Freddy R. Troya

9.0

Champagne Drappier – Carte d’Or Brut (Kosher Mevushal), Champagne, Urville – France 🇫🇷

Overview
A kosher mevushal Champagne from one of the most Pinot Noir–driven houses in the Aube. Drappier’s Carte d’Or leans into fruit clarity and approachability, offering a bright, juicy profile that remains true to the house’s DNA while fitting kosher requirements.

Aromas & Flavors
Immediate notes of Honeycrisp apple, ripe pear, yellow plum, and a gentle touch of honey. Fresh orchard fruit dominates, with very subtle brioche and minimal autolytic weight.

Mouthfeel
Light-bodied with a lively, soft mousse. Juicy entry, clean mid-palate, and a straightforward, refreshing finish. Acidity is present but rounded, keeping the wine easy and accessible.

Personal Pick Highlight 🍷
This is a kosher Champagne I’d reach for when freshness and drinkability matter more than complexity. Ideal for celebrations, Shabbat dinners, or casual gatherings where you want Champagne energy without heaviness.

Food Pairings
Excellent with smoked salmon, gravlax, sushi, fried appetizers, soft cheeses, or simply on its own as an aperitif.

Verdict
Bright, juicy, and uncomplicated. While it doesn’t aim for depth or long lees-driven complexity, it succeeds as a reliable, crowd-pleasing kosher Champagne with genuine Drappier character.

Did You Know?
Drappier is renowned for its high Pinot Noir content and low-intervention philosophy. Even in its mevushal bottlings, the house prioritizes fruit purity and balance over overt winemaking signatures. — 19 days ago

Nicolas Greinacher

9.5

This is the 20th release of this wine and has the Pisoni DNA written all over. Always a bit shy on the nose at first, a few minutes of aeration do the trick and reveal well defined, fresh aromas of violets, red and black cherries, forrest strawberry, dried herbs, cola and wood smoke. The lively acidity balances the fruit concentration and the ripe, fine grained tannins neatly frame this medium to full bodied anniversary vintage. Drink now until 2032. — 3 years ago

Aaron Tan

9.1

There was a sense of disappointment with each waft of petrol aroma from the glass. It just shouldn’t be there in a Riesling this young, and especially in one from KP. Clearly the journey taken by this bottle hasn’t been the kindest on its condition. Nevertheless, the DNA of KP’s Kirchspiel still shone through - the regal elegance, palpable minerality, and youthful tannic tartness. Discounting the infuriating petrol note, it was all ripe citrus fruits, herbs, chalk, salt, chalk, salt, chalk and more salt. It was just so mineral, and even more so on day two! I do like it, but I can’t help but feel robbed of the full enjoyment of this wine due to the petrol notes (doubly so when you consider how long I’ve craved for KP’s wines - nearly a year since my last fix). Onwards to a better bottle! — 4 years ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.2

La Sirène de Giscours – Margaux 2020
Margaux, Bordeaux, France 🇫🇷

Overview
This is the second label of the historic Château Giscours, a 3ème Cru Classé (Third Growth) estate in the Margaux appellation, with vines dating back to the 16th century. While more approachable than the Grand Vin, La Sirène still carries the château’s signature elegance, crafted from a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot.

Aromas & Flavors
Nose: a refined mix of raspberry, redcurrant, and plum, touched with subtle spice and Margaux florality.
Palate: delivers crunchy red fruit, cassis, and herbal undertones, all wrapped in fine, elegant tannins. A trace of spice and graphite enhances the finish.

Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied with silky tannins, balanced acidity, and an elegant structure. Youthful freshness dominates, but there’s enough depth and backbone to give it aging potential.

Value & Winemaking
Aged in oak barrels, this second label is designed to show Margaux’s terroir expression earlier in its life compared to the Grand Vin. It’s vibrant and polished, offering superb quality at a fraction of top-tier Margaux pricing.

Food Pairing
Perfect alongside red meats, roasted lamb, duck breast, or a spread of cheeses like Comté or aged Gouda. Decanting is recommended to unlock its full aromatic range.

Verdict
An elegant, youthful Margaux that delivers sophistication and finesse. A serious second label that shows the DNA of Château Giscours while being approachable much earlier. — 6 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.4

A dense Ruby in colour. Black currant, dark plum, mocha, dark chocolate, and cigar box. The Penfolds Cabernet DNA if you like. Dense and powerful. This wine at 20 years of age is just a pup. The “Rewards of Patience “ has a window to 2045+. I’ll probably have the next one in 10 years or so. The release price of the latest vintage is now over $600 - too expensive IMO. Apparently substantial material from the old Block 42 in the blend - planted in the 1880’s. — a year ago

Jay Kline

9.4

Birth year wine for my daughter and since we had some family over and I had a couple bottles of this, I figured it might be fun to check in on it. The cork pulled perfectly with a thick cake of sediment on the end but no sign of creep. The wine pours the deepest of ruby colors, bordering purple. The core is completely utterly opaque with moderate staining of the tears. Medium+ viscosity and there is quite a bit of fine sediment clinging to the side of the glass. High intensity on the nose with an enormous amount of ripe fruits: dark cherries, spices and the most charming kiss of Brett giving it a slightly rustic sort of sensibility while remaining unmistakably New World. This just has Rafanelli’s DNA all over it. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin (which is fairly well integrated at this point) and medium+ acid. Drop dead gorgeous fruit, some of it desiccated, confirming the dark cherries with some dark brambles mixed in for good measure along with baking spice, leather, and pipe tobacco. A wonderfully long finish and the texture gorgeous, completely enthralling. This vintage is voluptuous, sexy and real. Ready to drink now however it should drink very well over the next 5-10 years. The last glass was full of fine sediment. — 4 years ago

eduardo

9.0

Vinho leve com DNA italiano — 6 months ago

Andrew McIntyre

9.2

Young but already so drinkable. Raspberries and strawberries with massive tannins that will no dount evolve beautifully. Vietti just dont make bad wines...goes against their DNA! — a year ago

Delectable Wine

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9.4

The 2014 Trotanoy has a more complex bouquet than the 2014 Gazin, with more Pomerol DNA in the mix, iron-tinged red berry fruit, black truffle and cedar. Fine delineation and quintessentially Pomerol. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins and harmonious, soy-tinged black fruit with white pepper sprinkled over the finish. This has personality and class but needs time (comme d'habitude). One of the standouts in what is an inconsistent Pomerol vintage. Tasted blind at the Southwold 10-Year-On tasting. (Neal Martin, Vinous, March 2024)
— 2 years ago

Andrea Silverstein

9.2

Surprisingly one of the best Cabs I’ve had under $20. So good, will stock up if I see any, next time I’m at TJ’s! — 4 years ago