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

Katy McMullen-wendt

9.1

Very crisp and light. Would be delicious on a summer day. — 4 years ago

Severn G

9.4

Nose has ripe plum, cedar shavings, dried blackberry, over-ripe black cherry, crushed black currant, menthol syrup and dried violets.

Palate has dried black currant, moist soil, cedar shavings, moist cigar, ripe blackberry, dried black cherry, rose hip tea with light tannins.

A beautiful cork, almost no soak; pulled clean with a standard screw. This is really in the zone tonight after a 6H decant. Drink 2022-2028 from proper storage.

Paired to Allen Bros USDA Prime Hanger with Dijon/Rosemary/Garlic/Lemon Zest marinade. Grilled to great 130° centers, 10m rise/rest to absolute perfection.
(I was honestly fighting with two cats to eat dinner tonight.) — 4 years ago

Luke Kilcup

9.1

Completing a 16,17,18 vertical Syrah tasting at Proper in WW. Very bright fruit! — 5 years ago

Delectable Wine

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9.5

The 2018 Grand Puy Lacoste has a quintessential Pauillac nose of intense black fruit infused with graphite scents, pencil shavings and a very discreet marine influence. It is beautifully defined, less opulent than the 2018 Lynch Bages tasted alongside, yet maybe more complex. The palate is medium-bodied and taut, offering sappy black fruit, gritty tannins and a lot of crushed stone. The focused, graphite-driven finish could only come from this appellation. Superb. A wine to correct those bemoaning that Bordeaux no longer makes "proper Claret." (Neal Martin, Vinous, March 2021)
— 5 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.4

7.5 years ago, I bought this from a local bottle shop for 55 bucks. And I'm not really sure how I held on to this one for so long except maybe I had a similar vintage and thought it was nowhere near ready. Well, this one was ready tonight. The front has a nose of sweet oak, herbs, blackberry. The entry is blackberry with a touch of pencil shaving. Medium to full-bodied. The middle goes a little bit darker with some perfectly ripe plum and figs. Perfectly aged blackberry in the background as the core and backbone of this wine. Finishes actually with pretty sweet oak tannin and really not a lot of pepper spice. This went very well with non-spicy Asian cuisine which was the fare tonight. I think this wine would go perfectly with anything that isn't too spicy as I was not really picking up a lot of acidity, spice, or pepper notes on the middle and finish. This is drinking at its height right now and probably will for the next three to five years with proper cellaring. — 6 years ago

Jay Root

9.1

Peppery, acid, lighter on the fruit. This would pair really well with chili or a similar dish — 8 years ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.2

Château Garraud – Lalande de Pomerol / 2018
AOC Lalande de Pomerol – Right Bank, Bordeaux, France 🇫🇷

Overview
From the Esnée family estate, this red Bordeaux blend is composed of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. The Garraud vineyards lie just north of Pomerol proper, where gravelly and clay soils echo the region’s reputation for plush yet structured wines.

Aromas & Flavors
Lush black cherry, plum compote, and cassis wrapped in notes of violet, cocoa, and cedar. Subtle graphite and earthy tobacco hints reflect the Cabernet Franc influence.

Mouthfeel
Full-bodied yet polished, with supple tannins and a round mid-palate. Concentrated fruit depth balances with freshness, finishing long and silky with lingering spice.

Food Pairings
Duck breast with cherry glaze, roast lamb, or beef bourguignon. Mushroom risotto, charcuterie, or truffle pasta. Comté, aged Gouda, or Saint-Nectaire.

Verdict
A classic Right Bank profile: generous Merlot fruit framed by Cabernet Franc finesse. Traditional, powerful, and approachable, drinking beautifully now but with the structure to evolve gracefully for another 8–10 years.

Did You Know?
Lalande de Pomerol, though often overshadowed by its famous neighbor Pomerol, offers exceptional value. Many estates here share the same terroir characteristics, producing wines of impressive depth at a fraction of Pomerol’s price tag.

🍷 Personal Pick Highlight: This bottle delivers Right Bank soul without the Pomerol price, rich yet refined, and an excellent “insider’s pick” for Bordeaux lovers. Cheers! — 8 months ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.6

Along with 02, 04 and the majestic 2010, 08 is one of my absolute favorite vintages from Raveneau and it’s absolutely rocking tonight showing superb weight, density and waxy yellow fruit that’s layered with stony minerality and piercing lemony acids. 08 Raveneau is all about that Chablisian balance: proper levels of richness and acid, ripeness and minerality. Code yellow ftw 🙌🏻 — 3 years ago

M. Christopher Roebuck

9.4

Sticking with St. Emilion for the night. This wine is quite different from the last. Deep dark stewed blue fruits and figs, pencil lead, quite extracted, nose and palate in harmony transmitting similar notes. Even the darker color forshadows the darkness to follow. This wine is oppulent, but without the big fruit forward New World bravado. It stays true to Bordeaux but pushes the limits. Medium plus alcohol and body, slightly drying tannins, long finish. I regret that I have finished my steak because this wine craves a proper food pairing. Excellent and it will only get better.

