Freddy R. Troya

9.5

Tyrrell’s — Vat 1 Semillon 2018
Hunter Valley, New South Wales, Australia 🇦🇺

Overview
A benchmark, 100% Semillon from one of Australia’s most historic producers, crafted from old vines in the Hunter Valley, a region globally revered for producing age-worthy, low-alcohol, high-acid Semillon of extraordinary precision and longevity. This cuvée captures purity, tension, and evolution in perfect balance, expressing both site transparency and classic Tyrrell’s restraint.

Aromas & Flavors
Lifted citrus blossom, lemon curd, kaffir lime, and delicate white florals lead the aromatics. Subtle layers of green apple skin, preserved lemon, and faint tropical notes emerge with air. Underneath, a gentle mineral thread, wet stone and crushed river rock, adds depth and quiet complexity without overpowering the fruit.

Mouthfeel
Silky, finely textured, and beautifully tension-driven. Creamy without weight, with linear acidity carrying the wine effortlessly across the palate. The structure feels energetic and precise, offering freshness, elegance, and remarkable drinkability without richness or heaviness.

Food Pairings
Oysters with citrus mignonette. Grilled prawns with lemon butter. Poached halibut with herbs. Sushi and sashimi. Fresh chèvre or lightly aged goat cheese.

Verdict
An exceptional example of New World Semillon executed with Old World discipline. Elegant, mineral-driven, and quietly powerful, this wine delivers layered complexity while remaining feather-light on its feet. A timeless style that continues to reward both immediate pleasure and long-term cellaring.

Did You Know?
Hunter Valley Semillon is famous for being bottled young at low alcohol and evolving dramatically with age, developing toast, honey, and lanolin complexity over decades while maintaining razor-sharp acidity. Tyrrell’s Vat Semillon wines have been among Australia’s most collectible and ageworthy whites for generations.

🍷 Personal Pick
Pure nostalgia in a glass. This wine reconnects me with the region that sparked my early love for Australian whites, refined, disciplined, expressive, and endlessly drinkable. A masterclass in tension, restraint, and terroir clarity. This is Semillon at its highest form. — 5 months ago

Ericsson

9.6

The timeless elegance of Latour. — a year ago

Mark Rosse

9.4

Great cork. Looked 15 years younger. Lovely and timeless — 2 years ago

Andrew Holod

National Sales Grapes of Spain

8.9

Oh, how I miss Terry Theise!
Classic Kabinett balance here, with plenty of fresh fruit sweetness.
Medium yellow.
Nose of pineapple, orchard fruits, touch of honeyed richness.
Palate medium+ sweetness with balancing acids. This feels nearly timeless and not very mature yet. — 4 years ago

web bond

9.1

Wines produced under the late Patrick Bize are singular and timeless. — 5 years ago

Jeremy Shanker

Sommelier at RN74

9.0

A timeless classic — 7 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.6

The Drinking Window experts say I should drink my last 2008 Art Series Chardonnay. Delicious as always with a timeless feel about it and the thumbprint of luscious stone fruit and pear. The 2016 was just released and reviewed by Ray Jordan who is a WA Wine expert who gave it 99+ points. He said he gave the 2015 99 points yet the 2016 is a better wine and given he doesn’t give 100 he then had to give the 2016 99+ points. The 2008 is drinking beautifully. Could go on short term but why bother. — 7 years ago

Ericsson

9.4

I love R Lopez de Heredia wines. Still made the way they were made hundred years ago. Wines for old souls who really appreciate timeless art and low intervention. — 5 months ago

Ericsson

9.7

Yes—exactly that kind of wine: timeless, composed, and quietly authoritative.

It smells so good on first pour. Damp pine forest floor and clean mountain air register immediately. Everything else unravels from there; but that initial pop-and-pour sniff is pure magic.

On the palate, blackcurrant, cedar, graphite, and dried herbs unfold with control, carried by freshness and finely etched tannins in a medium body.

So classic, so intellectual, and deeply mesmerizing. Drink now or age. — 6 months ago

Max Phillips

9.2

Very complex and incredible mouth feel — a year ago

Norman

9.0

Way too young — 2 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

Very dense in colour - impenetrable. It threw a large crust when decanting. On the nose coffee grounds and savoury black cherry, black plum. Sweetish on the full bodied concentrated palate. The savoury plum comes through with rich earthy flavours. Finishing with grainy tannins. Tempranillo seems perfectly suited to the warm dry conditions of Rioja. I couldn’t imagine Tempranillo showing its best in a cool to cold climate. I guess it does exist but it does seem best suited to warm climates. I just finished an interesting article on what grape varietal lasts the longest. From many tastings over many years Jancis concluded it was Tempranillo over Bordeaux with some old Vega Sicilias seemingly timeless. — 4 years ago

