Freddy R. Troya

9.0

Alpine Roots Humagne Rouge 2023, AOC Valais, Switzerland 🇨🇭

Overview
100% Humagne Rouge, an indigenous Alpine variety from the Valais region of Switzerland. Grown in steep mountain vineyards with strong sun exposure and cool alpine influence. A terroir-driven wine that reflects the purity, freshness, and rustic charm of Swiss mountain viticulture.

Aromas & Flavors
Wild dark berries, red currant, cocoa powder, subtle dried herbs, and a touch of alpine earthiness. The fruit remains fresh while savory tones begin to emerge with air.

Mouthfeel
Light to medium body with soft edges and refined rusticity. Gentle tannins and bright acidity keep the wine lively and approachable. A textured palate that leans savory rather than fruit-heavy.

Food Pairings
Charcuterie, roasted poultry, mushroom dishes, alpine cheeses, lamb sausages, or herb-driven Mediterranean dishes.

Verdict
Distinctive and surprisingly charming. A wine that doesn’t try to imitate global varieties but instead celebrates its mountain identity. Approachable, food-friendly, and quietly intriguing.

Did You Know?
Humagne Rouge is native to the Swiss Alps and thrives in the steep terraces of Valais, where intense sunlight and cool mountain nights help maintain freshness and aromatic clarity.

🍷 Personal Pick
A wonderful curveball wine. Rustic, cocoa-tinged, and incredibly food friendly, the kind of bottle that makes people ask, “Wait… Switzerland makes wine?” — 2 months ago

Adi

9.1

What a lovely Syrah comes from the north of the Rhône Valley, from my favorite St. Joseph.

🍇The domain extends over the longest river stretch in the north of the Rhône. The nature of the soil is very reminiscent of the neighboring Hermitage: granite, with the addition of sand and gravel, the east-facing slope receives less sunlight than the Hermitage, which results in slightly fewer berries, but it knows how to create competition for the Hermitage, Cote Rotie or Cornas.

🍇It usually doesn't need much time in the bottle compared to Cote-Rotei or Hermitage, and the prices are more affordable, which is why it's a particular favorite of mine.

🍇 It has power, infinite tannins run through it, ripe and delicate, perfect seasoning and lots of harmony. It has character, it has depth, full body, 14% alcohol, it has aromas and flavors of smoke, refined barrel, herbs and lots and lots of red and black fruit, maybe raspberry, maybe black cherry, maybe plum.

🍇The finish is soft, long and caressing.

🍇 Elegant, young, full of life, opened before its time, but I really loved it.

Cheers ! 🌿🥂

(From "Raisins in Facebook- it's all about wine and good people" — 4 years ago

Stas Medvedev

9.3

🏅 Rating 93/100 (4,3⭐)

Intense color with greenish hue. Fragrant aromatic, concentrated, sea salinity. Floral, almonds. Medium body. Unmistakably demonstrates the Grand Cru level which is accessible now and has immense potential for years ahead. Fully justifies the nobility of Vaudesir which often considered on par or the runner up to Le Clos.

Fairly steep slopes of Vaudesir with NW exposure provide cool temperatures and sunlight in the evening. Vines of Louis Michel parcels were planted in 1950-70s.

Winemaking with indigenous yeasts, spontaneous malo and matured for at least 18 months. Wines never see oak, stainless steel tanks only.

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Instagram: @wine_talks_club — 5 years ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.4

Bodega Catena Zapata — Angelica Zapata Alta Malbec 2019 — Mendoza, Uco Valley. Argentina 🇦🇷

Overview:
Produced entirely from Malbec, this vintage shows a slightly richer, more structured expression within the Angelica Zapata Alta range, highlighting concentration, depth, and polished tannins while maintaining the house’s signature balance and elegance.

Aromas & Flavors:
Red fruits, ripe blueberry, black cherry, subtle cocoa, gentle spice, and floral lift.

Mouthfeel:
Velvety and smooth with a deep, gripping core of fine-grained tannins. The structure is confident yet harmonious, carrying the fruit through a long, satisfying finish.

Food Pairings:
Grilled ribeye, lamb chops, beef empanadas, mushroom risotto, aged Gouda or Manchego, herb-roasted poultry.

Personal Pick:
This vintage leans slightly more serious and structured for me, one I enjoy lingering over with food rather than casual sipping. A beautiful example of why this line continues to impress year after year.

Verdict:
A refined, age-capable Malbec delivering depth, polish, and consistent excellence from a trusted estate.

🍷 Did You Know?:
Malbec grown in the Uco Valley benefits from intense sunlight, cool nights, and alluvial-calcareous soils, helping preserve acidity while building deep color, aromatics, and structure. — a year ago

Vanessa

9.0

Happy Prosecco Week!  We’re celebrating the occasion with a special bottle that is NOT the kind of Prosecco you’d use for your mimosas …

It’s the 2021 Cartizze, Valdobbiadene Superiore di Cartizze DOCG produced by Bisol, a family-owned and -operated winery since 1542.