94 points — 4 years ago

A D

9.2

Proper. Deep. Dry. Delicious. Hint of mint. Beautiful deep purple. — 4 years ago

Severn G

9.3

Nose has neverending crushing of flint/granite, warm lemon curd, salted yellow apple slice, cool Asian pear and old, crystalline cheddar.

Palate has ripe pineapple, over-ripe yellow apple, moist chalk/limestone, dried coconut shreds, faint butter notes, table salt with medium acidity. A great wine, slow oxidation for 2H then decanted 3H, so many years in front of this amazing bottle. Drink this 2026-2030 from proper storage.

Pre-birthday dinner for our dear COVID bubble friend; we've only allowed one of our close friends into the house for almost the past year, tonight we're celebrating that he's one year older than me. 😉 — 5 years ago

Severn G

9.3

Just concluded the annual Fall seclusion at our cabin in the Rangeley lakes region of Maine, mobile service up there is mostly non-existent, after several days I am posting again. Notes are somewhat brief, as my focus is relaxing and watching the Common Loons swimming and diving in the cove in front of our camp.

Nose has smoked roses, partially dried black cherry, dried cherry, dry autumn leaves and dried vanilla bean.
Palate has smoked cherries, smoked blackberry, fresh rose petals, dried Bing cherry, little to no tannins, mild acidity remains. Future bottles may be 2024+ in proper storage. Superb pairing to slowly (apple wood) smoked pork loin with a tight crust (thank you medium thick fat cap) and appreciable smoke penetration. — 6 years ago

romo

9.1

Slow attack but strong finish. Proper Rias Baixas but a nod to the new world. — 10 months ago

Ellen Clifford

9.1

Rich but bright, passionate and full of color and flavor. The proper volley between fruit and baguette. Serious but doesn’t take itself so. — 2 years ago

Daniel M

9.1

After a month off of any type of ethanol content to prepare for a marathon that I ran and finished earlier today, it's about time for me to come back on here. My first entry post break and race is a celebration post. And what better way to celebrate than with a proper bubbly?
The nose shows some reductive notes of sour apple, along with green apple, brioche and croissant. It's very inviting. The palate is very dry and acid driven but shows again these superb notes of croissant and some lemon curd too. The bubbles are subtle and complement the pastry notes very well. The finish is fresh, lemony, zingy and quite long. It's really a great champagne and it's been a while since I last tasted such a quality one. Great stuff and perfect way of celebrating a sport achievement ✌🏻 — 3 years ago

Aravind A

9.1

Still solid Rocks district syrah. — 4 years ago

Andrew Schirmer

9.2

Proper claret. Dark fruit, leather, mineral. Nice structure—balanced acidity, softening tannins, medium finish. Aging lesser bottles can really pay dividends. — 4 years ago

with Alsu

S.R.Alexander

8.9

Really unique and proper dry indeed. Very delicate with the lightest hint of apple. Refreshing and low abv. — 5 years ago

Jay Kline

9.2

I have never really taken the time to explore the wines of Germany. In fact, I have more experience drinking the wines further to the south, in Austria. I have no proper excuse other than to say that I have been distracted by other regions. Bottles like this are making that excuse harder to accept. This was flat out awesome. Koehler-Ruprecht is a very traditional producer that practices a very strict, non-interventionist approach. No irrigation. No fertilizer. No herbicides. No enzymes. Nothing added or subtracted from the wine save for minuscule amounts of sulphur post fermentation and prior to bottling. This Pinot Noir is gorgeous, in a slightly more rustic sense. The appearance is a touch cloudy but far from murky. There’s a fresh, beautiful, lifted perfume of crushed strawberries, cranberries and ferrous minerals. Some stone, flowers and dust too. The palate is bright and racy with predominately red fruits and minerals. Fine tannins. The acid provides a long finish that forces a smile. There is some real vigor in this! A truly compelling wine. If I don’t make a better effort to spend the time exploring the great wine producers in Germany, well then, shame on me. — 6 years ago