Freddy R. Troya

9.3

Chapellet Mountain Cuvée Proprietor’s Blend 2023
Pritchard Hill, Napa Valley, California – USA 🇺🇸

Overview
A vibrant Bordeaux-style blend from Chapellet, a pioneering family-owned estate high on Pritchard Hill since 1967. Known for its rocky, elevated vineyards and bold mountain-grown fruit, Chapellet crafts this approachable yet terroir-rich blend for both immediate enjoyment and graceful aging.

Blend Composition
• 51% Cabernet Sauvignon
• 24% Merlot
• 10% Petit Verdot
• 8% Malbec
• 7% Cabernet Franc 

Aromas & Flavors
Effusively aromatic with dark cherries, blackberries, and plums, framed by spicy oak notes of clove, cardamom, cedar, plus touches of black pepper and savory herbs. The palate mirrors this with plush ripe berry layers, framed by fine-grained tannins, and finishes with lingering dark chocolate and anise.  

Mouthfeel
Medium to full-bodied with a luxuriously textured core. The fine-grained tannins wrap the fruit beautifully, balanced by inherent freshness—creating a long, silky, and satisfying finish.  

Winemaking Notes
Crafted under the guidance of Winemaker Phillip Corallo-Titus, the 2023 vintage benefitted from a cool growing season and carefully managed canopy work to preserve freshness and reduce yields. Fermented and aged to deliver immediate appeal without compromising structure. 

Food Pairing
A versatile pairing wine—ideal with grilled ribeye, slow-braised short ribs, or herbed lamb chops. It also complements rich pasta sauces and grilled mushrooms—luxurious yet approachable.

Verdict
Mountain Cuvée 2023 is a powerful yet elegant Napa blend, showcasing depth, freshness, and mountain intensity. It’s a beautifully balanced wine that offers a compelling mix of immediate pleasure and layered complexity. A benchmark for mountain-grown Bordeaux blends. — 10 months ago

MICHAEL COOPER DipWSET

Owner TomeVinos wine shops, WSET Level 3, Blogger www.spanishwinesandmore.com, blog.tomevinos.com

9.2

The new Viñedo Singular geographical indication designates wines from particular vineyards or estates and is directly linked to the terroir, which it aims to identify and valorise on the label, tied to the quality requirement that they be excellent wines. Requirements
1. Grapes coming exclusively from a plot or plots that constitute the Viñedo Singular.
2. Vinification, ageing, storage and bottling within the same winery.
3. Minor geographical unit that can comprise a single or several cadastral plots.
4. Minimum age of the vineyard:
5. Evidence, by means of any legally valid title, of having had the exclusive use of the production of the viñedo singular for a minimum period of 10 years without interruption.
6. Maximum production: 5,000 kg/ha for red varieties and 6,922 kg/ha for white varieties.
7. Maximum grape-to-wine ratio: 65%.
8. Specific Grape Grower’s Card.
Growing practices
1. The viñedo singular must be balanced and have limited vigour. During the grape ripening stage, canopy growth should cease completely.
2. Only a single tipping is permitted.
3. Harvested manually. — 5 years ago

Michael Moy

9.3

Per- thanksgiving Chinese dinner with ally, Brian and Catherine — 7 years ago

UGAWineDawg

9.6

Man o man did this wine bring it. Dark inky color with a nose that told me spring is right around the corner, I could see the fruit clearly hanging under the canopy - flavors of dark fruits, touch of graphite and South Georgia fat blackberries. That dude Austin Peterson waved the wand on this one and created one fine Syrah - my go-to for date night with the smoking hot wifey. — 8 years ago

Håkan Eriksson

9.5

New vintage 2015. This will outshine previous vintage 2009, hands down. Magnificent today, in 5 years.. ?? — 9 years ago

with Sahin

dave komatsu

9.1

Light and fruity. Grapes grow under a canopy making it sweeter — 9 years ago

Gary Westby

Champagne & Sherry buyer K&L Wines

9.1

Ripe and sweet-fruited, buy finishes dry and long. Ideal with Fred steak, and the redwood canopy! #steakandclaretnight — 9 years ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.0

El Esteco – Torrontés “Blend de Extremos” 2023
Valles Calchaquíes, Salta – Argentina 🇦🇷

Overview
This blend of Torrontés sourced from Chañar Punco and Cafayate, part of El Esteco’s “Blend de Extremos” program, captures the union of two high-altitude sites. The 2023 vintage leans elegant, with expressive aromatics balanced by fresh structure.

Aromas & Flavors
Fragrant rose petals and orange peel open this wine, followed by tropical fruit, citrus blossom, and delicate white peach notes. The bouquet is floral and lively but with a softer intensity compared to more exuberant vintages.

Mouthfeel
Light-to-medium body with crisp acidity that gives tension. The texture is graceful and gentle, with a clean, refreshing finish that keeps the aromatic notes lingering.

Food Pairings
Great with ceviche, grilled shrimp, empanadas, or light salads with citrus dressing. Also a delightful stand-alone sipper to enjoy before dinner.

Verdict
A beautifully restrained Torrontés that shows finesse over power. If 2024 delivered aromatic fireworks, this 2023 is more of a polished, elegant whisper in the same language. Cheers!

Did You Know?
Torrontés is Argentina’s signature white grape, and in Salta’s high-altitude vineyards it often thrives—especially in vintages that balance sunshine with cool nights. Its aromatic intensity is very sensitive to vintage variation and canopy exposure.

