Freddy R. Troya

9.3

Shangri-La 2600 – Chardonnay / 2022
Shangri-La (Yunnan) – China 🇨🇳

Overview
A 100% Chardonnay from the high-altitude vineyards of Shangri-La at 2,600 meters above sea level. Crafted in small quantities and entirely by hand, this wine showcases the unique terroir of Yunnan’s Himalayan foothills, cool nights, strong sun, and pristine mountain air.

Aromas & Flavors
Expressive notes of orchard fruit, apple, pear, and ripe peach, are lifted by hints of citrus blossom, white flowers, and a delicate touch of minerality. Subtle oak influence provides whispers of vanilla and toast.

Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied with precise balance. The cool climate altitude lends finesse and a refreshing spine of acidity, while the texture remains smooth and elegant, leading to a clean, persistent finish.

Food Pairings
Pairs beautifully with miso-glazed cod, roast chicken with herbs, vegetable stir-fry, or fresh dumplings. Also an excellent match with creamy cheeses like young Brie.

Verdict
A rare and refined Chardonnay that reflects both craftsmanship and terroir. This is an exceptional showcase of how far Chinese fine wine has come, offering elegance and originality at once.

Did You Know?
Yunnan’s Shangri-La vineyards are among the highest in the world, often referred to as “the rooftop of wine”. The extreme altitude gives grapes intense freshness while preserving natural acidity. — 8 months ago

Delectable Wine

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9.3

More savory than sweet, the 2021 Sylvaner lifts up with a cascade of dried flowers and gingery spice offset by a cooling air of dusty stone. Like tapping a mountain spring, this flows across the palate with a mineral-laden blend of crisp orchard fruit and citrus lifted by cooling acidity. The 2021 takes on a tropical air through the finish yet is tart, puckering the cheeks with residual tension as pretty inner florals and young kiwi echo throughout. This is a gorgeous style of Nossing’s Sylvaner. (Eric Guido, Vinous, May 2023) — 3 years ago

Neil Cornish

8.9

Wasn’t expecting much from a six year old bottle of Canadian Pinot Blanc that was lost in the cellar. Very fresh. Bright orchard fruits. Balanced by good acidity. Nice food wine — 6 years ago

with Jon

Matt

9.3

I love this wine. Subtle nose, generous texture, incredibly refreshing. Aromas of cherry blossom, kaffir lime, citrus, and spearmint. Palate shows a touch of leesy goodness backed by riper orchard fruit. Then this wine moves to something that is reminiscent of cool mountain streams running over wet stones and is so cleansing on the palate. — 7 years ago

Isaac Pirolo

9.7

Needed something to ease the pain of leaving Napa tomorrow. Some extraordinary sites, exceptional wines, and even better people...
Theorem Vineyards
Arkenstone Vineyards
Frank Family Vineyards
Ashes & Diamonds
Carter Cellars
Envy Wines
Ancillary Cellars
Ovid
Pride Mountain Vineyards
Outpost Wines
Volker Eisele Family Estate — 8 years ago

Gil Krakowsky

9.5

Seriously wine. Incredible nose. Orchard fruit, yelllow plum, lemon confit, liquid seashells, iodine. Polished throughout. Enough wood to structure without interfering. Somewhere between grand cru Chablis and puligny Montrachet, but with that fleshy yellow plum and whiff of mountain flowers that is utterly unique. With sea urchin pasta. Just. Wow. — 9 years ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.0

Bodega Catena Zapata — Catena Alta Historic Rows Chardonnay 2022 — Mendoza. Argentina 🇦🇷

Overview:
Sourced from the high-elevation Adrianna and Domingo vineyards in Mendoza and crafted entirely from Chardonnay, this wine is a striking expression of mountain-grown elegance. Cool-climate tension, calcareous soils, and restrained oak shape a focused, mineral-driven style that delivers both finesse and pedigree at an exceptional value level.

Aromas & Flavors:
Fresh pear, crisp apple, ripe apricot, citrus zest, delicate jasmine, subtle vanilla, and a clean chalky mineral thread.

Mouthfeel:
Crisp and precise with vibrant acidity, layered texture, and excellent linear drive. Orchard fruit carries cleanly across the palate, finishing long, fresh, and finely structured with quiet elegance.

