Freddy R. Troya

9.2

Chappellet — Merlot 2021
Napa Valley, California, USA 🇺🇸

Overview
A limited-production, mountain-grown Merlot from Chappellet that captures the power and concentration associated with its Napa Valley vineyards while retaining the variety’s natural suppleness. The 2021 spent 22 months in French oak, 40% new, providing a polished framework for its generous fruit and substantial structure.

Aromas & Flavors
Remarkably expressive from the moment it was opened, with concentrated black cherry, ripe plum, cassis, and dark red fruits accompanied by cocoa, tobacco leaf, clove, anise, and subtle oak spice. The aromatic intensity is immediate, deep, and compelling without pushing the fruit into jamminess.

Mouthfeel
Initially robust and firmly structured, with substantial body and wonderfully chewy tannins. After approximately 45 minutes of decanting, the wine noticeably relaxed: the tannins became more integrated, the mouthfeel mellower, and the finish progressively smoother and more refined while retaining its impressive concentration.

Food Pairings
Duck breast, roasted lamb, wild mushrooms, braised short ribs, mushroom risotto, or aged cheeses. Its combination of concentration and evolving texture makes this particularly rewarding alongside richer cuisine.

Verdict
A serious and beautifully crafted expression of Napa Valley Merlot. What makes it especially compelling is its evolution with air, starting powerful, deeply aromatic, and structured before gradually revealing a softer, more polished personality. Decanting this one is definitely worth the wait.

Did You Know?
Chappellet was founded in 1967 on Pritchard Hill, where its mountain vineyards rise high above the Napa Valley floor. Cabernet Sauvignon may command most of the attention, but Merlot and the other Bordeaux varieties grown there benefit from the same mountain environment that has defined Chappellet’s identity for decades.

🍷 Personal Pick
A Merlot from Chappellet is already intriguing; this 2021 was sublime. Right after opening, it exploded with intense dark fruit and aromatics, robust body, and wonderfully chewy tannins. After about 45 minutes in the decanter, everything began to settle and integrate, the mouthfeel became noticeably mellower and the finish progressively smoother and more refined. Watching that transformation was as compelling as the wine itself. — a month ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.4

Domaine Jean Monnier & Fils — Meursault “La Barre” 2022
Meursault, Côte de Beaune, Burgundy, France 🇫🇷

Overview
100% Chardonnay from La Barre, a named lieu-dit within Meursault. This is beautifully representative of what makes Meursault so compelling: refinement rather than excess, combining ripe fruit, mineral character, texture, and freshness in a wine that becomes progressively more expressive in the glass.

Aromas & Flavors
Ripe yellow apple, pear, lemon curd, and delicate stone fruit gradually emerge alongside crushed stone, subtle hazelnut, and restrained savory notes. Proper swirling really wakes it up, revealing considerably more complexity than the first pour suggests.

Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied, polished, and remarkably balanced. There is enough texture and breadth to unmistakably speak Meursault, yet the wine remains energetic and precise. The acidity beautifully carries the ripe yellow fruit into a long, elegant mineral finish.

Food Pairings
Seared scallops, Dover sole, lobster, turbot, roasted poultry, or a delicate mushroom risotto. This deserves refined cuisine rather than casual snacking, scallops would be absolutely superb.

Verdict
This is what Chardonnay from Meursault should taste like: refined, delicate, progressively flavorful, and sophisticated without becoming heavy. The balance between stony minerality, ripe yellow fruit, texture, and energy is the real showstopper.

Did You Know?
“La Barre” is a Meursault lieu-dit rather than a Premier Cru designation. That distinction is part of Burgundy’s fascination: named vineyard sites can possess a very specific identity even without Premier Cru status, allowing wines like this to offer a compelling glimpse into Meursault terroir.

🍷 Personal Pick
This one stole the show once it had enough air. The transformation from delicate and restrained to increasingly expressive was beautiful, with those stony notes and ripe yellow fruits becoming remarkably clear. Elegant, energetic, and deeply satisfying, exactly the sophisticated style of Chardonnay I want from Meursault. — a month ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.4

Ilaria — Chardonnay 2022
Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California, USA 🇺🇸

Overview
100% Chardonnay from Russian River Valley, crafted by winemaker Anna Monticelli. Better known for her Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon and other reds, Monticelli brings a polished, terroir-conscious approach to Chardonnay, giving this wine finesse and authenticity rather than simply chasing richness. Her background includes Château Cheval Blanc, Seavey Vineyard, Bryant Family Vineyard, and Piña Napa Valley.

Aromas & Flavors
Lemon curd, baked pear, yellow apple, citrus peel, and delicate white flowers lead the way, with subtle vanilla and baking-spice nuances adding another layer without overwhelming the fruit.

Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied and beautifully balanced, with lovely acidity providing freshness and tension. A gentle creaminess develops through the mid-palate, followed by additional texture and depth toward the back end.

Food Pairings
Roasted chicken, grilled halibut, scallops, crab, creamy seafood pasta, mushroom risotto, or richer white-fish preparations.

Verdict
An intriguing Russian River Chardonnay that finds a comfortable middle ground between California generosity and restraint. There is enough texture and depth to satisfy Chardonnay lovers, but the freshness and finesse prevent it from becoming heavy or overly opulent.

Did You Know?
Anna Monticelli earned her Viticulture and Enology degree at UC Davis before working the 2000 vintage at Château Cheval Blanc and later assisting at Bryant Family Vineyard under Philippe Melka. That serious red-wine pedigree makes her exploration of Chardonnay particularly interesting.

🍷 Personal Pick
A great addition to Anna Monticelli’s repertoire of intriguing whites. I particularly enjoyed the lemon curd, baked pear, lovely acidity, and that subtle increase in texture and depth toward the finish. It has enough Russian River personality to feel generous, but enough finesse to remain sophisticated and beautifully composed. — a month ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.4

Ridge Vineyards — Estate Chardonnay 2023
Monte Bello Estate, Santa Cruz Mountains, California, USA 🇺🇸

Overview
100% Chardonnay from Ridge’s Monte Bello Estate, high in the Santa Cruz Mountains and strongly influenced by the cool Pacific. The exceptionally long, cool 2023 growing season preserved freshness and varietal character, while barrel fermentation followed by nine months on the lees added texture and dimension. At 14.1% ABV, it carries surprising substance without sacrificing its cool-climate identity.

Aromas & Flavors
Fresh lemon, yellow apple, pear, citrus blossom, and subtle stone fruit unfold gradually, joined by mineral notes, gentle vanilla, and restrained barrel nuances. Air brings out additional layers without turning the wine overtly oaky.

Mouthfeel
Beautifully texturized yet remarkably fresh. Bright acidity provides tension while lees aging gives the mid-palate a gentle creaminess and polished weight. It keeps evolving after opening, moving between delicacy, mineral energy, and increasingly expressive fruit.

Food Pairings
Excellent alone, but equally comfortable with scallops, lobster, grilled halibut, roasted chicken, mushroom risotto, or richer seafood preparations. Its combination of acidity and texture lets it pivot effortlessly between sipping and serious cuisine.

Verdict
A fascinating expression of mountain-grown California Chardonnay. Delicate yet substantial, refreshing yet textural, it demonstrates how a cool Pacific-influenced site can deliver ripeness without sacrificing precision or energy.

Did You Know?
Monte Bello sits high above Silicon Valley on the Santa Cruz Mountains ridge, with vineyards exposed to significant Pacific influence. Ridge notes that 2023 was one of its longest and coolest recent growing seasons; the extended harvest helped preserve acidity while allowing slow flavor development—the tension you can genuinely feel in this Chardonnay.

🍷 Personal Pick
This sits comfortably among my favorite coastal-influenced Northern California Chardonnays. What gets me is the evolution: refreshing and delicate at first, then progressively more textural and expressive as it opens. It has enough finesse to enjoy completely on its own and enough structure to sit beside fine cuisine. That versatility, without losing its cool-climate personality, is what makes this one special. — a month ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.2

Domaine Dampt Frères — Chablis Vieilles Vignes 2015, Chablis, Burgundy, France 🇫🇷

Overview
100% Chardonnay from old vines in Chablis, and at eleven years of age this bottle delivered a wonderful surprise. The Vieilles Vignes concentration appears to have given it enough substance to evolve gracefully, while still retaining the freshness, precision, and mineral character expected from Chablis.

Aromas & Flavors
Vibrant lemon peel, ripe yellow apple, pear, and subtle citrus remain surprisingly alive, joined by crushed stone, delicate hazelnut, and gentle mature notes. Remarkably expressive for its age without losing its Chablis identity.

Mouthfeel
Dry, mineral-driven, and still energetic, but time has beautifully rounded the edges. The acidity remains lively while the palate has gained softness and subtle texture, creating an elegant balance between freshness and bottle development.

Food Pairings
Oysters, scallops, Dover sole, grilled white fish, roast chicken, or a delicate mushroom dish. Its evolved texture also makes it particularly attractive with richer seafood preparations.

Verdict
An eleven-year-old village Chablis that completely exceeded expectations. Rather than simply surviving, it remained vibrant, aromatic, and distinctly mineral while gaining the rounded edges and complexity that only bottle age can provide.

