Freddy R. Troya

9.0

Domaine Gabrielle Vivien – Saint-Bris AOC 2023
100% Sauvignon Blanc – Burgundy, France 🇫🇷

Overview
One of Burgundy’s best-kept secrets. Saint-Bris is the region’s only appellation dedicated to Sauvignon Blanc. Sourced from 25-year-old vines planted on Kimmeridgian limestone soils just west of Chablis, this wine delivers remarkable precision, minerality, and freshness while offering a distinctly Burgundian interpretation of the variety.

Aromas & Flavors
Vibrant aromas of lime zest, grapefruit, white flowers, and freshly cut herbs open the nose. The palate is crisp and energetic, revealing citrus, green apple, subtle gooseberry, and distinctive wet stone minerality that builds beautifully toward a long, savory finish.

Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied with lively acidity and remarkable tension. The texture is sleek and elegant, balancing freshness with a persistent mineral backbone that keeps every sip engaging.

Food Pairings
Outstanding with grilled mahi-mahi, oysters, ceviche, goat cheese, sushi, or herb-roasted chicken.

Verdict
A fascinating expression of Sauvignon Blanc that combines the grape’s aromatic character with Burgundy’s unmistakable sense of place. Elegant, mineral-driven, and wonderfully food-friendly.

Did You Know?
Saint-Bris is the only appellation in Burgundy where Sauvignon Blanc is the authorized flagship grape, making it a unique exception in a region otherwise dominated by Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

🍷 Personal Pick
One of my favorite Sauvignon Blancs. I love how it expresses the grape from soils traditionally devoted to Chardonnay, proving that Burgundy can still surprise me. The 2023 continues that beautiful tradition with freshness, elegance, and unmistakable character. — 13 days ago

Riccardo L.

9.2

Had this one 5 years ago and it is better than I remember it. What a fantastic wine and vintage. Thought it was a high end Barolo when I tried it blind. But somehow a little more delicate and refined. — a year ago

Mark Stephany

9.2

Needs food and air — 2 years ago

Roberto Carli

9.2

Got it for a steal. Classic expression, held up its age wonderfully, light body and fully evolved tannins — 3 years ago

Peter Zandbergen

9.3

Such a wonderful wine! Could rival various CdPs and remains elegant in its expression. Great QPR — 4 years ago

with Elise

Anthony Pro

9.2

Fantastic.

Especially after 18 holes of golf.

For the price point and quality, hard to beat. — 5 years ago

Byron Hewett

9.1

Fully mature. Earthy. Harmonious. Easy to drink. Nice expression of Mourvèdre. — 7 years ago

ESF

9.1

last had this JUL 23 and it's still fantastic - just staying tasty w/more years ahead — 4 months ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.4

Château Pavie Macquin 2023 – Saint-Émilion Grand Cru, Premier Grand Cru Classé. BDX France 🇫🇷

Overview
A refined and confidently composed Saint-Émilion driven by a 78% Merlot-dominant blend with 20% Cabernet Franc and 2% Cabernet Sauvignon support, showcasing noble structure, polished fruit, and effortless balance. The wine emphasizes finesse, reliability, and clarity rather than sheer power, delivering a harmonious expression that feels immediately approachable while retaining long-term pedigree.

Aromas & Flavors
Black cherry, blackberry, red plum, crushed limestone, violet petal, subtle graphite, cocoa powder, gentle spice and fresh herbal nuance.

Mouthfeel
Medium-plus body with a supple, graceful entry, finely woven tannins, beautifully integrated acidity, excellent mid-palate harmony, and a long, elegant finish that glides with precision and calm authority.

Food Pairings
Roast chicken with herbs, duck confit, filet mignon, mushroom risotto, aged Comté, grilled vegetables with olive oil and thyme.

Verdict
A beautifully proportioned Right Bank wine emphasizing elegance, consistency, and structural purity. It delivers high-level craftsmanship without excess drama, a wine that earns trust and admiration through balance and restraint.

