Los Angeles River Wine Company
Rotem & Mounir Saouma
Omnia Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhone Blend 2022
Atherton Wine Imports 2026 tasting at République, Los Angeles. 2022 vintage. Priced similarly to Pégau’s Cuvée Réservée. Medium/medium heavy body. Excellent views and a well-marked trail to follow. Plenty of stuffing with the balance to boot. 3.18.26. — 3 months ago
Moraga Vineyards
Estate Sauvignon Blanc 1999
Moraga Estate – Sauvignon Blanc – Vintage 1999
Bel Air, Los Angeles, California, USA 🇺🇸
Overview
A remarkable bottle of 100% Sauvignon Blanc from Moraga Estate, located in the rolling hills of Bel Air. Despite its 25+ years of age, this wine has defied time, showing incredible vitality and freshness. A rare showcase that Sauvignon Blanc, under the right terroir and winemaking, can achieve serious longevity.
Aromas & Flavors
Notes of preserved lemon, dried apricot, lanolin, and beeswax unfold gracefully, interlaced with hints of chamomile tea and subtle nutty oxidative tones. The acidity remains vibrant, keeping the palate lifted, with a saline, mineral edge that speaks of its unique site.
Mouthfeel
Still taut and structured, with an oily richness balanced by a linear, mouthwatering acidity. The texture is round yet precise, with a finish that lingers beautifully.
Food Pairings
Ideal with aged goat cheese, seared scallops, or roast chicken with lemon and herbs. A wine this nuanced also shines solo, worthy of quiet contemplation.
Verdict
Astonishing endurance from a varietal not usually associated with long-term cellaring. This is more than a wine, it’s history in a glass.
Did You Know?
Moraga Estate is one of the only commercial wineries operating within Los Angeles city limits, with vineyards planted in the limestone-rich canyons of Bel Air facing south west. Its wines have long been a hidden treasure, often snapped up by Hollywood insiders.
🍷 Personal Pick Highlight
This bottle was a revelation, proving that California Sauvignon Blanc, under the right conditions, can rival the ageability of Old World whites. A true collector’s gem and a memorable experience. — 8 months ago
Fortaleza
Blanco Tequila
Have @ BARISH Los Angeles — 3 years ago
Los Angeles River Wine Company
Lone Wolf Bob Munoa Ranch Blanc White Blend 2020
Really a Ramato made from gray grapes — 5 years ago
Byron Blatty Wines
Tremor Los Angeles County Grenache Blend 2017
Big bold California but well balanced and very ageable. I would prefer to drink this in 10 years. Good structure but very young. Too young to drink to the maximum at this point, yet still very enjoyable. Baking spice and juicy plum. Buy now and cellar! — 6 years ago
Rotem & Mounir Saouma
Magis Châteauneuf-du-Pape White Rhone Blend 2022
Atherton Wine Imports 2026 tasting at République, Los Angeles. 2022 vintage. Beautifully made. Not inexpensive but worth the splurge and wonderfully sumptuous. 3.18.26. — 3 months ago
Château La Cabanne
Pomerol Red Bordeaux Blend 2022
Atherton Wine Imports 2026 tasting at République, Los Angeles. 2022 vintage. Medium-medium heavy body. This was like a home-cooked holiday dinner. What to load the plate up with first? So much good stuff. Tons of fruit and tannins and already showing great balance even though it just started walking. Resto cost? That’s the best part. $38 a btl. Sign me up. 3.18.26. — 3 months ago
Byron Blatty Wines
Petit Verdot 2017
Dark purple/ inky in color with a reddish rim.
Beautiful nose with wild flowers, red cherries, currents, sweet strawberries, dark chocolates, light tobacco, light wood, Indian spices and black pepper
Medium plus in body with medium plus acidity and long legs.
Dry on the palate with sour cherries, plums, cooked strawberries, spices, herbs, light wood, coffee and peppercorn.
Short finish with soft tannins and tangy raspberries.
This 8-year-old Petit Verdot from Los Angeles County is still drinking very nicely now. Fruity and elegant. Tangy and interesting.
Needs 90 minutes to open up properly, and show the beautiful nose, which I loved.
Not what one might expect from a California Petit Verdot, however it is very interesting to try.
I had this vintage 3 years ago, and it was drinking better then.
A good food wine that I paired with cheeses and dried meats.
100% Petit Verdot grapes were hand-picked and aged for 44 months in French oak barrels. A small production of only 360 bottles.
14.7% alcohol by volume.
89 points.
