Freddy R. Troya

9.1

Castellani — St. Giorgio Vernaccia di San Gimignano 2024, Vernaccia di San Gimignano DOCG — Tuscany, Italy 🇮🇹

Overview:
100% Vernaccia. A fresh and vibrant follow-up to the Vintage 2023,(also reviewed) maintaining the classic Tuscan profile while leaning into greater precision and energy. This vintage 24 highlights freshness and length over the more almond-driven character of the prior year.

Aromas & Flavors:
Lemon zest, green apple, and crisp pear take the lead. Subtle floral notes and a delicate mineral edge add lift, with less emphasis on the traditional almond note and more focus on citrus-driven clarity.

Mouthfeel:
Light to medium-bodied with brighter acidity than the v.2023. Clean, lively, and more linear in structure, finishing longer with a slightly savory edge that lingers elegantly.

Food Pairings:
Seafood, grilled fish, light pasta, fresh salads, or simple Mediterranean dishes. Excellent as a refreshing aperitif.

Verdict:
A more energetic and refined expression of Vernaccia. While the v.2023 leans slightly rounder with its almond touch, the v.2024 shines with freshness, precision, and a longer, more savory finish.

Did You Know?
Vernaccia di San Gimignano was the first Italian wine to receive DOC status in 1966, marking its place as one of Italy’s most historic white wines.

🍷 Personal Pick Insight:
V.2024 edges ahead for its freshness and extended finish, more vibrant and food-driven, while still honoring the classic style. — 2 months ago

Ed Chin

9.0

I don’t have a lot of experience with gruner. Maybe I should seek this out more often because the apple honey thing was a delight. I know some of these can age. Anyone have any insight as to what the evolution is for one that has say 10+ yrs on it? — 5 years ago

JeremyC

9.4

Prie is the varietal. A first for me from my first visit to Flatiron in SF- a place I wish I had discovered much sooner. Bought this out of sheer curiosity with no intel/insight from staff. Delicately stewed yellow apples, delicately browned citrus which doesn't sound sexy but this wine is DELICIOUS! Some salty/mineral and "of the sea" happening too. Am I tasting the juice of vidalia onion???? Juicy and delicious, more savory than fruity= Such a cool wine!! Many talking about crazy acidity but I'm finding it to be very balanced. Poss due to drinking 2016 in 7/20. Maybe the younger ones are searing??? Glad I waited a few. Anyone else drinking this while rocking Coheed & Cambria turned up to 11? No its not Hatebreed or Slayer but also not Coldplay or Chopin. Struggled to save some for day 2. Probably not a wine I'll find in MCO =( Taking last sip thinking slightly of old Burgundy. — 6 years ago

Ming L

9.0

Lovely Vouvray with aroma of peach and pineapple. Full and round. Well judged sweetness. A great matchup to the spicy hot pot.
Kermit Lynch is one importer I trust and like very much. Great insight selections with sensible price. — 7 years ago

Kirk F

9.0

Really good. Will definitely seek this one out again. — 7 years ago

Doug

9.5

The insight that breathing this wine is a must was respected and the difference in my initial sip to 30 minutes later was validation of the recommendation!
Cherry and mildly dry. 2013 vintage — 7 years ago

Ira Schwartz

9.3

A nice contrast to the Taittinger. This is also about structure but this one is giving you a much greater insight into what it has to offer. Consistent notes similar to the last bottle I posted a few weeks back. — 8 years ago

Chris Zitzman

9.3

How do I say it with grace, poise, and within the bounds of decorum… The Dundee Hills of Oregon are calling to me. In speaking with my work-make Tommy, who has lived in Oregon and has proven to be a more than reliable source of insight concerning every & anything from Oregon: the Dundee Hills have me. Hell I think he’s warned me more than once about their playful nature yet their powerful foundations… add the 2023 Artberry Maresh ‘Dundee Hills” Pinot Noir out of the Willametter Valley to it all. From the start, the ruby color is mesmerising. The nose seems to wake up with every instance of dropping my own within it. The palate is mildly chewy and lush. As it warms in the glass and starts to tell of its true nature, deep notes of hibiscus and bramble-berry that only expand ring true. — 5 months ago

with Beth

Ron from VA

9.0

My first Burntshirt bottle! I opted to open the Meritage first to see what their overall fruit profile could produce when blended for optimal experience… Quite impressed and can honestly say that it would be amongst the top 3–5 producers in the state… The soil insight are capable of ripening especially in this optimal vintage. All five Bordeaux varietals used and leads to a Monticello or Breaux-style blend. Rich, with plenty of heft, this build is enough but it’s in no way special or distinct. It reflects competency in farming and in winemaking, but lacks a real pizazz or layers of nuance. It’s just nice ;) the 90 score reflects overcoming the obstacles of latitude and possible excess rains. It’s really good by NC standards, which is a victory that they should be proud of. We put this against burgers and baked beans and we were satisfied, that’s a lot to ask of a cab sauv driven blend ;) — 4 years ago

