Freddy R. Troya

9.2

Kisvin — Koshu Réserve 2021
Yamanashi, Japan 🇯🇵

Overview
100% Koshu from Yamanashi, given an unusually serious treatment through late harvesting and barrel aging. The result moves well beyond the typically delicate, light-bodied expression of Koshu, delivering greater concentration, texture, and personality while preserving the grape’s natural freshness.

Aromas & Flavors
Ripe pear, citrus, yellow apple, and subtle honey unfold alongside gentle oak spice and vanilla. The fruit feels concentrated yet refined, with the barrel influence adding complexity rather than masking Koshu’s delicate character.

Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied and noticeably creamier than typical Koshu, with additional weight and texture across the palate. Fresh acidity keeps everything composed, leading to a clean, structured, and persistent finish.

Food Pairings
Sushi, sashimi, grilled scallops, miso-glazed fish, tempura, roasted poultry, or richer Japanese seafood preparations.

Verdict
A premium, intellectual Koshu, simple as that. Where many examples emphasize delicacy and subtlety, this has genuine presence and character. The added weight and oak influence make it a fascinating demonstration of how serious Koshu can become without sacrificing its identity.

Did You Know?
Koshu is Japan’s signature native wine grape and is particularly associated with Yamanashi, its historic heartland. Its naturally subtle character makes richer interpretations like this Réserve especially unusual, showing an entirely different dimension of the variety.

🍷 Personal Pick
This is Koshu with some muscle—and I loved it. The pear, honey, citrus, creamy texture, and restrained oak give it far more personality and weight than expected, yet it remains unmistakably refined. Unfortunately, it’s extremely difficult to find in the U.S.; if I see another bottle, I’m not leaving it behind. — 10 days ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.0

Castello di Amorosa Gewürztraminer 2016
Anderson Valley, Mendocino County, California, USA 🇺🇸

Overview:
A dry, aromatic Gewürztraminer from Castello di Amorosa’s cooler Anderson Valley estate—often dubbed California’s Alsace thanks to its ideal coastal climate and terroir . This iteration is crafted in a near-dry style (≈7.3 g/L residual sugar), offering a fragrant and spicy profile that’s both refreshing and intriguingly complex.

Aromas & Flavors:
Notes of lychee, rose petals, apricot, and exotic spices beautifully unfold on the nose. The palate mirrors this aromatic profile, with a spicy ginger finish that lingers delicately.

Mouthfeel:
With supple acidity and a smooth, balanced texture, this Gewürztraminer feels lively and approachable—bright enough to refresh, yet layered with enough depth to intrigue.

Food Pairing:
A stellar match for spicy cuisines—think Thai or Indian—where its floral and spice characteristics complement and elevate complex flavors. It also pairs beautifully with aged cheeses or richly flavored white meats.

Verdict:
This Gewürztraminer is a striking example of the grape outside its European heartland—dry, elegant, and expressive. It’s floral and spicy without sweetness overpowering, making it a standout for aperitifs or paired with bold, savory dishes. A refreshing and refined Californian twist on Gewürztraminer. — a year ago

Julia

8.9

$20 at Market Wines. Very nice and different — 4 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.4

Firstly to explain the label. 24 years ago when I was Wine Chairman at the Downs Club I copied the Yalumba concept of honouring people who had done a great job for the company. 8 years ago the Club decided to honour the contribution of my brother Mike - hence this label. Prior to Mike there have been 8 ex Presidents recognised in this way. The Wine itself is a 2008 Glaetzer Heartland Shiraz from Langhorne Creek. This is the 11th bottle of a dozen and easily the best. Medium bodied with M - Tannins and Acid. Mature plum and chocolate flavours. Interestingly the back label says cellar for up to 5 years!! What do they know! This over delivers in spades at 10 years of age. A wonderful surprise. I will leave the last one for a family occasion. — 8 years ago

James Forsyth

8.9

My sister was holidaying in Provence and among all the large rosé producing estates they stumbled across Borrely Martin. A tumbling shed gives way to modern equipment. Mirroring the laissez faire attitude of the winemaker that hides the obsessive approach to vineyard management. "Rosé isn't proper wine" bellows Borrely, a man making wine in rosé's heartland. Reds were tasted instead, including this entry level offering. Dark fruit, licorice and some cherry. Tasty, if a little one dimensional and a little lacking on the mid palate. I'm looking forward to trying some of the producer's other wines and maybe one day if a holiday in Provence allows then I think that I'd rather enjoy visiting this larger than life character. — 9 years ago

with Sangeetha, Hetty and 3 others

Freddy R. Troya

9.0

South Mist Regional Reserve Parcel — Sauvignon Blanc 2025
Wairau Valley, Marlborough, New Zealand 🇳🇿

Overview
An elevated expression of South Mist Sauvignon Blanc, sourced from a select parcel in Marlborough’s Wairau Valley. Compared with the original bottling, this shows greater structure, concentration, and refinement while retaining the vibrant personality that makes Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc so immediately recognizable.

Aromas & Flavors
Highly aromatic yet beautifully controlled, with grapefruit, lime, passion fruit, guava, and fresh herbs. The tropical character is expressive without becoming overwhelming, allowing citrus and subtle green notes to provide freshness and definition.

Mouthfeel
Light- to medium-bodied with crisp, zesty acidity and considerably more structure than the standard bottling. Vibrant and energetic through the mid-palate, yet polished and delicate, leading to an exceptionally clean and persistent finish.