Dan R

9.2

This was rocking after a several hour decant. Just a perfect balance of sweet and savory. Focused, with good structure and grip. Good energy and liveliness. Didn't want this to end. Very expressive and made in a classic, timeless style. — 6 years ago

Antonio Favela

9.4

York Creek is timeless — 7 years ago

with Larissa

Freddy R. Troya

9.2

Château Cantemerle 2023 – Haut-Médoc, BDX, France 🇫🇷

Overview
A beautifully expressive Left Bank blend of Cabernet Sauvignon 71%, Merlot 18%, Petit Verdot 7%, and Cabernet Franc 4% that delivers immediate charm while retaining classic Haut-Médoc structure and aging potential. The wine shows vibrant fruit purity, polished tannins, and a well-judged touch of oak, making it approachable young yet capable of evolving gracefully over the coming decade.

Aromas & Flavors
Ripe blackberry, black cherry, cassis, and plum layered with subtle cedar, vanilla spice, graphite, and a gentle floral lift. Fresh berry brightness carries through the palate, framed by light savory notes and a refined oak accent that enhances rather than dominates.

Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied with supple texture and finely integrated tannins. Juicy, energetic entry with excellent balance between fruit concentration and freshness. Smooth mid-palate flow and a clean, persistent finish that stays lively and inviting.

Food Pairings
Grilled steak, roast chicken, lamb chops, mushroom risotto, charcuterie boards, aged Gruyère or Comté, and classic bistro fare. A versatile table wine that shines across a wide range of savory dishes.

🍷 Personal Pick
Cantemerle never disappoints, this is pure drinking pleasure wrapped in Bordeaux elegance. Juicy, polished, and instantly enjoyable, yet grounded with just enough structure to remind you why Haut-Médoc remains timeless. A perfect bottle when you want serious pedigree without serious effort.

Did You Know?
Château Cantemerle is classified as a Fifth Growth in the historic 1855 Bordeaux Classification and is known for producing some of the most consistently approachable and age-worthy wines of the Médoc, often offering outstanding value relative to its pedigree. — 5 months ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.1

Château Coucheroy Blanc 2019
Pessac-Léognan, Graves, Bordeaux, France 🇫🇷

Overview
A 100% Sauvignon Blanc crafted by the esteemed Vignobles André Lurton family at Château Coucheroy. Located in Pessac-Léognan, this estate combines noble Bordeaux heritage with modern elegance. The wine’s name—rooted in legend of King Henri IV’s visit—underscores its timeless appeal.  

Aromas & Flavors
Pale yellow with green highlights, the nose is bright and vibrant with notes of lemon, citrus, and floral undertones. The palate mirrors this freshness with lime zest, delicate white florals, and a subtle saline touch that adds harmony.  

Mouthfeel
Refreshing and balanced, this wine is well-rounded yet crisp. Its texture is smooth and approachable, finishing with a clean, lingering mineral accent. 

Winemaking Notes
Vinification blends complexity and purity: partially fermented and aged in oak barrels for structure, and part in temperature-controlled stainless steel for freshness. Lees aging enhances depth without overpowering natural vibrancy.  

Food Pairing
Perfect with bright, lightly seasoned seafood: think green asparagus flans, grilled langoustines, or classic Saltimbocca alla Romana. 

Verdict
Château Coucheroy Blanc 2019 is a beautifully crafted expression of Sauvignon Blanc from Graves. It pairs refreshing acidity and mineral clarity with elegant texture—making for both a delightful aperitivo and a refined pairing wine. Its appeal lasts across meals and moments. Cheers! — 10 months ago

Josh Betz

9.1

Gods country. Water to wine! — 3 years ago

Gladys Xiques

9.3

Certain wines you come back to because they are timeless. This 1983 Cabernet is simply elegant. Aged where the fruit has died yet its complexity is still battling it out with the remnants of fruit and vegetal quality evokes an aged and glorious wine. — 5 years ago

Chip Hughes

9.5

No words. Natty crunk meets ‘60s right bank Bordeaux. Luncheon claret...as you might have been served by Warhol or Timothy Leary. The Merlot seems a bit riper and more assertive in this vintage, but the CF wrapper leaf and cranberry pop comes in on the surprisingly suave and sneaky-tannic finish. There are no better wines being made in America if you love things that have one foot firmly rooted in the classics and the other with the itch for the new. Superlative and timeless. — 7 years ago

Keith Herrick

9.5

Photo via search. Had the 1981 tonight and it was stunning and ageless. I’ve had 81 Bosconia and this is much more youthful and almost timeless. Amazing that it spends ten years in american oak, yet the oak is so well integrated. — 8 years ago