Freddy R. Troya

8.9

Castillo Clavijo – Rioja Blanco – 2024
Rioja DOCa | Spain 🇪🇸

Overview:
A very casual, approachable white from Rioja DOCa, a region better known for reds, this bottle delivers exactly what it promises: simplicity, freshness, and value. Viura-driven, made in a clean, straightforward style that favors easy drinking over complexity.

Aromas & Flavors:
Fresh and subtle with notes of green apple, lemon zest, and soft white florals. There’s a gentle herbal edge typical of Viura, but nothing overt or demanding, clean and unfussy.

Mouthfeel:
Light- to medium-bodied with refreshing acidity. Smooth, easygoing, and crisp, finishing clean without weight or oak influence.

Food Pairings:
Grilled fish, light salads, seafood tapas, simple chicken dishes, or anything olive-oil driven. A reliable companion at the table without stealing the spotlight.

Verdict:
A “does-the-job” Rioja white that makes sense on the value side. Not meant to rival more serious white Rioja expressions, but a pleasant, practical option from a red-dominant region, especially when you want something uncomplicated and food-friendly.

Did You Know?
Viura (also known as Macabeo) is Rioja’s primary white grape, capable of both simple, fresh wines like this and age-worthy, complex whites when blended or oak-aged.

🍷 Personal Pick Highlight
This is the kind of easy, reliable white you reach for when you want something light, affordable, and regionally honest, proof that Rioja can still deliver on the white side, even if reds remain its calling card. — 6 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

1978 Chuck Hope left beverage job, moved to Paso Robles, became farmer, & top grape grower. Working with his father, Austin led family into winemaking in ‘95, creating his label in 2000. Grapes from 5 small blocks of Paso Robles AVAs, aged in 75% new French oak, 18 mos. Dark Ruby, aromas of sweet ripe black fruits & dried smoky spices. Flavors of ripe blackberry, sweet cacao, espresso & vanilla oak. Big wine, fine tannins that needed 45 minutes, long fruit finish. The 15% ABV, slight burn, but ok. Nice! — 6 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Tried this about 3 years ago. This was a tough vintage but they did a nice job. Dark red with aromas of black berry fruit and oaky spicy notes. Palate displays blackberry and stewed prune fruit some leather and cacao notes with fine tannins that opened quickly. Finish is medium+, soft with complex ending. Still drinking well. — 7 years ago

Shay A

9.2

Today was an absolutely fantastic Friday hosting at the City Club by @Dan Fitzgerald. 1 sparkler, 3 whites, 4 reds, 1 dessert wine. Great job Dan!

The second of four Colgin’s served blind. I can’t decide if it was where this was placed in the line up or if I was just not a fan at the moment, but aromatically this was...odd? Dirty sage, musky, and old blackberry tart. Heavier on the palate but it didn’t match the nose. Blackberries, chewy cranberry, cassis and plum. I was thinking this was an older Syrah. — 7 years ago

with joe, Dan and 3 others

Shay A

9.3

This is my second Herman Story wine. Normally, I’d sock my ‘16 Syrahs away for years, but I’ve seen reviews say this is so enjoyable young, so I decided to experiment. This is like rocket fuel...full throttle. BUT, it stops short of being out of balance/gloopy. These wines make me think this winemaker, named Russell, is like the Russell Bevan version of Paso Rhône varietals...big, bold, & delicious in style.

After only 30mins, this revealed some smoked meat, peppercorn, olive and underripe blackberry. Some sage as well. Massive on the palate...all sorts of dark, ripe fruit with a sweetened core. Bacon fat, roasted plum, and baked berry pie. This is hedonistic in style and not for the faint of heart, but it does a good job of restraining itself from where it could go. A fun wine. — 7 years ago

with Weston and Mark

Dick Schinkel

9.5

From the collection of my late friend WilD (26-08-2023) 😢
Made from 50% Garnacha and 50% Cariñena from 50+ years old vines!
Great nose of ripe blackberries, plum, smoky, herbs from the hills of Poboleda, espresso and Llicorella!
On the palate again these great black fruit flavors, truffle, a juicy acidity, very smooth tannins, and a long aftertaste. Great job Salvador!!! 95 DSP — 2 years ago

