Freddy R. Troya

8.9

Castillo Clavijo – Rioja Blanco – 2024
Rioja DOCa | Spain 🇪🇸

Overview:
A very casual, approachable white from Rioja DOCa, a region better known for reds, this bottle delivers exactly what it promises: simplicity, freshness, and value. Viura-driven, made in a clean, straightforward style that favors easy drinking over complexity.

Aromas & Flavors:
Fresh and subtle with notes of green apple, lemon zest, and soft white florals. There’s a gentle herbal edge typical of Viura, but nothing overt or demanding, clean and unfussy.

Mouthfeel:
Light- to medium-bodied with refreshing acidity. Smooth, easygoing, and crisp, finishing clean without weight or oak influence.

Food Pairings:
Grilled fish, light salads, seafood tapas, simple chicken dishes, or anything olive-oil driven. A reliable companion at the table without stealing the spotlight.

Verdict:
A “does-the-job” Rioja white that makes sense on the value side. Not meant to rival more serious white Rioja expressions, but a pleasant, practical option from a red-dominant region, especially when you want something uncomplicated and food-friendly.

Did You Know?
Viura (also known as Macabeo) is Rioja’s primary white grape, capable of both simple, fresh wines like this and age-worthy, complex whites when blended or oak-aged.

🍷 Personal Pick Highlight
This is the kind of easy, reliable white you reach for when you want something light, affordable, and regionally honest, proof that Rioja can still deliver on the white side, even if reds remain its calling card. — 4 days ago

Bob McDonald

9.4

I haven’t had a lot of experience with Napa Valley Chardonnay but this was most enjoyable. Rich and mouth filling, creamy. Stone fruit and almonds. Barb said white flowers on the nose. Apparently this was picked early and malolactic fermentation was blocked. Oak influence is totally integrated - balanced. I paid $147 AUD in Brisbane in September 2021. A lot dearer than what you might pay in the States I would guess. — 2 years ago

Delectable Wine

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9.5

The 2020 Pinot Noir (Sta. Rita Hills) is fabulous. In fact, the appellation wine is my favorite Pinot in this range. The combination of the sites, and a bit less stem influence than the vineyard designates, works so well. There's a bit more fruit, more mid-palate sweetness and better balance overall, in my view. All the elements are so well put together. All of this fruit is from Machado and Hapgood. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, August 2022)
— 3 years ago

Shuji Yanada

9.2

酸味、旨味、果実味のバランスが良い
— 2 months ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.0

2022 vintage. First vintage under Lorenzetti ownership. Oak dominating initially, needs a few hours to open up. Concentrated black fruit with serious oak influence. Lots of potential, but doesn't have the charm of the 2020 today. Ab. 14,,5% — a year ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.0

Slightly deeper ruby garnet , narrower rim . Deeper and younger , touch of wood smoke then quite ripe black fruits , rounder with better definition on the nose than the 1994 . More degraded cassis and grafite noticeable than the wine before, tobacco , touch of seashell , marine influence comes though . On the palate the fruit fills out better than the 1994, quite dark and serious , grafite , tobacco and cedar , however the tannin is less rustic and better integrated . Nice balancing acidity. This has quite good length and is showing well now though could age a little longer. Probably is best drunk over the next few years — 2 years ago

Brandon Boesch

9.3

Really nice. Definitely Sonoma coast with a bit of Russian river influence. Strawberries, baking spices galore, decomposing redwood forest, some cherry and maybe a bit of plum. It’s great but similar to a lot of other Pinots from that area. — 3 years ago

Doug Powers

9.0

Red berry, some oak influence, minerality and savory as well, nice balance, medium-long finish, solid Aussie Shiraz! — a year ago

with Jim

Bob McDonald

9.0

Brief notes. Sweet red fruits - raspberry and strawberry. Whole bunch influence. An excellent Yarra Valley Pinot Noir with a proven track record but at the end of the day Applejack Vineyard is marginally in front of Sexton Vineyard IMO. — a year ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.5

1996 vintage. Decanted and tasted after two hours. Decent fill and not throwing as much sediment as expected. Cork in great shape and only bottom fourth saturated. Expressive nose of extreme, maritime cedar influence and graphite/lead pencil. Plenty of color with a very thin meniscus. Have never been the biggest Mouton fan (least fave of the First Growths) but this is in the zone/at the top of the bell curve/rollin rollin rollin rollin now and for the foreseeable decade+ without drop-off. Decidedly not improving, but on the hell yes plateau for 12-15 years. Nose substantially translates into the finish, adding sandalwood and that massive, muscular and intimidating dark, plummy thrust. Professional opinion suspects this would be tasting better in another 2 hours. Don't sell your biggies short (all too frequent mistake). They gotta stretch them legs. 7.7.23. — 2 years ago