Freddy R. Troya

9.5

Torbreck The Descendant Shiraz–Viognier 2022
Barossa Valley, South Australia 🇦🇺

Overview
A seductive, Rhône-inspired blend of approximately 92% Shiraz and 8% Viognier, showcasing aromatic lift, silkiness, and elegant power. The Descendant leans into finesse and perfume while retaining serious Barossa depth, delivering a beautifully polished expression that feels expressive, vibrant, and effortlessly compelling.

Aromas & Flavors
Lifted floral aromatics of violet, lavender, and rose petal lead, followed by ripe red and black berries, dark cherry, blueberry compote, and hints of baking spice and white pepper. The palate is silky and layered with juicy fruit, subtle savory notes, gentle cocoa, and a lingering floral-driven finish.

Mouthfeel
Medium-plus to full-bodied with a supple, flowing texture and refined tannin structure. The Viognier brings brightness and aromatic tension, keeping the wine lively, polished, and graceful despite its natural richness.

Food Pairings
Herb-crusted lamb rack. Duck breast with cherry or plum glaze. Grilled pork tenderloin. Moroccan-spiced lamb tagine. Semi-firm alpine cheeses or aged sheep’s milk cheeses.

Verdict
Elegant, aromatic, and beautifully balanced, this is a wine that highlights the sensual side of Barossa Shiraz while preserving depth and complexity. A compelling, refined expression that offers immediate pleasure and excellent aging potential.

Did You Know?
The Descendant follows the Côte-Rôtie tradition of co-fermenting Shiraz with a meaningful portion of Viognier, enhancing aromatic intensity, mouthfeel, and freshness while maintaining structural integrity.

🍷 Personal Pick
A stunning wine that delivers perfume, polish, and charm in every glass. An exceptional expression for those who love Rhône elegance layered onto Barossa generosity.
— 2 months ago

Joseph Lewinski

9.1

Disclosure I love everything Michael Cruz makes. 2016 sitting for a few years was rich and lush and opened up to rose petal and cherry and plum. Wonderful and sad that was the last bottle. — 6 years ago

Delectable Wine

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9.1

Bedrock’s 2017 Syrah Coast To Foothills is a stunner. Silky, plush and beautifully perfumed, the 2017 is laced with the essence of sweet red cherry, lavender, rose petal, mint, blood orange and dried flowers. This succulent, inviting Syrah will drink well right out the gate. $24.00 (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, January 2019) — 7 years ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.0

Angeleno Wine Company – The Meadow Rosé 2023 California – USA 🇺🇸

Overview
Angeleno Wine Company has carved out a name for championing Los Angeles–area vineyards and rare varietals, often reviving forgotten plots and turning them into expressive, small-production wines. The Meadow is their signature rosé, a field blend of Rhône and Iberian varietals (exact percentages vary by vintage), produced with minimal intervention to highlight freshness and site-driven character.

Aromas & Flavors
Delicate notes of wild strawberry, raspberry, and watermelon, laced with rose petal, orange peel, and a whisper of white pepper. Bright citrus undertones keep it lifted and refreshing.

Mouthfeel
Light-bodied, crisp, and bone-dry with vibrant acidity. The texture is clean and precise, finishing with a subtle mineral edge that speaks to the vineyard’s hillside character.

Winemaking Notes
Naturally fermented, aged in stainless steel to preserve brightness, and bottled with minimal sulfur. This rosé reflects Angeleno’s philosophy of low-intervention winemaking and transparency of terroir.

Food Pairing
Perfect with charcuterie boards, shrimp tacos, or grilled Mediterranean vegetables. Its crispness also makes it an ideal aperitif on a warm day.

Verdict
A lively, refreshing rosé that embodies Angeleno Wine Co.’s pioneering spirit in L.A. winemaking. Both playful and serious, it shows that Southern California can deliver authentic, terroir-driven wines.

Personal Pick Highlight
Ultra-limited and very L.A. at heart, this rosé stands as one of the most authentic expressions of California’s new-wave winemaking — a bottle that feels as much about place and community as it does about the wine itself. Cheers! — 6 months ago

Raeanne VanDerPlaats

9.3

Went well with Thanksgiving dinner — 5 years ago

Ely Cohn

9.4

Michael Cruse’s wines deserve more recognition than they receive. His single vineyard bottlings are spectacular. His style is lean, fruity, and a dedicated employment of whole cluster press.

This Evangelho Carignan has a deep purple color in a medium, full body. There is bright blackberry, oak, and sandalwood. Intensely concentrated, on the serious structured side of the spectrum for the Cruse portfolio. — 7 years ago

Brad Jensen

9.3

Very floral nose of rose, strawberry, lilac, overripe raspberry, but not soggy, velvet and just a hint of cold charcoal. Deep burgundy with hints of purple to the edges, medium bodied, with slightly grippy tannins. Palate features ripe, deep red fruits, with notes of black olives, plums, blackberry and rose petal, with a long finish with notes of violet flowers and hints of tobacco smoke in the back of the throat. Three cheers for Kiko! — 3 years ago

Kendall Johnson

9.0

Strawberry and cherry — 5 years ago

David Kline

9.3

Bedrock Dolinsek Ranch Red

Dried blackberries and rich black and pruned plums. Black cherry dusted bituminous. Cedar and wet violets locked in an energetic embrace. Baked strawberry aromas and dried rose petal. Dried lavender emerges from bing cherry and red currant with a blackberry and bitter chocolate entourage. Touches of ginger and chicory on a medium full palate that bursts with Mallow blossom and blueberry. Intermittently tart, tangy, rich and floral, with a medicinal nod in the dried aromatics, that is a welcome and pleasant diversion. There is a black currant leaf note that likely opens to fruit with age, but is still very pleasant in its youth. #bedrockwineco #BedrockDolinsekRanchVineyards #BedrockDolinsekRanchRed #Sonoma #RussianRiver #RussianRiverValley #Russianriverred #SonomaCounty #DolinsekRanch #dryfarmed #LagunaTrenton #redwine #cared #calired #californiawine — 6 years ago

with Courtney

Patrick Derdeyn

9.0

The ‘17s just arrived so that means it was perfect timing to drink my last ‘16. @Morgan Twain-Peterson says these can age 5-10 yrs, but mine never seem to make it 5-10 months while I let all of the SVs rest in peace. A splash decant really helps the bouquet jump out on these. Rose petal, spice, and dark fruits balanced by wonderful acidity and some light tannin presence. A screaming value year in and year out. — 7 years ago