Freddy R. Troya

9.1

Macchia – “Delicious” Barbera – 2023
Heaven’s Vines, Lodi – USA 🇺🇸

Overview
100% Barbera from Lodi. an Italian indigenous grape known for its naturally high acidity, juicy fruit, and casual drinkability. Macchia Winery, celebrated for producing over 20 distinct styles of Zinfandel, also showcases its versatility with Italian varieties. Consistently recognized with domestic and international awards, the winery brings Barbera into the spotlight with this vibrant estate bottling.

Aromas & Flavors
Ripe red cherries, plum, blackberry compote, and a touch of vanilla and sweet spice. Fresh, fruity, and forward with that classic Barbera brightness.

Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied with lively acidity and a smooth, easygoing finish. Juicy fruit drives the palate, making it approachable and highly sip-worthy.

Food Pairings
Perfect with pizza, pasta with tomato-based sauces, grilled sausages, roasted vegetables, or charcuterie. A true “any day, any time” red.

Verdict
A fun, approachable, and fruit-driven Barbera with Macchia’s signature Lodi generosity. Casual enough for weeknight sipping yet polished enough to show the quality behind this estate-grown wine.

Did You Know?
Barbera is one of Italy’s most widely planted red grapes, cherished for its fresh acidity and versatility. In California, Lodi’s warm days and cool delta breezes help the variety express generous fruit while maintaining balance. — 8 days ago

Zimran Ahmed

9.2

Lovely. Floral nose with a mineral driven, bright attack. Herbal. Olive. A little grippe. Great with seafood. — a year ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.3

Haven’t had in ages. Gorgeous nose with some gras, lime zest, seashells, sea air and some of the obvious richness of the vintage. Palate is wonderful. Zippy with terrific acids and great cut. Concentrated and classic. Sappy and pure with great balance, freshness and minerality. Pure as the driven snow. Nice smokiness develops with air. — 3 years ago

Ron Siegel

9.4

Great vintage that is drinking well at 20 yrs with many more yrs ahead. Dark, inky, polished showing red & black cherry, berry fruit, mineral driven with sweet spices, graphite & violet. — 4 months ago

Pinotman /// Andreas

9.4

Needs a good day to open up. At first quite brutal in an unyielding way. I left this on my custom Argon line for a week. Reviewed this many times before. Absolutely delicious and driven by earth herbs and hint of red fruits. More or less for aficionados only (I don’t want to be condescending here) as so much patience is required. Drink now because i do not expect the fruit to hang on all that long. — 10 months ago

Vanessa

9.1

When offered a glass of Domaine William Fèvre, my answer is (always) a resounding “yes!”

Domaine William Fèvre is justifiably one of the most significant producers in Chablis, representing a gold standard for high quality, terroir-driven Chardonnays, produced from a collection of estate vineyard sites located across the region, including many carrying the prestigious “Premier Cru” or “Grand Cru” title.   👏🏻👏🏻

This wine is 100% Chardonnay (as is required for all “Chablis”) from Premier Cru vineyards in Vaillons on the left bank of the River Serein.

It is refined and elegant with bright acidity, steely minerality, white blossom, toast, and concentrated citrus and green apple, white peach, nectarine fruit notes while also exhibiting a textural, creamy mouthfeel and richness, perhaps in part due to lees and partial (older, French) oak aging.🙌🏻🙌🏻

Domaine William Fèvre Chablis Premier Cru Vaillons 2020 (ABV 12.5%). — 2 years ago

with Deked1

Andrew Cullimore

9.2

Slightly deeper and brighter colour than the 2004 , younger looking . More ruby with a garnet rim . Really aromatic and floral , violet , mint , spiced red cherry , ripe raspberry , eucalyptus . Still really fresh and fruit driven . Some dried herbs and earthy notes in the background. On the palate this has lovely elegance and poise , with herbal red cherry , strawberry and slightly nutty notes. Quite ripe and juicy , but with fresh acidity and fine tannins . Long and fruit driven on the finish . Still young from now and over the next 10 years . — 6 months ago

Delectable Wine

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9.4

The 2014 Vieux Château Certan comes from two bottles, the first out of condition. The second has a potent Cabernet Franc-driven nose, which is no surprise, as it comprises 30% of the blend: bell pepper and black pepper infusing the black fruit. There is almost a Loire-like scent. The palate is medium-bodied with granular tannins, fine acidity and grip with truffle and raspberry. It's earthy with just a touch of dark chocolate on the finish. This Pomerol is surfeit with character and is just about to enter its drinking window. Tasted at the VCC vertical in Etikhove, Belgium. (Neal Martin, Vinous, July 2024)
— a year ago

Brooke Gannon

9.2

Steely, mineral driven, some apple, lemon zest, a nice long finish. — 3 years ago

with Joseph

Ron R

9.2

Displays a distinctive personality on the nose and palate. It’s a leanish, mineral-driven expression of Chardonnay. Hints of ginger and lanolin combine with taught acidity. Sweetness is light to moderate. Very little oak to talk about, mostly steely. This will partner perfectly with sushi, but it does need a wingman. — 3 years ago

with Anne-marie