Freddy R. Troya

8.9

Gabriel Meffre “Saint-Vincent” Côtes-du-Rhône Blanc 2024, Rhône Valley, France 🇫🇷

Overview
A classic Southern Rhône white blend that leans casual and food-oriented rather than flashy or intensely aromatic, and this cuvée is typically a blend of Grenache Blanc, Viognier, Roussanne, and Clairette. The result is a smooth, lightly stony, and subtly textured white that feels very comfortable at the table.

Aromas & Flavors
Soft white peach, pear, yellow apple, and delicate white floral tones open gently in the glass. Subtle hints of wet stone, citrus peel, and light herbal nuances emerge underneath, keeping the wine grounded and balanced rather than overtly fruity.

Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied with a smooth and approachable texture. There is a gentle tension toward the back palate that adds freshness without becoming sharp. The finish remains subtle, soft, and savory-leaning.

Food Pairings
This is where the wine truly shines. Excellent with roasted chicken, creamy seafood dishes, cod in white wine sauce, grilled vegetables, herb-driven Mediterranean cuisine, or mild cheeses.

Verdict
A very honest and traditional Rhône white that prioritizes versatility and food compatibility over complexity. Not necessarily a “sit and analyze” sipping wine, but a dependable bottle that works beautifully at the dinner table.

Did You Know?
White Côtes-du-Rhône wines represent only a small percentage of total Rhône production, which is why many consumers associate the region almost entirely with reds despite the area producing some excellent traditional white blends.

🍷 Personal Pick
This feels like one of those understated French whites that quietly performs best with food. Casual, stony, smooth, and very easy to enjoy alongside a proper meal rather than on its own. Cheers! — a month ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.4

Piña Cellars Chardonnay 2019
Oak Knoll District, Napa Valley, USA 🇺🇸

Overview
A very small-production Chardonnay sourced from the Low Vineyard in the Oak Knoll District, located next to the historic Muir-Hanna Vineyards (once linked to the famed 1976 Paris Tasting winner). Only a few hundred cases are made each year, making it one of Piña’s rarest bottlings.

Aromas & Flavors
Rich and concentrated, showing layers of orchard fruits (white peach, pear, apricot) with accents of honeysuckle, hazelnut, and brioche. Subtle baking spice and mineral notes weave in, reflecting both terroir and oak aging.

Mouthfeel
Full-bodied with a creamy, satiny texture, balanced by refreshing acidity that keeps the palate lively. The finish is long and elegant, carrying flavors of stone fruit, nuts, and citrus zest.

Winemaking Notes
Crafted in a Burgundian-inspired style with extended élevage in French oak barrels (including new oak). The result is a Chardonnay that balances opulence with restraint, with the capacity to age several more years.

Food Pairing
Pairs beautifully with buttery lobster, roast chicken, creamy risottos, or brie and hazelnut cheese plates. Its freshness also makes it a great companion to lighter dishes like seared scallops or grilled peaches.

Verdict
An exceptional Napa Chardonnay with historic vineyard lineage and precision winemaking. Rich, complex, and cellar-worthy, yet ready to impress right now. A showstopper in Piña’s small but mighty portfolio. — a year ago

Peter Sultan

9.0

When a 14$ wine brings joy, it is an accomplishment. Very small production by a chinon maker. Somehow more nuanced & lithe than most Sauvignon blancs from the Loire, less green & more pale stone fruits, like underripe apricot. Perfect acidity. Yowza — 4 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Tried new batch. Lucien Albrecht pioneered Crémant production in 1971 and helped gain an Appellation Contrôlêe for the wine and for Alsace. Pale lemon color, fine bubbles with a light creamy mousse and aromas of fresh stone fruit with biscuit scents. On the palate ripe apple, citrus and peachy flavors with nice mineral tones, dry with vivid acidity. Lingering finish with good balance ending with fruit, slight mineral and yeast tang. Excellent value as a Champagne alternative! Consistent quality. — 5 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

So, many of you have not had the pleasure of having Dan’s wines. It is largely due to the fact he doesn’t have a US importer. He sells all his mid production level wines through his mailing list. That makes importing from his mailing list as restrictive as the import fees. They are equal to the price of the wines you order. Not something you’ll do. I didn’t. You need to find his wines on the secondary market to be cost effective.

