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

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

Fabio Franchella

9.3

Weisse blüten, geschmeidig, leicht buttrig, pfirsich, akazie, buchsbaum, leicht mitschi. Grosser wein! — a year ago

Maddie Regan

9.5

Delightful. — 4 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

Julia Johansson

9.0

Refreshing, slightly tart, fruity — 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

Bob McDonald

9.3

One of my favourite Italian whites - this is made from the Falanghina grape which is the main grape of Campania. Harvested at full ripeness. Fermentation takes place as 70% in stainless steel and 30% in Barrique. See previous note here in April 2025. Not designed for long cellaring. Previous notes still apply. An ideal winter white wine. White flowers, herbal notes with unctuous ripe fruits on the palate. Impossible not to enjoy this. Sadly my last bottle. — a year 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

Madeline Shaw

9.0

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

David Gillespie

9.0

Loads of fresh fruit, acid and funky farm stylings. Loved it. — 6 years ago

Chris Smith

9.2

Juicy AF - big bright cherry fruit! — 7 years ago

with Joelle, Tanya and 1 other

"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

Gene Buonviri

8.9

This Vineyard is located on land confiscated from the Mafia.
A hint of blackberries and an aroma of black pepper. A touch of minerals with balanced acidity. Taste of blackberry and a hint of coconut.
— a year ago

with Justinian

Mo

9.1

Concur with the WS review below, although I dropped my score one point and would add that the wine presently requires hours of natural aeration—no less than four in the bottle! We tested the use of a Vinturi, which produced unsatisfactory results. Perhaps decanting would take less time. Paired with pistachio crusted rack of lamb.

WS: 92. A fragrant and elegant red, delivering tuberose, strawberry, cherry and grassy aromas and flavors. Taut and balanced, with bright floral and red fruit notes gracing the lingering finish. Best from 2024 through 2038. 375 cases made, 150 cases imported. — a year 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

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