Freddy R. Troya

9.0

☀️ Toccata Sole Bianco 2022
📍 Santa Barbara County, CA | 🍇 Viognier · Sauvignon Blanc · Malvasia Bianca · Muscat Canelli

A sunshine-kissed, aromatic blend — 57% Viognier, 29% Sauvignon Blanc, 12% Malvasia Bianca, 2% Muscat Canelli 🌞🍇.
👃 Aromas: 🍑 peach · 🌼 orange blossom · 🍏 green apple · 🍊 tangerine
👅 Palate: 🍍 pineapple · 🍏 crisp apple · 🍋 citrus zest · ✨ floral lift
⚡ Crisp acidity · 🍃 bright fruit · 🥂 dangerously easy to drink (you’ve been warned)

Perfect Pairings:
🥗 Caprese salad with basil & balsamic drizzle
🍤 Shrimp scampi
🍕 White pizza with ricotta & arugula
🧀 Triple cream brie
🍓 Fresh fruit tart — 11 days ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.0

Toccata – Dolcetto Fresco 2023 🍒🌿
Santa Barbara County, California – USA

Inspired by Italy’s playful Vino Novello, this is a spirited, fruit-forward take on the classic Dolcetto — 100% estate-grown from the Lucas & Lewellen Family’s Los Alamos Valley Vineyards. It also marks a milestone: their very first wine crafted with carbonic maceration. This winemaking approach locks in vivid aromatics and freshness, making every sip feel alive.

On the palate: a joyful rush of ripe cherries 🍒, delicate clove spice, and aromatic herbs 🌿, balancing juicy fruitiness with subtle savory depth. The finish? Refreshingly crisp and irresistibly moreish.

Style tip: Serve lightly chilled — this is your new red for summer afternoons, picnics, and casual evenings on the patio.
A delicious reminder that Dolcetto can be both fun and elegant. 🥂 — 11 days ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.5

Shangri-La “Sacred Land – Legend” Cabernet Sauvignon
Vintage 2020 – Xi Dang, Rong Zhong & Si Nang Villages, Shangri-La, China 🇨🇳🍷

A captivating high-altitude blend of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc, sourced from select plots at varying elevations beneath the majestic Meili Snow Mountain in the Shangri-La region.

Appearance: Deep, bright garnet red with remarkable clarity.
Aromas: Blackberry, black cherry, and ripe vanilla weave into an intricate, mountain-kissed bouquet.
Palate: Full-bodied and plush, with layers of ripe dark fruit wrapped around soft tannins and lifted by refreshing mountain acidity. The finish is long and harmonious, revealing the distinctive elegance of the Shangri-La plateau.

A wine that surprises, charms, and lingers — even for the most discerning palate.
Cheers! 🥂
— 11 days ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.0

🌿 Raeburn Sauvignon Blanc 2023
📍 North Coast – Sonoma County, CA | 🍇 100% Sauvignon Blanc

Sourced 67% Lake County AVA + 33% Napa Valley AVA = the best of both worlds 🌎✨.
👃 Aromas: white flowers · lemon rind · kiwi · grapefruit · gooseberry
👅 Palate: guava · Meyer lemon · key lime · crisp citrus
⚡ Medium body · 💫 round yet zesty · touch of creaminess · super fresh finish

Perfect Pairings:
🦪 Oysters on the half shell
🥗 Citrus-dressed arugula salad
🐟 Grilled halibut with lemon butter
🍣 Tuna poke bowl
🧀 Goat cheese with fresh herbs
— 11 days ago

Freddy R. Troya

8.9

🍊 Union Sacré Edelzwicker 2023
📍 Paso Robles AVA, California | 🍷 Skin-Contact White Blend

A lively Alsace-inspired orange wine blending Pinot Blanc 33%, Pinot Gris 30%, Sylvaner 20%, Riesling 10%, Gewürztraminer 5% & Muscat Ottonel 2%.
✨ 48 hrs skin contact → light pink-orange glow 💖
🪵 5 months in 600 L neutral barrels native yeast fermentation

👃 Aromas: orange sherbet · melon · wet stone
👅 Flavors: grapefruit · cantaloupe · ✨ zesty minerality
⚡ Bright, energetic acidity + silky texture = fun & refreshing!