We had the privilege of visiting his Cellar Door in the Spring of 2017. What a fantastic visit and walk of his Estate with him. The age of his Estate vines are 100 plus years old and their yield is less than a ton per acre which, does not make for a lot of wine but, instead a very concentrated wine.

Dan traveled to and worked in many of the key wine regions before settling in as Torbreck’s Winemaker and then marching to his own drum doing his own thing as “The Standish”, his way. No compromises.

The first thing you need to know about Dan’s wines is you can drink them early but, that would be a huge mistake. This 03 is sensational now but, is worthy of more cellaring. It has 10-20 years of life ahead of it...proper storage of course.

This is a second night wine for us and it is still big.

The nose reveals smokey; blackberries, black raspberries, black plum skin, black cherries, blueberries, mulberries/boysenberries, baked/poached strawberries & some raspberries, sweet tarriness, dark berry cola, black pepper, steeped tea, eucalyptus, mint, tree bark with sap, herbaceous, dry crushed rocks, nutmeg, clove, cinnamon, vanilla, moist, forest floor with dry leaves with withering; dark, red, purple flowers framed in violets & strong lavender.

The body is full, round, lush & ruby. The tannins are still big, round, tarry & meaty. The structure, tension, length & balance are just there & yet still not there. It is still a monster on day two. Smokey; blackberries, black raspberries, black plum skin, black cherries, blueberries, mulberries/boysenberries, baked/poached strawberries & some raspberries, sweet tarriness, grilled meats, dark berry cola, black pepper, steeped tea, eucalyptus, mint, tree bark with sap, herbaceous-sage & rosemary, used charcoal, graphite, dark spice with palate heat, burned ambers, incense, rubber toy, dry crushed rocks, moist clay & top soil, dry stone, nutmeg, clove, cinnamon, vanilla, moist, forest floor with dry leaves with withering; dark, red, purple flowers framed in violets & strong lavender. The acidity is round and a rushing river. The extremely long finish is, big, round, elegant, floral, well balanced, runs juicy to dry with persistence for days falling onto earthiness & dark spice on the long set.

Photos of, a plaque that hangs above my kitchen sink that speaks to me always, Dan Standish, his Cellar Door and surrounding buildings. — 6 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

Nikki & Jeff Nelson joined together with Dragonette Cellars winemaker, Brandon Sparks-Gillis, & craft 2 very different small production Chards. Blend 2 stylistically different wines, from 7 vineyards, with little intervention, minimal oak, no additives just pure expressions of Chard! White Hill is more Chablis-like of the 2; aromas of stone and tropical fruits with citrus notes. On the palate peach, pineapple and ripe apple with citrus and mineral wrapped in generous acidity. Fresh, medium+ finish ending with citrus and mineral character. — 7 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Blend of about 73% Sauvignon Blanc and 27% Semillon, aged in oak for 8 months. Pale lemon color with aromas of stone and tropical fruits with biscuit and floral notes. On the palate flavors of peach, golden apple and melon with white floral and herb notes. Medium+ finish ending with fruit, herb and yeasty notes, lively acidity with slight smoky mineral character. Small production, nice, good now! — 8 months ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.2

Alto de Cantenac Brown, 2022
Margaux (Left Bank) – Bordeaux, France 🇫🇷

Overview
A rare white from the Left Bank, produced by Château Cantenac Brown, a 3rd Growth estate in Margaux. Crafted from 90% Sauvignon Blanc and 10% Sémillon, sourced from a tiny 1.8-hectare parcel planted specifically for this cuvée. Fermented in oak barrels (90% one-year-old French oak), giving it elegance and complexity in limited quantities.

Aromas & Flavors
Nose: perfumed, layered with white flowers, citrus zest, mandarin, and ripe stone fruits, accented by delicate oak spice and minerality.
Palate: vibrant and structured, unfolding flavors of lemon curd, peach skin, and hints of vanilla, with a chalky mineral lift and refined texture.

Mouthfeel
Medium-to-full-bodied, with zesty acidity, refined minerality, and a silky finish. The oak adds subtle creaminess without overpowering the freshness, resulting in a wine of tension and precision.

Winemaking & Style
Produced in extremely small quantities, this cuvée reflects the château’s dedication to expressing the terroir of Margaux through a white wine that rivals the sophistication of the region’s reds. Aged for 9 months on lees in barrel, it showcases balance, aromatic depth, and aging potential.