Food Pairings:
Grilled fish, scallops, roast chicken with herbs, lemon risotto, soft-ripened cheeses, vegetable-driven Mediterranean dishes.

Personal Pick:
This is one of my favorite examples of how Argentina can deliver world-class Chardonnay with real terroir identity. It drinks beautifully now but has the structure to reward a few years in the cellar — a smart buy every time I see it.

Verdict:
A refined, mineral-driven Chardonnay offering precision, balance, and outstanding value. Ideal for Burgundy lovers exploring high-altitude New World expressions.

🍷 Did You Know?:
The Adrianna Vineyard sits over 4,000 feet above sea level in the Uco Valley, earning its nickname “Grand Cru of South America” for producing some of the continent’s most mineral-driven, age-worthy Chardonnay and Malbec. — a year ago

Adriana Fabbro

9.1

It’s not often that I get excited by California Sauvignon Blanc, but this one is full of character & worth going out of your way for. From one of the oldest sauv blanc vineyards in the state (dry-farmed, organic) on Sonoma Mountain. Heavy on the orchard fruit: green apple, pear, with some Meyer lemon and a touch of green papaya and lemongrass. Neutral oak elevage softens the rough edges. Great food pairing wine - though would expect no less from chefs-turned-winemakers. I really like what these guys are doing at MDC.

@Delectable Wine not the Reserve skin contact version but the standard SB (but the orange version is also excellent) — 4 years ago

Brendan Baker

9.2

Orchard fruit, rich but balanced, great QPR ⚡️ — 6 years ago

Tom Casagrande

9.2

Deep gold color. Initial note of oxidation quickly blows off, giving way to a lovely Roussanne nose of lanolin and yellow orchard fruit, along with a whiff of mountain stream. Broad and oily-textured, it got slightly bitter, intense flavors and great length. Probably because of the hot 15 growing season, this wine shows its relationship to the Roussannes of the Northern Rhône. — 7 years ago

with Lyle

Marc Stubblefield

Wine Sales at Vino Carta and Kogod Wine Merchant

9.2

In a world where skin contact whites seem to be vying for the title of orangest, haziest, apricottyest, the elegance and grace in this wine are a reminder of the possibilities. Aged on the skins in amphora, the result is a bright, orchard and citrus mountain stream with an amazing texture that never once makes you think orange wine. From magnum, which seems to me to be the right serving size for two. — 9 years ago

Matt Sterr

9.2

Unfiltered 100% SB. Funky nose with wet hay and washed cheese rind. Orchard fruits explode on the palate. Peaches and apricots. Long, mouthwatering finish. What a hidden gem. — 9 years ago

with Alex and Kristi

joy horn

9.0

Bought at Pine Orchard 10/23 $18. Typical Zin in flavor, color, aroma and tannins. — 2 years ago

ESF

9.0

Very pleasant, if a bit unusual for the venerable Argentine producer: straw colored w/big time aromas of white flowers, tropical fruit, orchard fruit, bit leesy & waxy. Med bodied, oily, sluggish acidity, but flavors reflected nose, went down easy — 3 years ago

Andrey Pertsov

9.1

exquisite tension with some luscious orchard fruits, hazelnuts and minerality 🤌 this + scallops = vince carter circa 2000 dunk contest game 👏🏼 over 👏🏼 — 5 years ago

Brendan Baker

9.2

Lemon curd, orchard fruit, hazelnut, med body, rich and long 🍋⚡️😍 — 6 years ago

Laura Kent

9.3

This is actually the jalapeño apple wine but it wasn’t on here. Nice light white wine. Slightly sweet with a bit of warmth and aftertaste from the jalapeño — 7 years ago

Bobby Gilbane

9.6

King Under the Mountain Vol. 3 Tasting Event.

My wine steward brought me a chalice of this to pair with the mutton dish. I liked it so much that my steward’s miserable life. #payitforward — 8 years ago

Nerd_Emperor

9.7

Sweet apple to the max! Like a liquid candy apple. I love it! — 8 years ago

Phil Ashton

9.3

@Delectable Wine not Secrest Mountain - this is Bella Wines Chardonnay Ancestrale Orchard House Vineyard — 9 years ago