Freddy R. Troya

8.9

Gabriel Meffre “Saint-Vincent” Côtes-du-Rhône Blanc 2024, Rhône Valley, France 🇫🇷

Overview
A classic Southern Rhône white blend that leans casual and food-oriented rather than flashy or intensely aromatic, and this cuvée is typically a blend of Grenache Blanc, Viognier, Roussanne, and Clairette. The result is a smooth, lightly stony, and subtly textured white that feels very comfortable at the table.

Aromas & Flavors
Soft white peach, pear, yellow apple, and delicate white floral tones open gently in the glass. Subtle hints of wet stone, citrus peel, and light herbal nuances emerge underneath, keeping the wine grounded and balanced rather than overtly fruity.

Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied with a smooth and approachable texture. There is a gentle tension toward the back palate that adds freshness without becoming sharp. The finish remains subtle, soft, and savory-leaning.

Food Pairings
This is where the wine truly shines. Excellent with roasted chicken, creamy seafood dishes, cod in white wine sauce, grilled vegetables, herb-driven Mediterranean cuisine, or mild cheeses.

Verdict
A very honest and traditional Rhône white that prioritizes versatility and food compatibility over complexity. Not necessarily a “sit and analyze” sipping wine, but a dependable bottle that works beautifully at the dinner table.

Did You Know?
White Côtes-du-Rhône wines represent only a small percentage of total Rhône production, which is why many consumers associate the region almost entirely with reds despite the area producing some excellent traditional white blends.

🍷 Personal Pick
This feels like one of those understated French whites that quietly performs best with food. Casual, stony, smooth, and very easy to enjoy alongside a proper meal rather than on its own. Cheers! — a month ago

John Bratincevic

8.9

Nose: cooking spices, peppers, dark berries.

Taste: nice acidity, peppers (dry, not sweet), savoury spices (I do get the paprika claimed on the label!), dark berries, beeswax. Not my preferred style but well made — and paired well with tacos! 89. — 9 months ago

Daniel M

9.2

Opened yesterday, drank over 2 days.
The nose is very fruity and intense with dark cherry touches, earthy notes, some raspberry and blackberry scents too. I could even smell some peony notes too. This is really inviting. The palate is wide and long and quite complex. A good acid drive, some dark cherry notes all along, some very soft and easy going mouthfeel that is changing in mid palate with a great tannic wall, which adds a layer of dust over an otherwise quite juicy and fruity finish. In the back-end though, there is a tiny savoury note that pops along with a subtle bitterness. This is really my kind of cab franc. Really good stuff! — 2 years ago

Jason Keefer

8.9

Super dusty, would have pegged it for much older. Wet leather, cedar, and cloves. Tasty, but shouldn’t sit for much longer. — 3 years ago

with Natasha

Jeff Decker

9.2

Easy drinking rich red, velvet red fruit, smooth palate, mild acidity, almost like a Merlot for a Cab Franc — 4 years ago

Sara Kobilka

9.0

Delicious, dark berries and earthy flavors — 5 years ago

Kate Hufnagel

9.4

Terrific pairing with a smoked turkey! — 6 years ago

with Alex

Brent Hendrich

8.9

This was the white Rhône. — 2 months ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.6

Chappellet – Signature Cabernet Sauvignon – 2022 🇺🇸
Pritchard Hill (Mountain Fruit) – Napa Valley AVA – California, USA

Overview
A cornerstone of Chappellet for over three decades, the Signature Cabernet Sauvignon continues to define what Napa Valley mountain Cabernet is all about: power, elegance, and longevity.
The 2022 vintage carries a subtly adjusted blend of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Petit Verdot, 7% Malbec, 2% Merlot, featuring a touch more Cabernet Sauvignon and slightly less Petit Verdot and Malbec compared to the 2021 (see my v2021 notes).
This shift gives the 2022 an extra dimension of muscle and purity, heightening its mountain-driven character.

Aromas & Flavors
Undeniably dark and expressive. Notes of blackcurrant, dark cherry, plum, and cassis rise first, followed by cedar, sage, aged tobacco, thyme, and beautifully integrated toasted oak.
As it opens, deeper nuances emerge, espresso bean, cocoa, graphite, and subtle mountain herbs.

