Freddy R. Troya

9.1

Gérard Bertrand – Orange Gold – 2023
Vin de France – France 🇫🇷

Overview
A thoughtfully crafted orange wine made from a blend of 40% Chardonnay, 30% Grenache Blanc, 15% Viognier, 10% Muscat, and 5% Gewürztraminer. This is a cerebral, texture-driven expression that leans into aromatic intensity and phenolic structure rather than immediate approachability.

Aromas & Flavors
Honeysuckle, ripe peach, and orange peel lead the profile, followed by roasted almonds and subtle spice. A gentle grapefruit-like bitterness adds lift, while floral and exotic notes from Muscat and Gewürztraminer bring complexity.

Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied with a distinctive textured grip. Light tannic astringency from skin contact gives structure, balanced by fresh acidity. The interplay between softness and phenolic tension keeps the palate engaged throughout.

Food Pairings
Glass noodles with vegetables and shrimp, Mediterranean dishes, roasted poultry, spiced cuisine, or dishes with umami depth. A strong performer at the table.

Verdict
A fascinating and layered orange wine that rewards attention. This wine can be an acquired taste when enjoyed on its own, but truly shines when paired with food. A true “thinking wine.”

Did You Know?
Orange wines are made by fermenting white grapes with their skins, similar to red wine production, extracting tannins, color, and structure rarely found in traditional white wines.

🍷 Personal Pick
A wine that keeps your brain really busy, in the best way. Pair it with food and it absolutely shines. — 24 days ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.8

Armand de Brignac “Gold” Brut – NV
Champagne, France 🇫🇷

Overview
A prestige multi-vintage Champagne, composed of three distinct vintages sourced exclusively from estate-owned Grand Cru and Premier Cru parcels in Rilly-la-Montagne, Chigny-les-Roses, and Ludes. Blend composition; 40% Chardonnay, 40% Pinot Noir, 20% Pinot Meunier.

Handcrafted in small batches, this cuvée exemplifies depth, polish, and harmony, a benchmark luxury Champagne that delivers substance beyond the spectacle. Dosage is kept discreet, allowing purity, texture, and natural vinosity to shine.

Aromas & Flavors
Golden apple, ripe pear, and baked quince lead the nose, followed by brioche, toasted hazelnut, almond cream, and hints of citrus oil. Subtle honeyed notes and chalky minerality add impressive aromatic layering.

Mouthfeel
Silky yet energetic. The mousse is fine and persistent, framing a palate that is both rich and precise. Chardonnay provides lift and elegance, Pinot Noir adds structure and depth, while Pinot Meunier rounds the mid-palate. Long, polished finish, lingering but never heavy or fatiguing.

Food Pairings
Caviar, lobster with beurre blanc, sashimi, truffled poultry, aged Comté, or simply on its own as a statement aperitif.

Verdict
A spectacular Champagne that justifies its prestige. Complex, impeccably balanced, and deeply satisfying, the Gold Brut delivers true luxury through craftsmanship and terroir, not excess.

Did You Know?
Armand de Brignac is produced by the Cattier family, whose Champagne lineage dates back to 1763. Unlike many prestige cuvées, the Gold Brut is crafted from 100% estate fruit, with each bottle riddled, disgorged, and finished by hand , a rarity at this scale.

🍷 Personal Pick Highlight
One of the most delicious Champagnes tasted recently, memorable and worth the investment. — 5 months ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.5

Medium lemon , hints of gold , quite a healthy colour with fine pretty persistent bubbles still . This quite intense with candied lemon peel , brioche , oyster shells , touch of porcini . On the palate this is intense ,with good volume and vibrant acidity. Buttered brioche , oyster shell , candied orange and lemon peel . Really quite lovely and intense , long and toasted brioche , chalky finish . This is at peak now , but no rush from here over the next 5 perhaps 10 years . — 6 months ago

Peter M. Heidt

9.6

…now this is some inky grape goodness in a bottle. Tastes like a Lynch Bages combined with a $300 Napa Cab…. Haven’t had a bottle this good since Scarecrow…. — 22 days ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.4

More or less the same aspect as the Pucelles, medium gold in colour . A lot more reserved and younger on the nose , more linear and mineral , seashell, light lemon and some white flowers . This is discreet , at least on the nose , on the palate however this is intense but linear and focused , with a touch of lemon oil , but mostly chalky mineral , seashell notes , long vibrant length . Really fresh and vital though there is good mouthfeel , just a hint of toastiness on the finish . Long and fine , fresh and still young . From now and over the next 5- 10 years . Also a late release from the domaine , with wax capsule and Diam cork. — 7 hours ago

Peter Krug

9.3

rich and not as dry as it first seems. delicious with Saag Paneer. complex yet subtle at the same time. — 5 months ago

Ken Venezio

9.4

Once I visited Paul Lato I knew I'd be hooked for many years. His elegance in making the most beautiful Pinots is rewarded in every sip. Cherrys and red fruits dominate this wine. Long structured mid palate and softer tannins keep this going all night. — 6 months ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.1

Medium gold . Quite rich and decadent on the nose with buttered popcorn , light toasty hints , lemon confit , orange rind , hints of chalk underneath . There is a light nuttiness , too so certainly showing some age . On the palate this has good intensity and grip , slightly advanced perhaps (certainly older than the Chevalier) , with buttered toast , touch of caramel and lemon rind , hint of bitterness on the palate . Quite high bracing acidity and enough freshness on the finish . I would drink this now and over the next few years , though there may be fresher bottles out there . Re released from the domaine in 2019, with wax capsule and Diam cork. — 7 hours ago

"Odedi"

9.6

Drinking this pre-release bottle of this iconic wine from Bordeaux.

Light gold in color.

Strong nose and Full-bodied.

Sweet on the palate with high acidity to balance the sugars.

Showing melons, tropical fruits, apples, light earth, guava, herbs, spices, papaya and honey notes.

Long finish with herbs and tropical fruits.

This is a gorgeous sweet wine from Bordeaux. Sexy, seductive and fresh. Creamy and buttery.

Showing great potential, but oh so young. Already delicious and complex. Round, opulent and powerful.

Loved the nose once it opened up (20 minutes in the glass).

Rich and extracted. Fruit forward and intense, yet elegant. Well balanced with a soft mouthfeel.

Good by itself as a sipping wine, or with food. Drunk from a Magnum.

A blend of 75% Sémillon and 25% Sauvignon Blanc. Aged in all new French oak barrels for 24 months.
154 g/l sugar.

14% alcohol by volume.

96 points.

$500. — 2 months ago

Tom Garland

9.4

Pop and pour. A majestic lite gold color. On the nose: crisp apples, lemon, almonds, floral, and honey. Taste: creamy, beautiful texture and nice acidity wine with apple, pear, lemon zest, saline, flint, and a minerally lime peel medium plus finish. YUM! Maturing gracefully and time to go. — 6 months ago

with Brenda