🍷 Personal Pick
This feels like a wine you can always count on, noble, polished, quietly confident, and endlessly drinkable. Tons of finesse without any rough edges, making it both comforting and impressive at the same time. The kind of bottle that never disappoints. — 6 months ago

R Bl

8.9

Gooseberry, grapefruit but also some stone fruit - assertive flavor makes an interesting flavor but challenging food pairing — 2 years ago

Jay Kline

9.4

Saint Cosme is famous for its estate vineyards in Gigondas but they are also a highly regarded negociant with long standing relationships throughout the Rhone, giving them access to fruit from some highly regarded lieu-dits. Their Cote Rotie is no exception and this was a killer expression of 2014, if you’re into that sort of thing like I am. This bottle was provided from my cellar and was purchased upon release. Opened and splash decanted just before service. No formal notes and holy whole cluster Batman! This was straight up bussin, with rotundone for dayz! A black pepper and olive bomb with all of the garrigue and purple flowers your heart could ask for and some blood and bacon for good measure. The tannins are well integrated and the fruit is just really well balanced with the structure at this point. The finish was long with a dance of fruit and earth on the palate that was hugely satisfying. Some might be turned off by the sanguine, feral funkiness this wine possesses but for me, it’s hugely charming. Drink now or over the next 5-10 years with ease. Would be great with a meal or on its own (as it was tonight). — 3 years ago

Barry Ballan

8.9

Buttery and crisp at the same time — 5 years ago

with Shelli

Luis Arguero (@winefromAtoZ)

9.0

Domaine La Croix Saint-Laurent Sancerre 2019: Bright. Crisp. Balanced. Clean. Beautiful aromas with great citrus & melon flavors. A wonderful, refreshing expression of Sauvignon Blanc. Cheers🍷 — 6 years ago

Gregory Fulchiero

9.2

Pure in its expression, spicy and stewed blue and black fruit dominate, while spice and damp clay earth jump from the glass — 7 years ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.4

Château Léoville Barton 2023 – Saint-Julien, Grand Cru Classé en 1855, BDX France 🇫🇷

Overview
A classic Saint-Julien expression showing clarity, harmony, and structural polish, driven by a 77% Cabernet Sauvignon–led blend with 20% Merlot Merlot, and 3% Cabernet Franc as a support. The wine balances ripe fruit concentration with restraint, delivering precision, finesse, and a seamless flow from attack through finish.

Aromas & Flavors
Blackcurrant, ripe blackberry, red plum, cassis, graphite, cedar, subtle baking spice, crushed stone, light tobacco and gentle floral lift.

Mouthfeel
Medium-plus body with finely woven tannins, excellent balance, fresh integrated acidity, supple texture, and a long, graceful finish that feels effortless rather than forceful.

Food Pairings
Herb-crusted lamb, roasted duck breast, grilled filet mignon, mushroom risotto, aged Comté or Gruyère.

Verdict
An elegant, dependable Saint-Julien that delivers purity, structure, and drinking pleasure without excess. Refined, polished, and quietly authoritative, a wine that rewards both immediate enjoyment and patient cellaring.

🍷 Personal Pick
This is the kind of wine that wins through composure and precision rather than horsepower. Easy to enjoy today, yet layered enough to keep you leaning back into the glass. Subtle sophistication done right. — 6 months ago

Jay Kline

9.4

Double-decanted earlier in the day; enjoyed over the course of a few hours. The 1995 pours a perfect garnet color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of ripe cassis, black cherry, mixed flowers, tobacco, earth, menthol and baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium, integrated tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. Classy. This is an elegant expression of Bordeaux and showed so well tonight. Thanks Andy! Drink now through 2040. — a year ago

B A

9.3

Best expression of Syrah I’ve had in some time. 2021 was a hell of a Rhône year — 3 years ago

Greg Lubushkin

9.5

Outstanding expression of Hermitage. Full bodied Syrah but less of the hammer that I’m used to with many of the CA versions. — 4 years ago

Steve Sánchez

9.6

Fantastic buy. Aromas of grass, green veggies abound: asparagus, and green bell pepper. Hints of lime, salt, and lemon. Very rounded balance between just the right amount of acidity and citrus on the palate. Great minerality. Almost golden in color. 13% — 5 years ago

Peter van den Besselaar

9.1

Vintage 1999 | deep colour 3/4 transparant with brown rim, earthy smell with dried forrest leaves, red cherries and a light truffle expression. Silky taste, no need to keep this wine that is á Point now. Lovely that the wine delivers. Paired with a shitake chestnut mushrooms toast, venison beef and a salad. — 5 years ago