$40. — a year ago
Moraga Vineyards
Estate Red Blend 2010
From a 16 acre vineyard in the hills of Bel Air. Probably the most expensive vineyard property in the US. It’s currently owned by Rupert Murdoch, but this is from before his purchase in 2013. This is legit good. Much better than any Malibu wines I’ve had. 13.8 listed alcohol and fairly restrained style. Let’s rip down all of those mansions and plant some grapes! — 4 years ago
Los Angeles River Wine Company
Lone Wolf Bob Munoa Ranch MISSION (LISTÁN PRIETO) 2020
Made from a very old vineyard in Temecula that hadn’t been pruned or cared for in over sixty years. — 5 years ago
Clos du Clocher
Pomerol Red Bordeaux Blend 2022
Atherton Wine Imports 2026 tasting at République, Los Angeles. 2022 vintage. Medium-medium heavy body. Phenomenal rich AND earthy nose and not too pricey. 3.18.26 — 3 months ago
Domaine Tortochot
Champerrier Vieilles Vignes Gevrey-Chambertin Pinot Noir 2023
Atherton Wine Imports 2026 tasting at République, Los Angeles. 2023 vintage. Earth. Berries. Cherry/Plum. Medium body. Well made, well balanced. And the price doesn’t make you wince. 3.18.26. — 3 months ago
Wonderwerk Co.
Free Your Mind Piquette Carignan Riesling
fun drinking chilled red with unexpected grapes — 6 months ago
Angeleno Wine Company
Alonso Family Vineyard White Field Blend 2021
This is a very exotic “White Field Blend” of Galician varietals: 35% Godello, 35% Loureiro and 30% Treixadura sourced from the Sierra Pelona Valley (near Los Angeles), CA. It is another unique master piece from Jasper Dickson, a proprietor/winemaker of Angelino Wine Co. who is part of the rediscovering White Field Blends in the California while developing naturally made wines with minimal intervention.
All varietals were picked at 21 Brix and whole cluster pressed the grapes, and were co-fermented in stainless steel tanks. The result is a very rare, complex, dry and refreshing wine with an array of aromas of orange and acacia blossom.
On the palate is very crisp, with solid citrus characters and some stony fruit and yellow opal apple. As for mouthfeel, the wine has lots texture, sediments with a moderate-to-long finish. It can be an acquired taste as well.
Every vintage of the White Field Blend is completely different, the V.2021 the came out very aromatic, and some fresh wild grass and the wine as finished product is very hazy! It can be paired with seafood, apéritifs and lighter dishes. Clams steamed, Vietnamese summer rolls with prawns would a nice pairing option as well.
Also heartier as lightly-flavored cuisine can be another pairing alternative. Cheers! — a year ago
Domaine Yves Martin
Chavignol Sancerre Sauvignon Blanc 2020
Investigating classic pairings and realized the only thing I had to serve chèvre on was packets pretzels from the flight I just…flew in from?
Fortunately pretzels were good call. Otherwise?I’m annoyed. I’ve never cared for goat cheese. And I’ve scoffed at how Sancerre scarcely tastes like Sauvignon Blanc anymore.
But the two together are so delightful. It’s coming to terms with a madness in line with last week when I found myself hanging with a gorgeous couple (Los Angeles models yayyy) and I wished I could write them off. Then one picked up his guitar and started playing 90’s/early aughts hits with passion, and his girlfriend confided she wrote Edward Allen Poe inspired poetry and I thought “damn I love them…where did my inner Daria go???”
Both pairings really pleased me.
The humans it’s obvious they are asshole artists like me.
The cheese and wine? I never liked the gamey notes and (to me) overly rich bordering on pasty mouthfeel of chèvre. But somehow the floral, mineral, and white peach vibes from this Sancerre tease out the floral and earthy (without being animal-y) zings from the cheese.
I’m pissed that I found a way I like goat cheese. The more you know? — 4 years ago
GR-ATN
Santorini Assyrtiko 2018
It was a very hot day on the coast of Los Angeles and this chilled Greek gem from the island of Santorini hot the spot. Crisp, light and citrusy with a steely minerality and a slight bitterness on the finish which literally stopped me from gulping it too fast. Paired with a German style dinner of pork schnitzel and potato salad. The cider vinegar and mustard dressing of the potato salad pushed aside the slight bitterness and bounced playfully with the citrus acidity of the wine. Riesling would have paired well of course, but I just adore an Assyrtiko. It makes me feel like I am on vacation. — 6 years ago
Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego
Atherton Wine Imports 2026 tasting at République, Los Angeles. 2021 vintage. Solid, if unspectacular. 3.18.26. — 3 months ago