Perfect with:
🥗 Goat cheese & citrus salad
🍣 Salmon sashimi or sushi rolls
🍗 Roast chicken with herbs
🥟 Pork & veggie dumplings
🧀 Soft, aromatic cheeses (like Munster or washed-rind brie)
🌶️ Mild curry or coconut-based Thai dishes

Not the usual white blend and can be an acquired taste for some, but in general it is a crowd-pleaser! — 11 days ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.4

Winderlea Vineyard & Winery – Chardonnay 2018 🍇✨
Willamette Valley, Oregon – USA 🇺🇸

This isn’t just any Chardonnay — it’s one of the finest I’ve tasted from this region in years 🙌. Terroir-driven and crafted from a brilliant vineyard blend: Carabella in Chehalem Mountains (35%), Hyland & Meredith Mitchell in McMinnville (33% & 23%), and Winderlea Estate in Dundee Hills (9%). This mosaic of sites brings perfect harmony and depth to the glass.

Style: Burgundian elegance with an Oregon soul 🌿.
Flavor: Rich, succulent mouthfeel layered with peach 🍑, apricot 🍯, bright apple 🍏, and a gentle whisper of toast.

Mouthfeel: Well-structured & balanced — complex yet endlessly drinkable. Even now, at 2018, it still beams with lively acidity ⚡ and a creamy, enticing finish.

💰 a bit pricier for the region, but every sip confirms it’s worth it.
Cheers to Oregon brilliance! 🥂
— 11 days ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.0

⛪ N.D.P. Viognier 2022
📍 Pays d’Oc IGP, Southern France | 100% Viognier

A vibrant white that pays homage to the majestic Notre Dame de Paris cathedral. This Southern French Viognier bursts with honeysuckle, peach, vanilla, lemongrass, green melon, spiced apple, stone fruit, fig, and baking spices.

On the nose, Aromas: honeysuckle · peach · green melon · spiced apple · lemongrass · vanilla
On the Palate: peach · lemon · nectarine · pear ·shortbread · floral lift
⚡ Bright, zesty acidity · gentle salinity · dry finish

Perfect Pairings:
🦀 Scallops, crab, or lobster
🍗 Roasted or grilled chicken
🥩 Veal or pork tenderloin
🥗 Stone fruit & goat cheese salad
🧀 Baked brie with apricot jam
🥘 Indian curries or Pad Thai
🍢 Spiced lamb or chicken kebabs

Sweet contrast: Stone fruit galette
Cheers!
— 11 days ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.2

Trader Joe’s Reserve – Vinsobres 2023 🍷🇫🇷
Vinsobres AOC, Côtes du Rhône – France

A crazy-delicious gem 💎 from the Southern Rhône’s Vinsobres appellation (Lot #263). This 52% Grenache / 48% Syrah blend brings the best of both worlds:

✨ Aromas & Flavors: Dark fruit depth with peppery spice, hints of strawberry 🍓, meaty undertones, plus blackberry, mulberry, wild garrigue 🌿, dried herbs, and a whisper of licorice.

🥂 Vibe: A fantastic casual sipper for laid-back hangouts — equally perfect with a charcuterie board, a cozy stew, or simply enjoyed solo.

💰 Ridiculously affordable for what’s in the glass.
Cheers to Rhône magic without the price tag! 🥳
— 11 days ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.0

Trader Joe’s Grand Reserve – Bandol Rosé 🌸🍓🇫🇷
Vintage 2024 – Provence, France

A true hidden gem 💎 — exceptional quality, under the radar, and an unbeatable value. Exclusively made for Trader Joe’s by Famille Ravoire in one of Provence’s most iconic rosé regions. While Lot #130 keeps its secrets 🤫, the Bandol blend of Grenache, Mourvèdre & Cinsault sings in the glass.

👃 Nose: Rose petals 🌹 & baked raspberries 🍓.
👅 Palate: Crisp, dry, full of Mediterranean charm ☀️ — perfectly balanced with a long, elegant finish.

Pair it with fresh salads 🥗, delicate grilled fish 🐟, or simply pour and watch the sunset 🌅.
💰 Ridiculously priced — drinks like a $20–$25 bottle.
Never disappoints! 🙌
— 11 days ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.0

Flowers Russian River Valley Chardonnay
Vintage 2023 – Sonoma, California, USA 🌊🍇

Flowers was among the pioneers to plant on the steep, windswept ridges high above the Pacific, where the Russian River meets the ocean. This cuvée is crafted from organically farmed fruit from their Healdsburg Estate and select cool-climate blocks from like-minded, family-owned vineyards.

Fermented with 100% native yeast and 100% barrel-fermented in French oak (30% new), then aged on lees with full native malolactic, this Chardonnay balances crisp brightness with a luxurious, layered texture.

Aromas: White orchard blossoms, juicy stone fruit, and candied Gravenstein apple evoke the valley’s heritage orchards.
Palate: Lively notes of kumquat and just-ripe nectarine meet a concentrated, mouth-coating texture. Savory shortbread and gentle baking spice glide through the long, graceful finish.

Elegant yet generous — a coastal Chardonnay with both energy and depth.
Cheers! 🥂
— 12 days ago