It comes from the prized, historic hilltop site of Cartizze (a “grand cru” level vineyard in Prosecco Superiore DOCG). This single vineyard site is treasured for its ideal growing conditions, capable of producing the highest quality fruit to make highest quality Prosecco.
 
Elevations stretch up to 1,000+ ft offering both cooling influences and increased sunlight interception, especially with a south-facing aspect. Fruit going into a Cartizze wine must be hand-harvested, which promotes fruit selectivity.

You may notice the label doesn’t even mention “Prosecco” … this is because the quality of the location “Superiore di Cartizze DOCG” supersedes any other naming convention in terms of indicating the wine style.

Its color is pale lemon with a delicate, creamy mousse. The nose opens with a medium intensity bouquet of lemon peel, ripe pear, apple, quince, white peach, honeysuckle, white blossom, and blanched almond. On the palate, this wine is off dry, with medium alcohol (ABV 11.5%), and medium(+) acidity, lending balance to the structure and profile. Flavors match the nose and it’s delicious, layered, and vibrant.

Cheers to the diverse world of Prosecco! — 3 years ago

with Deked1

MICHAEL COOPER DipWSET

Owner TomeVinos wine shops, WSET Level 3, Blogger www.spanishwinesandmore.com, blog.tomevinos.com

9.0

Solid 9.0. #barossa valley #barossavalley blend of #gsm #grenache, #shiraz and #mataro or #garnacha #syrah and #monastrell #mourvedre Deep deep color typically ripe (low latitude=intense sunlight) medium (+) aromas of red and black fruit, hints of ink, chocolate and toast. On the palate...as one would expect, ripe and juicy. Maintains a lovely balance between the ripeness and juicy sweetness of the fruit, the medium acidity and the high alcohol (hardly noticeable) and ripe tannins. Good stuff. Reminds me of my wines from Campo de Borja. #australia #southaustralia — 6 years ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.1

Bodega Catena Zapata — High Mountain Vines Chardonnay 2022 — Mendoza, High-Altitude Vineyards. Argentina 🇦🇷

Overview:
A high-elevation Chardonnay crafted entirely from mountain-grown fruit across Catena’s elevated vineyards in Mendoza, delivering a more expressive and slightly richer interpretation of Argentine Chardonnay while maintaining freshness and precision. The style balances concentration, texture, and bright mountain energy with polished integration.

Aromas & Flavors:
Ripe pear, yellow apple, citrus peel, subtle tropical lift, light vanilla, and gentle mineral undertones.

Mouthfeel:
Medium-bodied with a rounded, weightier texture and a smooth, layered mid-palate. Bright acidity keeps the wine lively while the finish remains clean, polished, and quietly persistent.

Food Pairings:
Shrimp scampi, grilled halibut or sea bass, roast chicken, creamy pastas, grilled vegetables, mild alpine cheeses.

Personal Pick:
This is one of those versatile Chardonnays I love having around — expressive enough to stand on its own, but flexible at the table and incredibly satisfying with seafood and grilled dishes.

Verdict:
A flavorful, altitude-driven Chardonnay offering generosity, balance, and excellent everyday versatility.

🍷 Did You Know?:
High-altitude vineyards in Mendoza benefit from intense sunlight and cool nighttime temperatures, preserving acidity while building concentration — a key driver behind the region’s success with Chardonnay. — 2 years ago

Adriana Fabbro

9.0

When in the Great White North, one eats poutine and Alberta beef and drinks bold reds from the Okanagan Valley recommended by the friendly cashier. Brings to mind Columbia Valley Merlot, but on steroids in terms of the concentration of the color and intensity of the tannins (rustic, dusty), flavors and aromas reflecting the high, dry dessert UV intensity and long growing season sunlight hours (still light here in Canmore after 10pm). More dark fruit (blackberry, black currant, black plum—some raisened/craisen notes, but mostly ripe and fresh) and herbal character (menthol, thyme, resin) than I normally find in Merlot that makes this wine really intriguing and distinctive. I think I’ll have a second glass… — 4 years ago

Ian Hamel

9.2

2022/4/17 with roast pork shoulder with new potatoes and carrots, garlic and rosemary. From the pop, this was less all-out than the last bottle. It was more about shadow and sunlight - clouds drifting across the sun. At first it seemed quite severe - hot, blasted stone, like those first traditional Barolos I loved 20 years ago - but also flashed juicy, tart berries, bitter cherries and spring flowers. There’s beautiful structure here - both tannin and acid - so I’m sure the future holds many more fascinating encounters. — 4 years ago

William Paley

9.5

a great one. so easygoing and satisfying I get the wax and I get the papaya flicker and it’s wonderful with all kinds of food and with afternoon sunlight, which makes it look so pretty in the glass — 6 years ago

with Marisa and Jess