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. — 13 days ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Made from Macabeu, Xarel·lo and Parellada grapes, bright pale gold color with a frothy creamy mousse, small rapid bubble flow with a steady stream. Aromas and flavors of apple and citrus with toasty notes, integrated, nice mouthfeel, elegant long finish. Great value as an exceptional alternative to French Champagne. — a year ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Pale to medium salmon color with aromas of fresh berry fruits, yeasty, floral and nutty notes. On the palate flavors of fresh cherry and raspberry, nice mousse and good bubble flow, adding citrus & toasty flavors, crisp & refreshing, medium ending with lemon citrus, smoke, biscuit and earthy mineral notes. — 3 years ago

Daniel Bauer

9.2

Solid body sweet taste — 2 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Produced from the "mosto flor" ("free-run juice") of sustainably grown and hand-harvested grapes. Ya means "yes!" in Spain. Straw yellow with good flow of tiny bubbles and light mousse. Stone fruit aromas with a vanilla nut fragrance. On the palate peach and citrus flavors, good balance, plenty of acidity and lingers nicely. — 5 months ago

OMG PEDRO

9.0

Dark fruit burst with a touch of licorice, fennel and anise with beautiful salty finish…. Excellent — 10 months ago

Tam Chambers

9.5

Work flow in Boston — 2 years ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.3

Harebrained Cabernet Sauvignon 2021
Napa Valley, California, USA 🇺🇸

Overview
A bold Napa Cabernet led by 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, rounded with 6% Petit Verdot, 4% Merlot, and 2% Cabernet Franc. Crafted under Hall Family Wines, this bottling is all about richness, structure, and layered complexity, showing off the precision of modern Napa winemaking.

Aromas & Flavors
Intense notes of dark fruit compote, blackberry, and plum, layered with cocoa, leather, and pepper spice. Earthy undertones bring added dimension, while toasted oak nuances complete the nose and palate.

Mouthfeel
Medium-plus body with supple, well-structured tannins. The finish is long, balanced, and polished, with a firm yet silky texture that benefits from a touch of aeration.

Winemaking Notes
Employs high-tech optical sorting for fruit precision, gravity-flow winemaking, and extended élevage in French oak (22 months, 40% new). This combination yields both power and finesse.

Food Pairing
Ideal alongside grilled ribeye, braised short ribs, lamb chops, or aged hard cheeses. Also shines with earthy mushroom dishes or a dark chocolate finish.

Verdict
A rich, layered Napa Cabernet that captures both intensity and elegance. While approachable now, it rewards a short decant and has the backbone for several more years of aging. — 2 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

This sparkler carries the new Corpinnat designation, meaning it's no longer Cava. Pale lemon with citrus and stone fruit aromas with biscuit notes and good bubble flow. Clean fresh palate of apple and pear with lime citrus zest flavors. Medium+ finish ending with wet stone minerality and citrus character. A nice alternative to a French Champagn. — 9 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.4

In 1829, Champagne Bollinger introduced an instantly recognizable, dry, toasty style that has been coveted ever since. Six generations of the Bollinger family have maintained that trademark style, and still owned and managed by the same family since it was founded. Gold color with a nose of fruit and baking spices. On the palate apple and peach, toasty notes with great bubble flow. Long crisp finish ending with yeasty mineral tones. Nice! — a year ago