Freddy R. Troya

9.1

Curran – Grenache Blanc – 2022
Santa Barbara County AVA – California – USA 🇺🇸

Overview
100% Grenache Blanc from Santa Barbara County, crafted in a fresh, aromatic style that highlights the grape’s natural brightness and coastal influence. A clean, precise expression leaning toward elegance over weight.

Aromas & Flavors
Aromatic and lively with notes of citrus, green pear, white peach, and subtle floral tones. A faint herbal edge and mineral touch add complexity without overpowering the fruit.

Mouthfeel
Crisp and refreshing with uplifting acidity. Light to medium body, dry, and clean with a snappy, mouthwatering finish that keeps things vibrant and focused.

Food Pairings
Perfect with Thai-infused dishes, crudo, ceviche, sushi, or fresh seafood. Also excellent with light salads and citrus-driven plates.

Verdict
A lovely Grenache Blanc, bright, aromatic, and effortlessly drinkable. Crisp, dry, and refreshing, with just enough character to keep it interesting. A natural fit for fresh, vibrant cuisine.

Did You Know?
Grenache Blanc is traditionally a Rhône varietal, but in coastal California, especially Santa Barbara, it takes on a fresher, more acid-driven personality thanks to the cooling ocean influence.

🍷 Personal Pick
A go-to for clean, zesty whites, especially when the menu leans citrusy, spicy, or raw. — 4 months ago

Doggfather

9.1

Perfect with grilled or stewed meats. — 3 years ago

Doggfather

9.2

Shocked to see a Cab from Curran. But they did pretty well for themselves. — 5 years ago

Rich Friedland

9.0

I wouldn’t age past 10 years. Still smooth and drinking well but lost some of its structure. — 8 years ago

Rafael Solorio

9.5

2013 D'Alfonso-Curran Chardonnay Barrel Fermented

-Aged 31 months in oak (New French Oak)

*****

Didn't agree with any tasting notes. Thought this one had a lot of sharp, tart fruits. Lemon, green apple.. etc. Love this Chardonnay. — 8 years ago

John Howard

Harvest production at Hirsch and Cobb Wineries

9.0

Peach, ruby red grapefruit, lime zest, chalk, parrafin, rose nose. Very nice for a domestic rose'. — 9 years ago

Chris Hogan

9.1

Flinty and lemony. — 9 years ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.0

D’Alfonso-Curran – Gewürztraminer – 2022
Monterey County, California, USA 🇺🇸

Overview
100% Gewürztraminer from Monterey County, crafted to showcase the grape’s exotic aromatics with a West Coast lift of acidity.

Aromas & Flavors
Layers of lychee, white peach, and orange blossom are accented by hints of ginger, cardamom, and rose petal. The spice is subtle yet distinctive, balancing the floral exuberance.

Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied and lively, with firm acidity that reins in the grape’s natural opulence. The finish is fresh, lightly spiced, and lingering.

Food Pairings
Ideal with aromatic cuisine like Thai curries, Vietnamese spring rolls, or Moroccan chicken tagine. Also a natural partner for aged Gouda or soft, washed-rind cheeses.

Verdict
A beautifully expressive Gewürztraminer that balances exotic aromatics with freshness, a fine example of how this Alsatian grape thrives in California’s cool-climate Monterey region.

Did You Know?
Gewürztraminer is notoriously tricky in the vineyard: early budding, prone to frost damage, and often low yielding. But when grown in cool sites like Monterey, it develops intense aromatics while keeping that crucial spine of acidity. — 10 months ago

Michael Chelus

9.2

Cherry, raspberry, eucalyptus, vanilla, curran, plum and oak. Full-bodied and soft tannins. — 2 years ago

Doggfather

9.7

Beyond imagination — 4 years ago

Emily Anderson

9.2

Loved this! Light, dry and mineraly. — 5 years ago

Jim McCusker

9.3

Very impressive pinot from the Central Coast. Not sure if Kris Curran was still making the wine at Sea Smoke through the 2009 vintage...but I’m guessing yes. Some nice secondary aromatics, the wine is probably on the other side of its peak. Still well balanced, with nice evolution on the palate, the wine is a great example of a Central Coast pinot with a little age on it. I doubt this one is going to improve with more time in the bottle, so I’d suggest opening this up sooner rather than later. Excellent wine. — 8 years ago

with Vanessa

Doggfather

9.0

A white wine for guys who don’t like white wine. Great with homemade sushi and poke — 9 years ago

Augusto Caudillo

9.4

96 point local Chardonnay — 9 years ago

with keith

Freddy R. Troya

9.0

D’Alfonso-Curran – Chardonnay / 2024
Santa Barbara County, California 🇺🇸

Overview
A limited-production (only 400 cases) stainless-steel Chardonnay that strips away oak to showcase the pure, unadorned character of the grape in Santa Barbara’s cool-climate terroir.

Aromas & Flavors
Bright citrus zest, green apple, and crisp pear with undertones of wet stone and a faint saline edge. The absence of oak allows the fruit to take center stage, framed by mineral precision.

Mouthfeel
Lean, steely, and razor-sharp in structure, medium-bodied with lively acidity and a refreshing, clean finish. Pure varietal expression at its finest.

Food Pairings
Perfect with oysters on the half shell, ceviche, sushi, goat cheese salad, or simply grilled halibut. A wine that elevates fresh and delicate dishes.

Verdict
An elegant, stainless-steel Chardonnay that proves restraint can be thrilling. Crisp, mineral-driven, and a true reflection of Santa Barbara County Chardonnay.

Did You Know?
Stainless steel fermentation preserves primary fruit and natural acidity, unlike oak, which imparts creaminess and spice. This style, popular in Chablis and coastal regions, is gaining traction in California for its ability to highlight terroir. — 10 months ago

Kristina Clifford

10

Loved this one. Smooth, light, dynamic. Bought from the winery at the “Old Place”. — 3 years ago

Ashley B

9.1

Mike likes this one — 5 years ago

Meg Favreau

9.0

Plum, cherry. Tastes similar to a D’Alfonso-Curran red for a fraction of the price. — 5 years ago

with Evan

Jim McCusker

9.5

Absolutely fantastic. This is a great example of a white wine that needs a few years in the cellar before it really sings. Easily compares with the grenache blancs of Kris Curran, who is the other great producer of this varietal in California. And given the price point of Anthony Yount’s wines - no better quality/price ratio anywhere for a rhone-esque white. Run - don’t walk - to his website (Kinero Cellars). Fantastic. — 8 years ago

with Vanessa

Kurt Krueger

9.1

Nice cinnamon apple flavor — 9 years ago