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. — 2 months ago

MICHAEL COOPER DipWSET

Owner TomeVinos wine shops, WSET Level 3, Blogger www.spanishwinesandmore.com, blog.tomevinos.com

9.2

The new Viñedo Singular geographical indication designates wines from particular vineyards or estates and is directly linked to the terroir, which it aims to identify and valorise on the label, tied to the quality requirement that they be excellent wines. Requirements
1. Grapes coming exclusively from a plot or plots that constitute the Viñedo Singular.
2. Vinification, ageing, storage and bottling within the same winery.
3. Minor geographical unit that can comprise a single or several cadastral plots.
4. Minimum age of the vineyard:
5. Evidence, by means of any legally valid title, of having had the exclusive use of the production of the viñedo singular for a minimum period of 10 years without interruption.
6. Maximum production: 5,000 kg/ha for red varieties and 6,922 kg/ha for white varieties.
7. Maximum grape-to-wine ratio: 65%.
8. Specific Grape Grower’s Card.
Growing practices
1. The viñedo singular must be balanced and have limited vigour. During the grape ripening stage, canopy growth should cease completely.
2. Only a single tipping is permitted.
3. Harvested manually. — 4 years ago

Michael Moy

9.3

Per- thanksgiving Chinese dinner with ally, Brian and Catherine — 6 years ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.0

El Esteco – Torrontés “Blend de Extremos” 2023
Valles Calchaquíes, Salta – Argentina 🇦🇷

Overview
This blend of Torrontés sourced from Chañar Punco and Cafayate, part of El Esteco’s “Blend de Extremos” program, captures the union of two high-altitude sites. The 2023 vintage leans elegant, with expressive aromatics balanced by fresh structure.

Aromas & Flavors
Fragrant rose petals and orange peel open this wine, followed by tropical fruit, citrus blossom, and delicate white peach notes. The bouquet is floral and lively but with a softer intensity compared to more exuberant vintages.

Mouthfeel
Light-to-medium body with crisp acidity that gives tension. The texture is graceful and gentle, with a clean, refreshing finish that keeps the aromatic notes lingering.

Food Pairings
Great with ceviche, grilled shrimp, empanadas, or light salads with citrus dressing. Also a delightful stand-alone sipper to enjoy before dinner.

Verdict
A beautifully restrained Torrontés that shows finesse over power. If 2024 delivered aromatic fireworks, this 2023 is more of a polished, elegant whisper in the same language. Cheers!

Did You Know?
Torrontés is Argentina’s signature white grape, and in Salta’s high-altitude vineyards it often thrives—especially in vintages that balance sunshine with cool nights. Its aromatic intensity is very sensitive to vintage variation and canopy exposure.

🍷 Personal Pick Highlight
While I preferred 2024 for its vibrancy, this 2023 version still holds charm and delicacy — a refined expression of Salta’s heights. I’d lean this into my top white-flight list for Argentine wines. — a year ago

Ceccherini Cristiano

9.4

Celebrating my brother and my nephews over
Drank it at 1300m under the canopy of a (supposedly) 600yo beech tree decorating a large picnic
Fun wine for a fun day — 4 years ago

heather mccloy

9.4

what a chardonnay should be. balanced acidity and oak, lemon curd, unbuttered popcorn, granny smith apple, white flowers like a blossoming tree canopy you can’t put your finger on but ******* smells like spring 😊 — 5 years ago

Steve Mohebi

9.2

CANOPY Jackson Square — 3 years ago

dave

9.0

Brilliant, delicate for a garnacha. — 3 years ago

Cathy Corison

Owner/Winemaker Corison Winery

8.9

Very HOT vintage. Careful canopy management, no leaf removal. Some raisins. Very mature. Tannins have resolved. — 4 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

The right order with our Porterhouses. Still has the Margaux elegance presence but, lacks the quality of fruit & characteristics of the 06 Rauzan-Segla.

Not the best vintage I’ve had from Lascombes. Interesting as this was a warm vintage. All my previous 2003’s have shown bright, ripe fruit. The fruits were dull & lacked freshness which, is very different than the other 03’s I’ve had to this point. I don’t know if the staff trimmed too much canopy and the fruit got too much heat and UV light, therefore losing freshness along with a lack of water during the season.

This will still drink well for another 5-8 years before it declines. Our Porterhouses helped contribute to a better experience masking some of its shortcomings.

The wine showed dull, dark fruit with more earthiness than expected given its evolution from its bottle age. Dry soil & clay, stones, dry forest floor, dry tobacco, used leather and withering & dark flowers. The acidity was pleasant but not up to par. The finish lacked Margaux beauty but, it did pop up here and there. Just no consistency. The fruit was flat and lots of dry earth on the long set. Not bad just no up to what I expect from Lascombes and the vintage.

Photos of; Chateau Lascombes, concrete tank cellar, barrel room with some unique lighting for a Bordeaux producer and their tasting salon. — 5 years ago