Freddy R. Troya

9.4

Moraga Estate – Sauvignon Blanc – Vintage 2005
Bel Air, Los Angeles, California, USA 🇺🇸

Overview
A rare gem from the limestone-studded canyons of Bel Air, this 100% Sauvignon Blanc continues to shine in 2025. Two decades in the bottle and it still delivers poise, energy, and a layered expression that challenges assumptions about the longevity of this varietal.

Aromas & Flavors
Opening with lifted citrus zest, preserved lemon, and green apple skin, it deepens into honeycomb, dried herbs, land gentle nuttiness. Secondary notes of chamomile and a faint saline edge complete the picture.

Mouthfeel
Bright yet rounded, linear acidity still carries the wine, while age has smoothed the edges into a harmonious, almost waxy texture. The finish is long, mineral, and quietly elegant.

Food Pairings
Perfect with grilled halibut, herb-roasted chicken, or even aged goat cheese. A wine this mature also deserves space on its own, meditative sipping recommended.

Verdict
Impressive endurance and balance. This is a testament to site, winemaking, and patience. Moraga once again proves itself as a hidden enclave of age-worthy Sauvignon Blanc.

Did You Know?
Moraga is one of the few vineyards within Los Angeles city limits, producing wines since the 1980s from a terroir influenced by both limestone soils and cooling Pacific breezes.

🍷 Personal Pick Highlight
This bottle reconfirms my awe for Moraga whites, Sauvignon Blanc with two decades under its belt, still lively, still complete. A benchmark in my experience of California whites. — 13 days ago

Shay A

9.5

One of the bottles I provided for a co-hosting with Mark at the City Club wine group. Poured alongside Mark’s 2012 Oakville Winegrowers mag.

En mag. I was curious to see how this showed upon opening, and it unsurprisingly needed a quick decant to blow off some funk. As a blind pour, it’s tough to get to Mourvèdre heavy in profile, but it absolutely is what makes older CdP so magical. Beautiful faint ruby in the glass. A bit leathery and maybe even a small hint of brett, but then it evolved to show potpourri, spiced red and black fruits and garrique. In the glass, the expected savory notes come out with smoked meat, gaminess, black pepper baked-rhubarb, little bit of truffle. Elegant. Good acidity. Delicious finish! — 3 years ago

Michael Herzog

9.0

This was a monster truck Pinot for sure. Not to be paired lightly with food and not to be mistaken for a Burgundy. This has extraction, alcohol, and tons of flavor. Different but fun. — 5 years ago

Frederic Lebourg

9.3

Impressive Rhône style Syrah for the price. Could pass for a good Cote Rôtie. Great nose of cigar , red fruit. — 5 months ago

"Odedi"

9.1

Sitting for lunch in the heart of the city of Bolgheri, at a great restaurant, I had to try something I never had before. This entry level Bordeaux blend was a nice surprise.

Purple in color with a purplish rim.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with nice complexity.

Showing blueberries, plums, black currants, cherries, light oak, spices, light earth, herbs, tobacco leaf, dark chocolates, licorice and a touch of vanilla.

Tangy finish with round tannins and tangy raspberries.

This young Bordeaux blend from Tuscany is already drinking nicely, even right out of the bottle. Spicy and rich.

Opulent with lots of fruits, but also some earth notes to compliment the fruits.

Tannins show up after 30 minutes of airtime. A great nose shows itself after 90 minutes in the decanter. Much better once it opens up, so be patient.

Will continue to age nicely in the next 5 to 10 years.

Good by itself as a sipping wine, or with food. Tangy, spicy and entertaining. I paired it with beef stew.

A blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot and 15% Petit Verdot. Aged in oak barrels for 14 months.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$30. — 2 years ago

Mandi Speidel

City Territory Chicago, Maverick Wine Company

10

Gardner Dunn full of fun Back in Chicago for the first time since Feb 2020… Yikes! The Windy City sure missed you. Kicked it off with a little Nobu Sake to Me, Sushi & Sunshine Laughs. — 4 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

In the heart of the Chianti lies Estate of Sette Ponti, 15 miles northwest of the city of Arezzo, past village of San Giustino Valdarno. Has 10% Merlot, aged in French Allier barriques, deep Ruby with red fruit aromas and floral notes. On the palate blackberry, plum and cherry flavors with blossom notes, spice and fine integrated tannins. Good balance, long finish ending with some oak and mineral tones. Nice! Will age a bit! Tasting well now! — 10 months ago

Tim Crakes

9.1

The heat from the vintage has bowed out of the fight, giving way to the vibrancy and horsepower of fruit these vineyards are known for. I tasted David Abreu’s 2009 Madrona Ranch at Vinous’ Napa in the City two years ago and am being reminded once again how magical of a vineyard site Madrona and Thorevilos are. — 2 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

Last ‘17 in cellar! In the heart of the Chianti lies Estate of Sette Ponti, 15 miles northwest of the city of Arezzo, past village of San Giustino Valdarno. Has 10% Merlot, aged in French Allier barriques, deep Ruby with red fruit aromas and floral notes. On the palate blackberry, plum and cherry flavors with blossom notes, spice and fine integrated tannins. Good balance, long finish ending with some oak and mineral tones. Nice! Will age a bit more! Tasting well now! — 4 years ago

MaJ CappS

8.9

Classic Pinot from this region, Smokey, blackberry bramble, citrus acid city.
Oddly, it hits all of the things I want from this region very well. Central Otago is the closest to Tasmania, in my Pinot Noir likings. — 5 years ago