Freddy R. Troya

9.0

Piccolo Cru’ – Red Blend – Vintage 2021
Calistoga, Napa Valley, California, USA 🇺🇸

Overview
An Italian-inspired Bordeaux blend crafted under the steady hand of winemaker Gabriella Gazano, who has guided the estate for over 25 years. This cuvée unites 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 15% Malbec, 5% Petit Verdot, and 5% Cabernet Franc. It’s a wine that marries the structural power of Bordeaux varietals with Mediterranean elegance and Napa Valley ripeness.

Aromas & Flavors
Vibrant layers of dark cherries, cassis, and ripe blackberry, supported by graphite, cocoa, and a whisper of dried herbs. Hints of cedar, vanilla, and warm spice from the oak complete the aromatic tapestry.

Mouthfeel
Full-bodied yet graceful. Firm, polished tannins give structure while a velvety mid-palate carries richness and depth. The finish is persistent, balancing dark fruit with savory spice.

Food Pairings
Made for hearty and soulful fare: osso buco, braised short ribs, Tuscan ribollita, or grilled ribeye. A natural partner for Italian-inspired dishes that emphasize flavor and tradition.

Verdict
Piccolo Cru’ is a harmonious bridge between Old World refinement and New World power. Structured, soulful, and deeply satisfying, it captures both the strength of Napa terroir and the finesse of Italian winemaking artistry.

Did You Know?
Calistoga, the northernmost tip of Napa Valley, is famed for its volcanic soils and hot days cooled by evening breezes. These extremes allow Bordeaux varietals to develop ripeness and structure in equal measure, ideal for blends like Piccolo Cru’.

🍷 Personal Pick Highlight
This bottle sings of duality: a Tuscan heart wrapped in Napa muscle. It’s soulful, elegant, and powerful, a wine I’d revisit for its depth, story, and sense of place. — 7 days ago

Eyes Of The Vines

9.1

The wine has mineral, herb and red berry and volcanic soil on the nose. Very terroir driven with small dark red fruits a pleasant earthiness of clay and chalk that add dimension and layer to this. The wine is very well made with beautiful structure, finesse and sense of place. — 5 years ago

Ian Staub

9.0

I’m a believer in terroir, but this wine, which is an absolute ringer for Chablis, throws everything in question. If this were grown at Rorick with its limestone that would make sense, but semillon from the Napa valley floor? Out of the bottle it’s quite lithe, showing lemon and a bit of seashell minerality, but with an hour of air it begins to show some crisp apple and white stone fruit, and some white flower. Lovely, unusual wine. Enjoyed with grilled salmon and salad. — 5 years ago

Lidia

8.9

Idillica blanc — 6 months ago

Matt

9.8

Fucking glorious Garnacha. Sous bois, turned earth, wet leaves, cinnamon, ground cloves, pepper, allspice, tar, crushed black plum and cherry fruit, almost dried tones mixed in, burnt earth, dried herbs, wilted flowers. Nose is subtle, but definition is there. Plate is a kaleidoscope of dark spices, savory earth, and gorgeous muddled fruit. Exotic, alluring in every sense, structured w/ powerful tannin almost reminiscent of Nebbiolo. A captivating wine in terms of texture and elegance. — 4 years ago

Luis Arguero (@winefromAtoZ)

9.0

Podere Fortuna ‘Fortuni’ Pinot Nero 2014: Medium-bodied. Ruby red color. Robust red & dark fruit aromas & tastes. Smooth spice finish. This Toscana Pinot was the first of my 3 Italian Pinot Neros. All in all, this was a beautifully crafted wine that with each sip, I felt a sense of Tuscan terroir & sun, inviting me to try more. Overall, this was a superb Super Pinot Nero. We’re off to a great start! Cheers🍷 — 5 years ago

Stephen Redenbaugh

9.1

Decent mid-weight white burgundy, but not all that exciting. Clean, crisp, nicely balanced but with absolutely no “wow”. You have to question the price/quality ratio with wines of this type. Kiss of death is almost no sense of “terroir” or place—- just another dry white! — 6 years ago

Lidia

9.0

Idillica cata — 6 months ago

Willie Carter

9.0

Pale pinkish orange with delicate vivacious bubbles. Smells of summer. Aromas of raspberries and orange peel initially with more floral notes. Bruised strawberries, smoke, and crushed herbs. Energetic is the word of the day here. This packs much power and liveliness into the glass. The vinous nature is striking and the 12% of still red wine certainly has its say.

Predominantly Pinot Noir with 25% of Chardonnay from Grand Cru terroir in Aÿ. Graceful, yet intense there’s a sense of heft and substance here. Also a sense of freshness. The palate follows the nose with more pronounced red berries and soft floral notes. Spices, mint, and toasted bread. A beautiful rosé perfect for this time of year from an excellent grower house. — 5 years ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.2

2015 vintage. As I am moving to Bordeaux (and more precisely Bourg sur Gironde) it makes sense to dig a bit deeper in the Côtes de Bourg appellation. It's not the most renowned part of Bordeaux, even with one pricey superstar (Roc des Cambes). But wow, did this one exceed my expectations! The estate has an ancient history, but up to 1993 the grapes were sold to a local co-operative. The present owner Philippe Betschart moved the estate since 2010 into organic and biodynamical farming. This "Terroir" is a somewhat atypical blend (65% of both Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon, with the remainder Merlot) for the region where Merlot is king. More black than red fruit in the nose (cassis, blackberry) with some tobacco and a discrete licorice touch. In the mouth it has amazing elegance. The 14% alcohol go unnoticed, the fruit is bright and lively and the tannins velvety. This has class and depth for the price range (under 20 euros). Highly recommended. — 5 years ago