Marshall Todd Herron DPM

9.8

Tamber Bey is my newest discovery. What an amazing diamond in the ruff. This is 2017 Tamber Bey cabernet sauvignon. Bouquet is raspberry topped cheesecake. The initial palate begins with blackberry tartness which folds into a buttery chocolate spice. This is followed a beautiful dark fruit that has a sweetness the implements the tartness. So many flavors.... blackberry, black currant, sweet ripe plumbs, Then comes the oak finish very dry and very tart, but absolutely perfect in a big bold cabernet. This is pure magic!!!! Excellent job Tamber Bey! After decanting for 30 minutes it was absolutely superb. — 5 years ago

Juan Pablo Perez

8.9

Color naranja

Nariz: Piedras, Lavanada, Toronja

Boca: Acidez M, Alcohol M

Interesante. — 6 years ago

Eric L.

9.5

@Mike Smith - beautiful job in a difficult vintage. Very enjoyable! — 7 years ago

Shay A

9.4

Today was an absolutely fantastic Friday hosting at the City Club by @Dan Fitzgerald. 1 sparkler, 3 whites, 4 reds, 1 dessert wine. Great job Dan!

The first of four Colgin’s served blind. Youthful notes abound here. More herbal on the nose when compared to the more fruit driven palate. Mostly a mix of black cherries, pomegranate, rhubarb tart and black pepper spice at the finish. I went back and forth with my guesses from Grenache, to pinot, to Syrah and couldn’t land on one. Delicious right now. — 7 years ago

with joe, Dan and 3 others

Shawn R

9.5

George III is my least favorite vineyard from the Grand Cru Beckstoffer site however, @Mike Smith has done a magnificent job with this offering and changes all that. 2 hour decant and the tannins are supporting the wine and nearly not in play. I can’t get over the balance of this wine...fruit, acid and tannins are in perfect harmony. Nice offering! — 8 years ago

Matt Trader

9.3

Wife just got a new job, so as they say, "In victory you want it." ;) — 8 years ago

Eric

9.2

I have a confusing love/hate relationship with Hyde Vineyard. Over rated? Maybe. Outstanding fruit? Yes. It’s really the perfect battleground where winemakers can show their Chardonnay-making chops. Patz and Hall does a great job with this effort. Highly recommended! — 4 years ago

Randy Fillingim

9.1

17 yr. Grand Cru. Still holding together with tannins and fruit still doing their job. Nice earthy nose. Suspect it even has a few more years left. — 4 years ago

Emanuel Rohss

9.4

I’ll say amazing, rich and complex. Sappy, thick, stony. Went really well with grilled pork, as suggested by Harriet at Psychic Wines in Los Angeles. Shoutout to Psychic Wines for doing the best job of any wine store in LA. — 6 years ago

Rhonely Boy

9.1

Really digging this Zin. Great job Broc. Red fruit, nice grape skin, and black pepper, nice acidity level, good sipper and would be great with Thanksgiving dinner, also great with Salmon — 7 years ago

Nick

9.2

Very glou glou natty white- ripe salted melon, crushed asphalt, green apples. some brett intensity that mellowed our nicely within 30 mins, so good!! — 7 years ago

Shay A

9.5

Today was an absolutely fantastic Friday hosting at the City Club by @Dan Fitzgerald. 1 sparkler, 3 whites, 4 reds, 1 dessert wine. Great job Dan!

My notes against the first white were that this was more lifted and slightly lighter in body. In fact, I called this 2012 Aubert (one of their Sonoma Coast Vineyards) as I picked up lemon cream on the nose and palate. Sea salt, marzipan, honeycomb and lemon pound cake dominate the senses. Touch of heat on the finish. This is drinking marvelously right now. — 7 years ago

with joe, Dan and 3 others

Craig Otten

10

Best wine I’ve tasted in a long time Great job BT — 8 years ago

Delectable Wine

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9.6

Plumpjack's Cabernet Sauvignon Estate is fabulous. Super-ripe red cherry, plum, lavender, spice and menthol are all beautifully knit together in this lush, voluptuous Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon. Winemaker Aaron Miller has done a tremendous job retaining a good bit of freshness here. Rich, sensual and enveloping, the 2015 is an absolutely stellar wine in this vintage. Don't miss it. This is a superb example of the year at its best. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, March 2018) — 8 years ago