Food Pairings
Oysters, grilled shrimp, ceviche, goat cheese, fresh salads, sushi, or simply grilled white fish.

Verdict
A noticeable step up from the original South Mist. It keeps the aromatic exuberance Marlborough lovers expect but adds finesse, structure, and a more composed finish. Particularly impressive considering the approachable price point.

Did You Know?
The Wairau Valley is Marlborough’s historic heartland and is particularly celebrated for Sauvignon Blanc. Its abundant sunshine, cool nights, and free-draining soils help produce wines with intense aromatics while preserving the vibrant acidity that defines the region.

🍷 Personal Pick
This is where South Mist becomes considerably more interesting for me. The aromatics are still through the roof, but everything feels better controlled—more structure, more finesse, and a lovely lingering finish. Delicious, affordable, and ridiculously easy to keep around; a terrific everyday cellar staple. — 17 days ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.1

🍇 100% Arneis | Roero DOCG, Piedmont, Italy

A classic Northern Italian white, crafted from Arneis grapes sourced across the villages of Vezza d’Alba, Piobesi, and Monteu Roero, all part of the heartland of the Roero appellation.

On the nose:
Fragrant and inviting, with aromas of white flowers, ripe pear, and a citrus lift. A gentle thread of mineral elegance keeps it grounded and regionally expressive.

On the palate:
Dry, crisp, and clean, with a smooth texture, refreshing acidity, and a subtle, pleasantly bitter almond note on the finish — a signature Arneis trait. Light-bodied yet structured, it’s harmonious and polished, with more personality than your average summer white.

Food pairing:
Versatile and food-friendly, perfect with seafood, light pasta dishes, grilled veggies, and fresh cheeses like burrata or robiola.

A true gem from Piedmont expressive, regional, and quietly elegant.
Cheers to Arneis done right! 🍐🍋🌸
— a year ago

Kurt Schuster

8.9

Lamb with blue cheese, pairs perfectly — 4 years ago

Jason McLaren

9.3

Solid again. Not too much fruit — 8 years ago

Rino

8.9

Um bom vinho. Bem equilibrado, taninos macios, boa acidez. Aromas de especiarias e a tradicional pimenta do reino. Frutas vermelhas maduras.
Só achei um pouco a mais de madeira — 9 years ago

Davenport Edwards

9.1

Bought at vineyard. Met farmer. Nice — 9 years ago

Scott Rowe

9.4

Chilled down and so smashable!! — 10 years ago

Scott Rowe

9.2

Absolute charmer! An excellent medium bodied drop from Langhorne. — 10 years ago

with Adam

Ming L

9.0

A monopole from the red heartland of Vougeot from the excellent ‘14 vintage (for white), my expectation was high.

Layers of lemon curd, pear skin, and crushed stone clouded by bruised apple and hazelnut on the nose. The palate is linear, saline, and mineral and has superb tension - maybe a bit too much.

Slightly over the hill, but compelling nevertheless. — a year ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.0

Don Próspero – Tannat 2017
Canelones, Uruguay 🇺🇾

Overview:
Made from Uruguay’s flagship grape, this 100% Tannat hails from the Canelones region, the country’s viticultural heartland. It captures the bold, structured, and unapologetically powerful style that has put Uruguay on the wine map.

Aromas & Flavors:
Dark fruit at its core, black plum, blackberry, and cassis, wrapped in notes of cedar, baking spice, and a touch of earth. After hours in the decanter, it remained tight yet expressive, with hints of licorice and savory herbs peeking through.

Mouthfeel:
Full-bodied with gripping, chewy tannins and firm dryness. The structure dominates, yet there’s depth and intensity that suggests longevity. Still evolving in the glass.

Food Pairings:
Perfect with rich and fatty dishes that tame its tannins, think grilled ribeye, lamb shanks, or slow-braised short ribs. Also works with aged Manchego or blue cheese.

Verdict:
A serious, food-demanding Tannat that showcases Uruguay’s bold personality. Not a casual sipper, but for the right pairing it becomes absolutely delicious. With its muscle and backbone, this vintage still has 5–8 years of cellaring potential ahead. Cheers!

Did You Know?
Uruguay is the only country where Tannat is the national grape, brought over by Basque settlers in the 19th century. Canelones, just north of Montevideo, produces nearly two-thirds of Uruguay’s wine and is known for its Atlantic breezes, which help balance Tannat’s tannic intensity with freshness. — a year ago

Ted

8.9

Fun wine that was better slightly chilled. — 3 years ago

with Jeni

Mark S.

8.9

Burned, deep, herby. Good CP CS+SRZ @600, XBB, 190705 — 7 years ago

Christian Fischer

8.9

In the Rioja heartland now so no more Champagne for a while. This amazingly comes with a fixed prices menu where you get a lot of amazing food at the price you would pay for this wine in the US — 8 years ago

Kyle Harvey

9.0

Surprisingly silky smooth Bordeaux blend with that little rustic kick that only a place like Umbria (or anywhere in the Italian heartland) can bring to the table. Reminds me why I need to occasionally get out of my Etna, Piemonte, Toscana bubble — 9 years ago

Kathy Westerhoff

9.0

Made in Salina, Kansas....we found it at the Bridal Show. A bit bubbly but not too sweet. — 10 years ago

with Chris