes Marie” is a standout parcel that shows the classic finesse of Burgundy Pinot while keeping Marsannay’s hallmark freshness and approachability.

Aromas & Flavors
Bright red cherry, raspberry, and wild strawberry lead the nose, with hints of rose petal, subtle spice, and earthy forest floor. A touch of mineral undertone brings lift and precision.

Mouthfeel
Elegant and medium-bodied with silky tannins, lively acidity, and a refined structure. Balanced and supple, finishing with freshness that keeps you coming back for another sip.

Winemaking Notes
The Derey family has been established in Marsannay since the mid-17th century, and their work focuses on organic farming and gentle cellar practices. The 2021 vintage, cooler and classic in style, emphasizes delicacy over power.

Food Pairing
Perfect with roast chicken, duck breast, mushroom risotto, or a charcuterie board. Its finesse makes it versatile across light meats and earthy vegetarian dishes.

Verdict
A graceful Burgundy Pinot that captures Marsannay’s balance between Côte de Nuits structure and charming approachability. For me, this sits as one of my most favorite wines in the Côte de Nuits — at a very affordable price point, it punches well above its weight and shows how Burgundy can still deliver tremendous value.

📚 Educational Sidebar – Why Marsannay Matters
Marsannay, at the northern gateway of the Côte de Nuits, is often overshadowed by its neighbors like Gevrey-Chambertin. But its wines deliver exceptional value, showing Pinot Noir with purity, finesse, and terroir character — a smart entry point into Burgundy without the Grand Cru price tag. Cheers! — 10 months ago

Cristiano Humberto Naves de Freitas Azevedo

8.9

Good wine, soft tannins, nice aromas — 3 years ago

Joseph Gannon

9.5

super cool and different white, pounded it with grilled oysters with hot sauce/tarragon butter — 4 years ago

with Brooke

Neil Valenzuela

8.9

Pale ruby color. Aromas of baked cherries, cola, spices and oak. Black cherries on the palate, long lasting black tea finish. Nice vino. — 4 years ago

Cathy Billings

10

Wonderful with Scampi — 5 years ago

Steve Roach

8.9

Delicious. Easy tannins. — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.6

Haut-Bailly Dinner in SF with Veronique Sanders of Haut-Bailly.

The 2010 is an excellent vintage but, it is for the later part of your life or your children.

This is drinking beautifully with a 4 hour decant. The structure & tension are just starting to their softening stage. The length and balance are in the forget about it range and will just get better & better. Ripe, stunning fruits of; blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, plum & a touch of blue fruits. Moist clay & top soils, stones, mint, graphite, fresh tobacco, dark cola, anise to black licorice with stunning, withering floral bouquet. Acidity is perfect. The finish is everything you want in a Bordeaux.

Definitely a 99-100 point wine in 15 years plus.

Served with the Cheese Plate; Red Hawk, Hop Along & Roquefort. @Mathilde French Bistro

Photos of; Clyde Beffa Owner of K&L Wine Merchants & Veronique Sanders, dinner menu & pairing, Veronique talking terroir/vintages & dinner guests. — 6 years ago