Food Pairing
A versatile white that shines with lobster, scallops, creamy risotto, or roast chicken with herbs. Also excellent with aged goat cheese or truffle-accented dishes.

Verdict
A luxurious and limited-production Bordeaux Blanc, blending elegance, minerality, and aromatic finesse. Age-worthy for 5–10 years, but already delightful today. A true gem for white Bordeaux lovers.
— a year ago

Vanessa

9.1

Cheers to old-vine Chenin Blanc from South Africa! 🇿🇦 In South Africa, Chenin Blanc also goes by the name “Steen.”

It’s such a versatile grape and wine, capable of producing beautiful sweet, dry, still, and sparkling wines.

This wine is still and dry. We’ve paired it with sushi and it’s a delightful duet.

The grapes for this wine were grown organically in the Citrusdal Mountain district, north of Cape Town, west of the Olifants River, on the Western Cape. The bush vines were originally planted in 1957 (old!!), contributing to an intensity and a concentration of primary aromas and flavors in the grapes.

Indeed, the nose and palate offer medium(+) aromas and flavors of ripe pear, yellow apple, white peach, vegetal, boxwood, white blossom, crushed stone, and aged cheese rind notes. Lively acidity gives it lift and balances the high alcohol and intensity of fruit.

This wine was produced by Ginny Povall, American-born proprietor and self-taught winemaker of Botanica Wines. I love the botanical images on her labels, each an homage to the flower farm on which she began her wine production journey in South Africa.   

Botanica Wines, Chenin Blanc (Mary Delany Collection), 2019, ABV 14%. — 4 years ago

with Deked1

Delectable Wine

Follow to learn about our favorite wines & people.

9.4

The 2019 Soave Classico Calvarino opens slowly, yet time in the glass reveals a pungent mix of lemon oil and wet stone, offset by an enriching note of almond paste. This is elegant, with medium-bodied weight nicely contrasted by brilliant acidity and zesty green citrus tones that build tension. The 2019 Calvarino finishes long and lightly structured, leaving the cheeks puckering, as hints of kiwi skin and minerals fade. There’s a seriously bright future here. In 2019, the Calvarino production was reduced by 30% due to frost. (Eric Guido, Vinous, April 2022)
— 4 years ago

Mary Christoph

9.5

Love love love this, especially with food! — 6 years ago

Randall Hopkins

Winegrower Co-Winemaker and Owner Corvus Vineyard and Corvus Cellars

9.6

Frickin brilliant! Balanced, a little spice, nice pronounced fruit, a little bramble on the finish. Outstanding GSM if you can get your hands on any. Super limited production. — 6 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.5

Blend of 57% Cab Sauv, 26% Syrah, 14% Malbec & 3% Cab Franc, aged for 14 months 100% French oak (30% new). Deep Ruby, purple edges with developing youthful layered aromas of black berry fruits, sweet spice & notes of blossom, oak & wet stone. Palate pronounced complex flavors of blackberry, black cherry & ripe raspberry, not jammy, perfectly ripe fruits, black pepper, espresso & cacao notes. Fine grain structured soft tannins, well integrated & balanced, long finish, ending with fresh berry fruit character, just starting to add some leather, tobacco notes & earthy oak. Outstanding and elegant, drinking well for a ’16 but needs some bottle age, try this in 2021 & over the next decade+ if you have restraint! Limited production (826 cases), so grab one before they are gone! Tasting Sample. — 6 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Lucien Albrecht pioneered Crémant production in 1971 and helped gain an Appellation Contrôlêe for the wine and for Alsace. Pale lemon color, fine bubbles with a light creamy mousse and aromas of fresh stone fruit with biscuit scents. On the palate ripe apple, citrus and peachy flavors with nice mineral tones, dry with vivid acidity. Lingering finish with good balance ending with fruit, slight mineral and yeast tang. Excellent value as a Champagne alternative! Tasting Sample. — 7 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Pale lemon color with aromas of stone and tropical fruits with biscuit and floral notes. On the palate flavors of peach, apple and melon with white floral herb notes. Medium+ finish ending with fruit, herb and yeasty notes, lively acidity with slight mineral character. Small production, nice! — 8 months ago

Vanessa

9.5

Prior notes continue to apply…

When we visited Billecart-Salmon in October of 2021, we received a tour of the stunning estate. Along the way, our guide, Jerome, paused near a traditional “Clos” (a single vineyard, enclosed by a wall) on the property. 