Mouthfeel
Full-bodied and impeccably structured.
The increase in Cabernet Sauvignon amplifies its power and linearity, while polished tannins deliver a glowing richness across the palate.
Flavors of black cherry, currant, chocolate, espresso, and warm spice saturate the mid-palate. The finish is long, confident, and built for aging.

Food Pairings
Prime rib, grilled ribeye, lamb with rosemary, venison, black-truffle dishes, or aged gouda/cheddar.

Verdict
A formidable yet seductively elegant expression of Pritchard Hill. The 2022 is slightly more commanding than the 2021, with enhanced Cabernet purity and structural depth. A true benchmark in Napa’s hillside Cabernets, age-worthy, expressive, and unmistakably Chappellet. Cheers!

Did You Know?
Pritchard Hill’s volcanic, iron-rich soils and elevation create Cabernets known for density, refinement, and remarkable longevity, which is why so many iconic Napa producers source or plant here.

🍷 Personal Pick Highlight
Among my personal favorites in the mountain Cabernet category. The 2022 delivers that unmistakable “whoa” moment, especially when shared with friends and family. — 7 months ago

Richard Perlman

9.1

Delicate, toasty, delicious, maybe even more of a wine than a champagne  — 3 years ago

MaJ CappS

9.1

A Gary Larson cartoon comes to mind: Where smoked meat comes from - showing a cigarette smoking cow behind a barn.
This type of flavor from a good Rhone Syrah used to be common. Smelling this in a Wash state wine is amazing. Needs to be cellar temp for sure - lovely compote, blackberry nectar, a necco wafer, light tannin, yet mouth filling sweet tart acidity.
Reminds me of those old school wines of yore. — 3 years ago

Nathan Stamper

9.0

Very balanced and delicious. — 4 years ago

Brendan Baker

9.1

Initial searing acidity calms a bit with air. Wild strawberry and lemon oil, mineral and long ⚡️🍓🍋⚡️ — 5 years ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.3

2023 vintage. Second (white) wine tasted from this producer and second, double thumbs up. Medium body and similarly weighty oak detail. Spicy finish. A little fleshy. A little oaky. A little jicama (!?) and lychee thang just hang(ing) there. Splash of mineral influences. Fairly forward with only one, or two, side quest(s). $64 USD resto cost...pre-tariff pricing. With tariffs? Haha. A few years ago, this woulda been $35-40. Ouch. 3.19.26. — 3 months ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.4

2022 vintage. Tasted via Coravin. Beautiful coloration afoot. Whoa. This is immediately popping. Gorgeous synthesis of fruit, oak and acidity. 2nd best Chassagne I’ve had in the last year but it’s oh so close to 1st place and Chassagne is my fave white Burg stomping grounds. Enduring finish. Picked up 35 bottles at $77.70 a btl resto cost so we’ll have it a while. It’ll be on the front lines during the holidaze tho. 10.16.25. — 8 months ago

Alvaro Bustillos

9.2

Gabriel ayala sosa jk flores mauro pc — 2 years ago

Jess

9.0

Medium-deep ruby color.
Aromas of baked raspberry/cherry, vanilla, roasted red bell pepper, cinnamon.
Dry. Flavors of black raspberry, licorice, cinnamon, clove. Medium-rich, velvety tannins.

Intensity: 4/5
Complexity: 2/5
Balance: 4/5
Finish: 4/5 — 3 years ago

Kenneth Kramme

9.0

Very nice flavours of cherry, plum, raspberry, and a touch of leather/earthy (in a good way!) Well balanced. Nice bottle too! — 3 years ago

Ming L

9.0

Full of red fruits yet meaty and rustic. Full body. Dense and powerful on the palate with vivid acidity. Rustic mild tannins.

Though labeled as Vin de France, the juicy is from 60-year old vine of the domaine in Corbières, Languedoc. Natural wine.

Terrific stuff. — 4 years ago

Cheryl Beyea

9.0

Enjoyed this. Had Jan 2021 — 5 years ago