Mike R

9.5

Brilliant and even better with fried chicken- thank you fir the insight @Shay A - big smiles - record speed destroying this bottle - loved every second of it - have more thank goodness — 6 years ago

Stephen Redenbaugh

9.2

Almond, citrus peel, salt brine on the nose. Clear, clean, and and lively in the mouth.—My immediate insight is vibrant life...the wine moves effortlessly over the palate and leaves a spectacular finish of fifteen seconds. I love southern Italian whites! — 7 years ago

Ira Schwartz

9.8

An intoxicating nose of florals, lemon and lime, gun powder, and apples.
Powerful layers of stone fruit have escaped an acid bear hug just enough to give insight into the tremendous fruit concentration that lurks here. All encompassing mineral flavors appear throughout the palate and the lengthy backend. A decadent drinking experience. BELIEVE! — 7 years ago

greg

9.1

The nose exudes aromatic and citrus fruit notes, while the surprisingly crisp and bone dry palate has nice tropical fruit flavours with a great minerality and long finish. O'Briens €14.99 bargain offer. — 8 years ago

Jo HomoHomeboy

8.9

Heavy but still a good drink and buy. — 8 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.5

Ruby with a rich bouquet of fruit, spices and floral notes. On the palate flavors of cherry and raspberry with notes of pepper, cinnamon and floral. Long finish, nice balance with fine soft tannins ending with earthy notes. Enjoyable now, a few more years will benefit. The ‘21 is a real insight for what the Riservas will taste like. Rated #7 wine of 2025 by spectator. — 7 months ago

Chris MacLean

9.2

This seems more integrated than the Hyland Vineyard, same vintage. Anyone have insight? — a year ago

with Sarah

Ceccherini Cristiano

9.5

I know that this isn't a fancy super expensive wine, but if you are patient to cellar it it will open a door of perception, an insight on the Hunter Valley semillon, it could indeed be a textbook as an aged sample and descriptor of the category.
Lime jelly, macadamia, lanolin, lemongrass, mineral and the more you swirl the more it gives you all in perfect balance. An outstanding performer that very rarely disappoints.
Long and generous. — 6 years ago

Tree Kilpatrick

9.0

Very cool wood cut label. Color is beautiful. Garnett and black-cherry juice. Aroma is fresh and subtle. Some peony flowers and a berry-apple tartlet type thing. Flavors are striking considering how light it is. Excellent balance and very dry. ‘Stemy’ with strawberry-rhubarb pie perhaps. It’s Pinot, but it’s also strange and much more citrusy than most American stuff. Cheerful and easy to enjoy. I’d consider this a small in insight into the Bourgogne mystique. — 6 years ago

Aaron Tan

8.9

I'll start of by saying that this is going to be a rant - one about intent and expectations. Don't get me wrong, this was a tasty wine but it got me thinking.

This entry-level Bourgogne took 3 days to uncoil itself. Extreme rubbery reduction when first opened, which pervased through the nose and palate. I tried decanting it, mind you, but to no avail. So back in bottle and fridge it went and day 2, it was the same thing. It was only at the end of day 3 when the wine starting unfurling its dark red fruits, smoky, spicy oak, cocoa, and hints of minerality in the finish. The intensity and texture's quite excellent for a Bourgogne. But really... 3 days for a Bourgogne to show itself. To me, that's way too long. In that time frame, it could have well ended up in a volatile mess.

It begs the question of intent: Did the father and son team intend to make a wine like this? Should a Bourgogne be made ready-to-drink? Should I have expected that? Perhaps this was just on the unlucky end of bottle variation. I don't know. Or maybe the question's about reduction - is it ok? Generally, I don't mind it, but there are cases like this where I would have loved to be able to enjoy the wine there and then - where was the copper coin when I needed it 🤣

NB: Third time having this producer, and I think it's just not my cup to tea. Nevertheless, Guillon's been getting quite a few rave reviews. Les Graviers comes from a vineyard just outside Chambolle. Ripe fruit, partial whole-cluster fermentation, a long maceration, and 100% new oak for aging. I guess the winemaking does give an insight on the intent of this wine 🤔  — 7 years ago

Sean Herriott

9.2

Beautiful red fruits, hot soil, and tobacco notes. Fantastic example of the greatness coming out of Bolgheri today.
I gained so much insight from an evening spent with Giovanni Gaja about his family and their wines. Bravo!
I — 8 years ago