🍷 Personal Pick Highlight
While I preferred 2024 for its vibrancy, this 2023 version still holds charm and delicacy — a refined expression of Salta’s heights. I’d lean this into my top white-flight list for Argentine wines. — 2 years ago

Ceccherini Cristiano

9.4

Celebrating my brother and my nephews over
Drank it at 1300m under the canopy of a (supposedly) 600yo beech tree decorating a large picnic
Fun wine for a fun day — 4 years ago

heather mccloy

9.4

what a chardonnay should be. balanced acidity and oak, lemon curd, unbuttered popcorn, granny smith apple, white flowers like a blossoming tree canopy you can’t put your finger on but ******* smells like spring 😊 — 6 years ago

Jeffro Beaudeen

9.4

At 17 years old the wine still has fabulous fruit and decent acidity though drinking more like a Declassified auslese as opposed to its spaetlese designation. I had some peak of the season fresh corn so cook that she heard it from its cob play stood on a wonton wrapper with a teaspoon of flagra moves on top and after cooking made a little brown butter sauce and the wine was a delicious pairing for that as well as the fresh salad from our garden, heirloom tomatoes fresh basil fresh arugula still growing underneath the canopy of the other veggies and some balsamic vinaigrette yummo! — 7 years ago

David Kline

9.5

Dense red currant is ‘wrassled’ down by fennel aromas, mint and black cherry with strawberry and blackberry hidden beneath its thick canopy of fern and forrest; including moss and mushroom. Actually amazing! Not going to ever guess that this herbaceous monster with rim to rim colt density is an 11 yr old Calistoga! Meaty notes of grill and marinated fungi. Celeriac root, fennel and licorice notes define this angel with a minty coolness persisting! Blackberry and black cherry emerge in the finale to shine like young wine despite the years!#Larkmead #2007cab #Calistoga #Napa #napacab — 8 years ago

with Courtney

Katherine Bordelon

Court of Master Sommelier Guild member

9.1

The canopy system used in the Rias Baxias region of northwest Spain provides for ample aeration and keeps the vines protected from the moist ground which breeds an environment not conducive to support healthy clusters. The Galician climate receives moisture from the Atlantic and is mostly sticky, warm and rainy with rain ☔️ most days during the year. Winters are a bit harsh and cold. The humid, salt air is what this viticultural environment is all about. The mostly white wines made here are highly acidic, with notes of tart, green apple 🍏 and white flowers. Most wines are aged in stainless steel and some see new, French oak for a few months. Then they are aged in the bottle. You can cellar them for up to 5-6 years. The Albariño grape is the most expensive and most difficult to produce in all of Spain. — 9 years ago

with Edmond

Steve Mohebi

9.2

CANOPY Jackson Square — 4 years ago

dave

9.0

Brilliant, delicate for a garnacha. — 4 years ago

Cathy Corison

Owner/Winemaker Corison Winery

8.9

Very HOT vintage. Careful canopy management, no leaf removal. Some raisins. Very mature. Tannins have resolved. — 4 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

The right order with our Porterhouses. Still has the Margaux elegance presence but, lacks the quality of fruit & characteristics of the 06 Rauzan-Segla.

Not the best vintage I’ve had from Lascombes. Interesting as this was a warm vintage. All my previous 2003’s have shown bright, ripe fruit. The fruits were dull & lacked freshness which, is very different than the other 03’s I’ve had to this point. I don’t know if the staff trimmed too much canopy and the fruit got too much heat and UV light, therefore losing freshness along with a lack of water during the season.

This will still drink well for another 5-8 years before it declines. Our Porterhouses helped contribute to a better experience masking some of its shortcomings.

The wine showed dull, dark fruit with more earthiness than expected given its evolution from its bottle age. Dry soil & clay, stones, dry forest floor, dry tobacco, used leather and withering & dark flowers. The acidity was pleasant but not up to par. The finish lacked Margaux beauty but, it did pop up here and there. Just no consistency. The fruit was flat and lots of dry earth on the long set. Not bad just no up to what I expect from Lascombes and the vintage.

Photos of; Chateau Lascombes, concrete tank cellar, barrel room with some unique lighting for a Bordeaux producer and their tasting salon. — 6 years ago

Colin McCartney

9.3

A beautiful nose on this with dark fruits and pencil lead surrounded by a menthol and wintergreen canopy....the palate continues with menthol and graphite in a wash of blackberries, currants, and a white peppered spice...tannic support creeps up at the end and keeps the deliciousness hanging around awhile.... — 8 years ago

Katie Canfield

9.1

The whole Pinotage family: Pinot Noir, Cinsault, and Pinotage. With proper canopy management and a cooler micro-climate, Pinotage can be full of ripe, red juicy fruit and chocolate - minus the less appealing burnt rubber notes sometimes associated with the variety. Excellent value. — 9 years ago

with mattswineworld

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

On the nose, sweet, floral, dark cherries, touch of plum, black raspberries, raspberries, red licorice/cola, lovely funk, canopy leaf, perfumed red florals and fine, sexy, chalky minerality. The mouthfeel is beautifully crisp...medium body. The fruits are bright and tantalizing. Strawberries, dark cherries with Rainer cherries blended in, cranberries, pomegranate, plum, black raspberry, raspberries, soft, super fine powdery chalkiness, crushed dry rock powder, light beautiful spice, red florals with a touch of violets, perfect acidity and a well balanced, polished finish. Photos of, the property entrance, Chevrey Chambertin vineyard and Arnaud. History and producer notes...Domaine Denis Mortet was founded by Denis Mortet in the early 1990s. Strangely, he took his own life at the age of 51 in 2006. He started with modest holdings to become a very well respected Winemaker in Burgundy with his 1993 wines. His son Arnaud has now taken over. The estate vines are relatively young at 25 years. The Domaine's 10 hectares encompass 14 different Appellations, including two Grands Crus in Clos-de-Vougeot and Chambertin. All their wines including their village wines see new oak. This wine is a blend of all their Chambertin holdings and fermented in around 30% new oak. — 9 years ago