Freddy R. Troya

9.0

D’Alfonso-Curran – Chardonnay / 2024
Santa Barbara County, California 🇺🇸

Overview
A limited-production (only 400 cases) stainless-steel Chardonnay that strips away oak to showcase the pure, unadorned character of the grape in Santa Barbara’s cool-climate terroir.

Aromas & Flavors
Bright citrus zest, green apple, and crisp pear with undertones of wet stone and a faint saline edge. The absence of oak allows the fruit to take center stage, framed by mineral precision.

Mouthfeel
Lean, steely, and razor-sharp in structure, medium-bodied with lively acidity and a refreshing, clean finish. Pure varietal expression at its finest.

Food Pairings
Perfect with oysters on the half shell, ceviche, sushi, goat cheese salad, or simply grilled halibut. A wine that elevates fresh and delicate dishes.

Verdict
An elegant, stainless-steel Chardonnay that proves restraint can be thrilling. Crisp, mineral-driven, and a true reflection of Santa Barbara County Chardonnay.

Did You Know?
Stainless steel fermentation preserves primary fruit and natural acidity, unlike oak, which imparts creaminess and spice. This style, popular in Chablis and coastal regions, is gaining traction in California for its ability to highlight terroir. — 16 hours ago

Dave

9.2

Still very lively. Bright red cherries, strawberries! licorice, pepper. Perfectly balanced. — 5 months ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.2

2017 vintage. Last tasted 01.27.25 (9.2). Good primer/introductory Barolo for those unfamiliar/scared. Some fruit. More structure but never too much as to force the villagers to flee. Excellent, crushable Barolo now (and for the next half-decade) and the price comes in on the weekday train vs the weekend edition. 05.14.25. — 6 months ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.0

D’Alfonso-Curran – Gewürztraminer – 2022
Monterey County, California, USA 🇺🇸

Overview
100% Gewürztraminer from Monterey County, crafted to showcase the grape’s exotic aromatics with a West Coast lift of acidity.

Aromas & Flavors
Layers of lychee, white peach, and orange blossom are accented by hints of ginger, cardamom, and rose petal. The spice is subtle yet distinctive, balancing the floral exuberance.

Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied and lively, with firm acidity that reins in the grape’s natural opulence. The finish is fresh, lightly spiced, and lingering.

Food Pairings
Ideal with aromatic cuisine like Thai curries, Vietnamese spring rolls, or Moroccan chicken tagine. Also a natural partner for aged Gouda or soft, washed-rind cheeses.

Verdict
A beautifully expressive Gewürztraminer that balances exotic aromatics with freshness, a fine example of how this Alsatian grape thrives in California’s cool-climate Monterey region.

Did You Know?
Gewürztraminer is notoriously tricky in the vineyard: early budding, prone to frost damage, and often low yielding. But when grown in cool sites like Monterey, it develops intense aromatics while keeping that crucial spine of acidity. — 16 hours ago

Lev Lavrichtchev

9.1

Jun 2025: 1 hour intensive aeration, nice aroma, cherry, tobacco, leather, medium body and aftertaste, no sign of aging, will try next bottle in three to five years. Classic and enjoyable. — 3 years ago

Anthony Riebsomer

9.1

This is a great Nebbiolo. It's well balanced. — 7 months ago

Ashish Pant

9.5

Go for it! — a month ago

"Odedi"

9.1

Ruby in color with light intensity and a wide reddish rim.

Fruity nose of red currants, cherries, earth, black coffee, chocolates, chalk and light oak.

Medium bodied with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with red fruits, earth, light wood, spices, coffee, dark chocolates, vegetables, herbs and black tea.

Medium finish with round tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a very tasty Barbaresco. Easy drinking and elegant, but not as smooth as I expected it to be.

This 5 year old feels like it needs more time in the bottle to mature properly. Will continue to age nicely in the next 10 to 15 years. Would be nice to revisit it in 5 years.

This Single Vineyard Nebbiolo is complex and interesting. Good by itself and better with food.

100% Nebbiolo grapes were aged for 2 years in large oak barrels. A small production of only 3,500 bottles.

14% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$80. — 4 months ago

Kristina Clifford

10

Loved this one. Smooth, light, dynamic. Bought from the winery at the “Old Place”. — 2 years ago

Pooneet K

9.3

Really a wonderful barbaresco riserva. Should have bought more than one bottle. Lots of sediment, so a decant is in order. Wonderfully deep nose, so velvety on the palate. Nice long finish. Just enough refreshing acid too - could have used a smidge more but still very nice. Great pairing with Allen brothers duroc pork chops. — 2 years ago