Freddy R. Troya

9.1

Alta Nova Cabernet Sauvignon 2023 — Napa Valley, California 🇺🇸

Overview
A polished, concentrated Napa Cabernet crafted with finesse under winemaker Britt Richards. Ripe red and dark fruit lead the profile, supported by firm structure, layered depth, and well-judged oak. Powerful yet controlled, delivering intensity without heaviness or excess.

Aromas & Flavors
Black cherry, cassis, plum, raspberry compote, cedar, vanilla, cocoa, baking spice, toasted oak.

Mouthfeel
Medium-plus to full-bodied with confident structure. Grippy but refined tannins, fresh acidity, and a punchy, energetic core. Dense and multilayered while remaining balanced and composed. Long, polished finish.

Food Pairings
Grilled ribeye, lamb chops, braised short ribs, mushroom risotto, aged cheddar.

Verdict
A serious yet approachable Napa Cab that favors elegance over excess. Concentrated, complex, and thoughtfully built, strength with precision rather than volume.

🍷 Personal Pick
This is my kind of Napa: structured, grippy with grace, and multilayered. Punchy in the right way, power with finesse, not a fruit bomb. Credit to the winemaking hand of Britt Richards here.

Did You Know?
A new wave of Napa winemakers is prioritizing balance, earlier picking, and restrained oak to highlight freshness and terroir over sheer ripeness. — 5 months ago

Philip Patston

9.0

Frascati can be a bit dull this one is nice and zippy. — 9 months ago

Brad Swick

9.3

See my prior entry — 3 years ago

Ray Vanderhoff

9.3

Blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (80%) and Syrah (20%). Walla Walla (Rocks District) fruit. Dark purple color with a ruby rim. Lovely aromas of dried cherries, black plums, Earl Grey tea, iron, cardamom and black pepper. Same fruits on the pallet along with hints of black currant, black olives and that ever present touch of black pepper. Just a hint of mint on the finish. The Syrah really shines through on this one. Mouth drying (but smooth) tannins. Soft texture with a nice balance of acidity and alcohol. Aging beautifully! Revisited in March 2023. Still outstanding! Revisited again in October 2025. Savory notes are more prevalent (fruit more in the background) but still quite good. — 3 years ago

Jakub Kalinowski

9.0

Ripe & fruit forward with dark cherry & blackberry and a whiff of Mediterranean herbs.
Rich yet very fresh & balanced on the palate with beautifully polished & juicy tannins and a perfect balance between the sweet fruit and sappy acidity.
This is a nice one - richer & heavier yet very drinkable at the same time.
Excellent match with grilled meat. — 5 years ago

Andrew Lohse

9.0

Light and spicy with some savory, earthy notes — 7 years ago

Debra Copeland, WSET3, CSWS

9.0

Colour is very pale with just the lightest hint of coral pink. It’s off-dry with lots of ripe tropical fruits on the noise and palate - cantaloupe, peach, and a hint of floral. It’s a very interesting blend of grapes. — 5 months ago

Dick Schinkel

9.3

From Magnum — 8 months ago

James Everhart

9.0

Good fruit and body similar to a reason but not quite as acidic. No idea what the grapes are. another reasonably priced Nova Scotia Wine at less than $20. — 9 months ago

Jess

8.9

Pale lemon color.
Aromas of citrus, pear, melon.
Dry. Flavors of lemon, pear, melon.

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

TwiLea Fletcher

9.2

02/08/22
Wine tasting #2
Ready to bring goalie back? Chatting Kathys….
Very very very good. Let’s enjoy a bottle soon. — 4 years ago

with Neal

Julia Paglierani

9.2

Very clean finish. Fruity a little minerals — 5 years ago

Alexander Motola

9.2

Best Greco I’ve had, and I’ve had many. This is an amazingly underrated grape, but’s great along, with cheese, or light fare. All I know is that I want to try some of the other obscure Mastrobernardino whites I can’t usually get and in fact have barely heard of. — 6 years ago

"Odedi"

9.2

It is time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday. Let's bring Merlot back!

Deep purple in color with a reddish rim.

Beautiful nose of black plums, black cherries, red currants, light cedar, coffee, light earth, herbs, light vegetables and black pepper.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity and long legs.

Very dry on the palate with black plums, black currants, coffee, oak, light cloves, earth, tobacco leaf, bitter herbs, peppercorn, light licorice and green tea.

Tangy finish with fine grain tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a delicious Merlot from Napa valley. Showing nice complexity with an elegant mouthfeel.

Needed 2 hours in a decanter to open up.

This 8-year-old Merlot is still drinking beautifully. Lost some of its fruits, and it is very dry now.

Drinking at its peak, and will not get any better from here. Really loved the nose at this point.

Good by itself or with food. Will pair nicely with barbecue meats or burgers. I paired it with a charcuterie board of meats and cheeses.

A blend of 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon.

14.4% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$65. — 6 months ago

Bonnie Chu

9.1

With pavlova — 8 months ago

Joel Lara

9.2

Tasted 2012 vintage. Pale yellow. Nice toasty, yeasty notes on the nose. Tasty layers of yeasty almond with citrus zest continuing into the long finish. Very nice, with a vibrant acidity balancing the mellow brioche flavors, but bubbles are not as persistent as they are with some sparkling wines. — a year ago

Maddie Regan

9.5

Delightful. — 4 years ago

Madeline Shaw

9.0

At Bairro do Avillez in Lisbon with Marie, Callie, Bailee and Michelle — 5 years ago

Molly McCarthy

8.9

Full flavored but light. Great wine to drink with pasta! — 6 years ago

Matt Waring

8.9

Absolutely racy Nebbiolo with notes of blueberry, cherry, and burnt pencils. Primo quality at the entry level — 7 years ago

with Christine