Freddy R. Troya

9.5

Amici Cellars – El Diablo Vineyard Chardonnay v.2020. River Valley AVA, Sonoma County, California, USA 🇺🇸

Overview
From the esteemed El Diablo Vineyard perched along the eastern ridges of the Russian River Valley AVA, this 2020 Chardonnay is a beautiful testament to both site and vintage. Using small-berried Wente clone fruit, this single-vineyard bottling delivers a compelling balance of freshness, richness, and regional finesse. 

Aromas & Flavors
The nose unfolds with savory brioche and pineapple juice aromas, leading into a palate that echoes with piña colada and banana cream pie, all carrying through to a lingering finish. 

Other tasting descriptors from regional sources paint additional layers: caramel and crème brûlée notes give way to a honey-kissed palate, with bright lemon-oil, white peach, and macadamia nut nuances weaving through the long finish.  

Mouthfeel
Texturally rich yet dynamic, this wine showcases a mouthwatering interplay of freshness and acidity—its savory core holding structure while allowing the orchard and tropical fruit elements to bloom. 

Finish / Impression
The finish is elegant and persistent, echoing tropical sweetness and pastry-driven flavors against a backdrop of subtle savory depth. Lingering citrus and stone fruit lift, while mineral or nutty undertones lend complexity.  

Verdict
This 2020 Amici El Diablo Vineyard Chardonnay delivers single-vineyard character with finesse—layered, textural, and elegantly savory. The balance of piña colada richness and citrus freshness speaks to both the vintage’s warmth and the vineyard’s refined site expression. A showcase Chardonnay that exemplifies the Sonoma Russian River Valley’s renowned versatility and depth. Cheers! — a month ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.0

The 2022 vintage brings a lusher, more fruit-forward take on this consistently excellent Napa Cab. Dense aromas of dark cherry, plum, and cocoa lead into a generous palate of blackberry, dark chocolate, and well-integrated toasty oak.

Silky tannins and a long, lingering finish give it both immediate appeal and aging potential. Fuller, creamier, and more open-knit than the 2021, this is a cork-and-pour Cabernet, no decanting needed. Rich, polished, and ready to impress now. Cheers! — 4 months ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.0

A highly aromatic Pinot Noir, dark cherry-driven, fruity and fresh. It’s in the jammy side when opened, but give it some time to breath (an hour) and it will show its amazing flavors of cinnamon and red fruits with an uplifting and refreshing acidity. It can age well, but the 2023 vintage is ready to go. Loved the finish! — 8 months ago

Alan Cooke

9.1

Awesome Pic at Central Market Dallas! — 2 months ago

Alan Hyde

9.0

Nicely balanced oak — 3 months ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.2

Crafted from premier vineyard sites in Russian River Valley, this 100% Pinot Noir captures the hallmark vibrancy of the region. Fermented in stainless steel and aged in French oak, the wine is beautifully balanced, offering layers of blackberry, raspberry, and subtle toasty oak.

Medium-plus in body with moderate tannins, the mouthfeel is smooth, polished, and appetizing from start to finish. It’s drinking beautifully now, but has the structure to evolve gracefully over the next 5–7 years. A confident, fruit-forward Pinot with elegance and aging potential. Cheers! — 4 months ago

Kenneth

9.2

Deep ruby, 14.5% , bold, strong tannic, intense structure, black fruit, , not jammy, oak, tobacco, leather, vanilla, long finish, very good wine, bought $55 — 8 months ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.0

Olema Pinot Noir 2022
Sonoma County, California 🇺🇸

Overview
100% Pinot Noir sourced across premier Sonoma sub-appellations. Olema is part of Amici Cellars, known for delivering high quality at everyday approachable price points. Sonoma Pinot Noir often leans toward lush fruit with a soft structure compared to the more restrained Burgundian style.

Aromas & Flavors
Juicy red fruits dominate—ripe cherry, raspberry, and pomegranate—layered with subtle spice, clove, and a touch of cola. There’s a delicate hint of rose petals and forest floor rounding out the aromatic profile.

Mouthfeel
Silky and medium-bodied with fine tannins, bright acidity, and a smooth, fruit-forward finish. Very approachable and polished, made to be enjoyed young.

Winemaking Notes
Fermented in stainless steel and aged in French oak (a small percentage new) to preserve freshness while adding just a hint of structure and spice.

Food Pairing
Perfect alongside roasted chicken, mushroom risotto, seared salmon, or even charcuterie. Its freshness makes it versatile with both lighter and savory dishes.

Verdict
A crowd-pleasing Sonoma Pinot Noir—ripe, polished, and balanced. It offers exceptional value for its region, delivering elegance and approachability in one glass. — a month ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.4

A standout vintage that reflects both elegance and power, the 2022 Reserve Cab is a masterfully detailed expression of Napa Valley. On the nose, it’s rich and complex, black cherry, blueberry, spearmint, cocoa, and coffee swirl with subtle notes of violet, vanilla, and cassis.

The palate follows with ripe blackberry, dark chocolate, baking spice, and refined toasty oak. Full-bodied and multi-layered, it delivers great acidity, polished tannins, and impressive age-worthiness, easily 15+ years. Crafted under the expert hand of Tony Biaggi, this wine is a bold yet graceful benchmark for modern Napa Cabernet. Simply lovely! — 4 months ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.6

I have made other reviews of the v.2020, but this 2018 vintage is something special, a true winemaker’s year marked by patience, balance, and reward. With a cool, even growing season and no major heat spikes, the fruit from Flora Marie Vineyard was picked at ideal ripeness, and it shows in every sip.

This Chardonnay is a masterclass in restraint and purity, offering a mineral-driven core laced with delicate salinity and soft white florals on the nose.

The palate is layered and evolving—baked pineapple, citrus zest, and yellow pear glide across a silky medium-to-full-bodied frame, all carried by a sense of poise and structure. The finish is long, clean, and quietly complex, never overreaching but deeply memorable.

Grafted from Montrachet clones (within Côte d’Or, specifically Côte de Beaune) onto the ridgelines of Russian River Valley, this bottling is a rare harmony of Burgundian heritage and Sonoma expression. If you find a bottle, don’t hesitate. It’s a wine that speaks for itself far beyond what words can express. Cheers! — 5 months ago