We could see a beautiful stone wall, surrounding a tiny 1 hectare parcel of “Clos Saint-Hilaire,” named after the Patron Saint & local church in Mareuil-sur-Aÿ, where Billecart-Salmon is located. 

Although we didn’t go into the Clos, we learned about how special this parcel is to the family; how it’s exclusively planted to Pinot Noir with vines dating back to 1964; how work in the vineyard is performed by hand and horse-drawn plows; how this parcel is farmed according to an age-old savoir-faire, adhering to principles of sustainable viticulture.

The wine is pale gold with a prominent bouquet of yellow apple, Anjou pear, raspberry, lemon curd, white peach, white blossom, desiccated white rose, wet stones, biscuit, brioche, almond paste, marzipan, crusty croissant, pie crust, toast, creamy texture and persistent, fine-beaded mousse and long elegant finish.

This is a 2005 “Blanc de Noirs” Champagne, comprised of 100% Pinot Noir, all coming from Le Clos Saint Hilaire, vinified entirely in oak casks to lend texture and body, and aged over 13 years sur lie prior to its recent release.  Due to the vineyard’s small size, production is very limited, and wine only produced in the best vintages.

Cheers to beautiful wines expressing a singularity of time and place!

Billecart-Salmon Le Clos Saint-Hilaire (2005).  — a year ago

with Deked1

Sipping Fine Wine

9.7

My new Favorite white, just love mountain fruit! Named for mountain range dividing Napa & Sonoma, old stone winery dug into side of dormant volcano crater in 1889, remained in production ever since. Pale lemon with aromas of Tropical and stone fruit with complex spice and floral notes. On the palate flavors of apple, pear and citrus with light oak and nutty tones, fresh and vibrant, well integrated. Long finish ending with fruit and flinty mineral characteristics. Long aging potential. Nice! — 4 years ago

Casey @ Travelling Corkscrew

9.6

Happy International #RieslingDay to all my fellow Riesling fans 🥂

Mr. Spittoon and I decided to delve into the cellar and we pulled out this @inniskillinwines 2017 Icewine Riesling from the Okanagan Valley in Canada 🇨🇦

My brother and sister-in-law gave this to us in 2019 after their visit to Canada (which is the worlds largest ice wine producer!).

What is Icewine 🧊🥂?

It’s not wine you add ice too 😯

But it is wine which is made from frozen grapes 🍇. The grapes naturally freeze on the vines and are picked when the temperature drops below -9 degrees Celsius 🥶

Not much liquid comes out of the grapes when they are pressed. So what comes out is super concentrated and full of luxurious flavour 🤤

The natural high acidity in Riesling grapes means the variety is perfect for Icewine production 🙌

I’m not a big sweet wine drinker but when they have that perfect balance of sweetness and acidity, they are pure magic in the mouth 👌

And this Riesling Icewine was exactly that! From its beautiful golden amber colour to the mouthwatering aromas of juicy oranges, Manuka honey and stone fruits. The flavours flow through to the palate and it’s a true pleasure to drink with its lovely acidity. We matched it with cheese, prosciutto and crackers - which were the perfect compliment 👌

All opinions are based on my own taste buds. #Wine is subjective & always evolving, so make sure you drink what you enjoy! — 5 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.4

Mid Ruby in colour. Aromas of cherry, spice and mushrooms with a note of dried meat. White pepper on the palate but not much on the nose strangely enough. Medium weight palate - northern Rhone in style - very different to the fruit driven styles in the Barossa and McLaren Vale. For around 35 years this has been one of my favourite reds in Australia. Wine was first made on this site in the 1860’s. Pat Carmody and his wife Dianne replanted the site in 1976 retaining the beautiful old blue stone gravity fed winery from the 19th century. An icon of Australian wine from small production - probably not a lot exported. This is the first of 6 purchased, so great times ahead! — 6 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

One of my favorite small production wine, 300 cases. Cal Nicholson spent his youth in So. CA & after a long marketing career he hung up his spurs to follow his 2 real interests in life – surfing & wine making. Jones is the maiden name of Cal’s wife Pam. A wonderful wine. Aromas of lemon citrus with herb, stone & tropical fruits. Palate, peach, Granny Smith apple & ripe melon flavors with lively citrus zest wrapped in lbalanced acidity. Lingering finish ending with mineral citrus finish. Consistent! Nice! — 7 years ago