Did You Know?
“Vieilles Vignes” means old vines, but it is not a legally defined aging category in Chablis. Older vines can produce lower yields and more concentrated fruit, potentially giving a wine additional substance and aging capacity, but producer, site, vintage, and storage ultimately determine how beautifully a bottle evolves.

🍷 Personal Pick
I had very modest expectations for a 2015 Chablis at this stage, and this bottle proved everyone in the room wrong. Still fresh, vibrant, dry, and mineral-driven after eleven years, yet now softened by beautifully rounded edges and subtle maturity. This was one of those bottles that reminds you never to underestimate a well-made old-vine Chablis. — a month ago

Freddy R. Troya

8.9

Paola Lanzavecchia — Parole Chardonnay 2024
Langhe DOC, Piemonte, Italy 🇮🇹

Overview
100% Chardonnay from the Langhe, a region whose identity is far more closely tied to Nebbiolo and its great reds. Despite the somewhat unexpected origin, Parole is indeed Chardonnay rather than a blend, something worth confirming because its flavor profile can genuinely make you wonder what else might be in the glass.

Aromas & Flavors
Ripe peach, yellow apple, pear, citrus peel, and delicate floral notes lead the profile. The emphasis is on ripe yellow and stone fruits rather than the familiar lemon-and-oak vocabulary of many Chardonnays.

Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied, clean, and refreshing, with moderate acidity and a gentle roundness through the mid-palate. The fruit carries nicely into a composed, clean finish without excessive richness.

Food Pairings
Grilled white fish, scallops, seafood pasta, roasted chicken, vegetable risotto, or aged cheeses. Its moderate acidity and fruit-driven personality make it quite flexible.

Verdict
A Chardonnay that deliberately feels outside the usual Chardonnay box. The ripe stone fruit, moderate acidity, and distinctive Piedmontese personality make it less immediately recognizable, which is precisely what makes it such an enjoyable exploratory white.

Did You Know?
Chardonnay has been permitted under the Langhe DOC since the denomination was established in 1994. The flexible appellation allows international varieties to coexist alongside Piedmont’s indigenous grapes, giving producers considerable freedom to explore wines beyond the region’s famous reds.

🍷 Personal Pick
This one made me stop for a moment because it genuinely tasted as though another grape might be hiding in the blend. It isn’t, this is Chardonnay expressing itself in a very different place. Ripe stone fruit, moderate acidity, freshness, and a clean finish make it a terrific exploratory white and a reminder of just how flexible Chardonnay can be. — a month ago

Freddy R. Troya

8.9

Kudos — Chardonnay 2021
Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA 🇺🇸

Overview
Chardonnay from Oregon’s cool-climate Willamette Valley, produced and bottled by NW Wine Company in Dundee. This is an approachable interpretation of the variety, emphasizing fresh fruit, bright acidity, and restrained oak rather than richness or weight.

Aromas & Flavors
Honeycrisp apple and clementine lead into pear, citrus, and a gentle touch of vanilla bean. Subtle oak sits comfortably behind the fruit rather than dominating it.

Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied, fresh, and nicely balanced. Bright acidity keeps the fruit energetic while a modest creamy texture provides softness through the mid-palate. The flavors linger surprisingly well, finishing clean and lively.

Food Pairings
Roasted chicken, grilled salmon, shrimp, crab cakes, creamy pasta, or mild cheeses. Easy enough to drink alone but versatile around the table.

Verdict
A surprisingly charming Willamette Valley Chardonnay. Nothing is pushed too far, fruit, vanilla, oak, and acidity remain nicely integrated, making this an easygoing wine with more balance than its casual personality might suggest.

Did You Know?
Willamette Valley built its reputation primarily around Pinot Noir, but Chardonnay has become increasingly important there. The region’s cool growing conditions can preserve acidity particularly well, giving Chardonnay a naturally bright framework even when some oak and creamy texture are introduced.

🍷 Personal Pick
This is exactly the kind of Chardonnay I can appreciate as a casual daily sipper. Honeycrisp, vanilla, subtle oak, bright acidity, and a lingering finish, all nicely balanced without trying too hard. Charming, uncomplicated, and very easy to reach for again. — a month ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.2

Zuccardi Polígonos del Valle de Uco — Tupungato Semillón 2021, El Peral, Tupungato, Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina 🇦🇷

Overview
100% Semillón from El Peral in Tupungato, grown around 1,200 meters above sea level. Part of Sebastián Zuccardi’s terroir-focused Polígonos project, the 2021 was fermented with native yeasts and both fermented and aged in large, untoasted French oak, with no malolactic fermentation, a fascinating combination that helps explain its texture without sacrificing freshness.

Aromas & Flavors
Lemon, ripe pear, green and yellow apple, white fruits, and subtle honeyed notes emerge with impressive aromatic generosity. There is also a quiet flinty character underneath the fruit that gives the wine another dimension.

Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied, mellow, and beautifully smooth, with a soft creamy texture that initially feels almost understated. Fresh acidity gradually reveals itself underneath, giving the wine balance, energy, and a surprisingly persistent finish.

Food Pairings
Scallops, grilled white fish, roasted chicken, creamy risotto, ceviche, or richer seafood dishes. Its combination of texture and freshness gives it considerable flexibility at the table.

Verdict
A cerebral Argentine white that makes you think—and rethink—what the Southern Cone can do with Semillón. Expressive and generous without becoming loud, with a wonderful tension between softness, aromatic intensity, and freshness.

Did You Know?
This Semillón comes from El Peral in Tupungato, where Zuccardi’s Polígonos project explores individual Uco Valley villages through specific varieties. The 2021 growing season was comparatively cool and humid, allowing slow maturation while maintaining a strong balance between sugar and acidity.

🍷 Personal Pick
This one overdelivered beautifully. I loved the contrast between its delicate, almost mellow mouthfeel and the generosity of flavors and aromatics underneath. Smooth, expressive, and quietly complex, this is exactly the kind of cerebral white that keeps me exploring beyond Argentina’s obvious grapes. — a month ago

Freddy R. Troya

8.9

La Granja 360 — Verdejo & Viura 2025
Spain 🇪🇸

Overview
A lively blend of 75% Verdejo and 25% Viura, two classic Spanish white varieties that work beautifully together here. Verdejo supplies the aromatic lift, freshness, and herbal personality, while Viura rounds the edges and contributes an easygoing fruit character. At 12% ABV, this is clearly built around freshness and drinkability.

Aromas & Flavors
Fresh citrus, green apple, pear, and subtle white flowers are joined by distinctive notes of fennel, anise, and fresh herbs. Bright and aromatic without becoming overly tropical.

Mouthfeel
Light-bodied, crisp, and extremely refreshing, with energetic acidity and a clean, uncomplicated texture. The finish is intentionally short and snappy, which basically encourages the next sip.

Food Pairings
Grilled shrimp, calamari, white fish, fresh salads, tapas, mild cheeses, or simple Mediterranean appetizers. Equally comfortable as a chilled aperitif on a warm afternoon.

Verdict
A vigorous, uncomplicated Spanish white that knows exactly what it wants to be: fresh, aromatic, herbaceous, and ridiculously easy to drink. A terrific entry-level summer wine with enough personality to keep things interesting.

Did You Know?
Verdejo and Viura are two historic Spanish varieties with very different personalities. Verdejo is particularly celebrated for its aromatic, herbal character, while Viura, also known as Macabeo, typically brings a gentler fruit profile and can soften the overall blend.

🍷 Personal Pick
This is pure summer drinking. I love the aromatic and herbaceous entry, followed by that clean, light mouthfeel and refreshing acidity. And that short finish? Almost dangerous, it disappears just quickly enough to make you immediately reach for another sip. — a month ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.1

Bodegas As Laxas — Val do Sosego Godello
Rías Baixas, Galicia, Spain 🇪🇸

Overview
A fascinating 100% Godello from Rías Baixas, an appellation overwhelmingly associated with Albariño. That alone makes this an intriguing departure, but what really impresses is the combination of freshness, substance, and character—a different side of Atlantic Galicia in the glass.

Aromas & Flavors
Yellow apple, ripe pear, quince, lemon peel, and delicate stone fruit lead the profile, with subtle floral and mineral nuances underneath. Refreshing without relying on the overt tropical character often associated with many Rías Baixas whites.

Mouthfeel
Bone dry, energetic, and beautifully balanced, with lively acidity wrapped around a surprisingly substantial texture. There is real presence through the mid-palate and a clean, persistent finish that makes it dangerously easy to keep pouring.

Food Pairings
Grilled octopus, scallops, white fish, shrimp, seafood rice, roasted chicken, or simply good conservas. Its combination of acidity and texture makes this extremely versatile at the table.

Verdict
An impressive and decidedly different Galician white. Refreshing enough for casual drinking, yet the yellow-fruit profile, texture, and structure give it considerably more personality than a straightforward thirst-quencher.

Did You Know?
Godello is much more strongly associated with Galicia’s Valdeorras appellation, while Rías Baixas has built its international reputation around Albariño. That makes seeing “Godello” and “Rías Baixas” together on a label particularly unusual—and part of what makes this bottle so interesting.

🍷 Personal Pick
This one is soaring among my favorite Spanish whites. I love that it doesn’t follow the expected tropical-fruit script: yellow fruits, bone-dry freshness, balanced acidity, and a terrific mouthfeel give it its own identity. Deliciously, and dangerously good. — a month ago