Freddy R. Troya

9.0

Don Próspero – Tannat 2017
Canelones, Uruguay 🇺🇾

Overview:
Made from Uruguay’s flagship grape, this 100% Tannat hails from the Canelones region, the country’s viticultural heartland. It captures the bold, structured, and unapologetically powerful style that has put Uruguay on the wine map.

Aromas & Flavors:
Dark fruit at its core, black plum, blackberry, and cassis, wrapped in notes of cedar, baking spice, and a touch of earth. After hours in the decanter, it remained tight yet expressive, with hints of licorice and savory herbs peeking through.

Mouthfeel:
Full-bodied with gripping, chewy tannins and firm dryness. The structure dominates, yet there’s depth and intensity that suggests longevity. Still evolving in the glass.

Food Pairings:
Perfect with rich and fatty dishes that tame its tannins, think grilled ribeye, lamb shanks, or slow-braised short ribs. Also works with aged Manchego or blue cheese.

Verdict:
A serious, food-demanding Tannat that showcases Uruguay’s bold personality. Not a casual sipper, but for the right pairing it becomes absolutely delicious. With its muscle and backbone, this vintage still has 5–8 years of cellaring potential ahead. Cheers!

Did You Know?
Uruguay is the only country where Tannat is the national grape, brought over by Basque settlers in the 19th century. Canelones, just north of Montevideo, produces nearly two-thirds of Uruguay’s wine and is known for its Atlantic breezes, which help balance Tannat’s tannic intensity with freshness. — 19 days ago

Robert

9.0

Dry, rich yellow color — a year ago

Ron R

9.4

An experiment. So consistently strong, and clearly has longevity. No rush to consume these…
So decadent, going close to the explosive line, but doesn’t cross it. Blueberries and rich black fruits mesh with sandalwood and brown sugar. Weighty on the mid palate with relaxed acidity. This is epic. Still in its prime so consume now. — 2 years ago

with Anne-marie

Freddy R. Troya

9.7

Moraga Bel Air – Sauvignon Blanc – Vintage 2016
Bel Air, Los Angeles, California, USA 🇺🇸

Overview
A luminous 100% Sauvignon Blanc from Los Angeles’ hidden hillside vineyard. Still youthful at nearly a decade, it shows the structure and balance that suggests it can comfortably evolve for another 10 years, rare for the varietal.

Aromas & Flavors
Fresh citrus zest, white peach, and green apple interlace with waxy honeysuckle, and a faint nutty undertone. It almost evokes Semillon in its depth, yet it’s purely Sauvignon Blanc showing its layered side.

Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied, polished, and rounded with bright acidity that lifts a textured, almost creamy mid-palate. The finish is long, citrus-driven, and delicately mineral.

Food Pairings
An excellent partner for sushi, seared scallops, lemon-herb chicken, or aged goat cheese. Its evolving structure would also hold up well against richer shellfish dishes like lobster.

Verdict
Elegant, refined, and deceptively age-worthy. Moraga’s Sauvignon Blanc continues to surprise with its longevity and complexity, this 2016 will only grow more profound with time.

Did You Know?
Moraga Bel Air is one of the only commercial vineyards within the city of Los Angeles, planted on ancient seabed soils just a few miles from Hollywood. Its whites and reds have quietly earned cult status among insiders.

🍷 Personal Pick Highlight
This one floored me, it’s Sauvignon Blanc but whispers like Semillon, with grace, depth, and staying power. Proof that LA can make world-class, cellar-worthy whites. — 2 days ago

Audrey Irvine

9.0

Wine Shoe August 2024 — a year ago

Bruce Gunther

9.1

Nice, unique...a mistaken random grab at the store that turned out well. — 3 years ago

with Trish

Glen Shikunov

9.0

Unique and worth the try. Olives mixed with currant. Good depth and longevity that gets more unique as you go. Would buy again. — 3 years ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.2

Blason d’Issan – Margaux 2010
Bordeaux, France 🇫🇷

Overview
Second wine of Château d’Issan (a 3rd Growth Grand Cru Classé), this Margaux reflects the finesse and elegance of its prestigious sibling at a more approachable level. The 2010 vintage is composed of 59% Cabernet Sauvignon and 41% Merlot, delivering structure, freshness, and the signature grace of the appellation.

Aromas & Flavors
Dark red fruits, cassis, and plum supported by notes of cedar, graphite, and dried violets. Subtle earthy undertones round out the bouquet.

Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied with silky tannins, still carrying freshness and vibrancy. The fruit remains integrated with a polished balance, showing that the wine has aged beautifully without losing Margaux’s hallmark delicacy.

Food Pairing
Perfect alongside roasted lamb, duck breast, or a classic beef tenderloin. Its elegance also pairs nicely with mushroom risotto or aged Comté.

The Verdict
A graceful, approachable Bordeaux that demonstrates how even the second labels from Margaux can age impressively. Still drinking beautifully today, with finesse and balance that embody the spirit of Margaux.

Personal Pick Highlight
One of my favorite “second labels” from Bordeaux — proof that patience rewards, as this bottle aged with remarkable elegance and still charms after more than a decade. Also, the 2010 vintage, a benchmark year in Bordeaux, lends added structure and longevity. Cheers! — 2 months ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.5

Armagedon 2017 – Hevron Heights Winery
Judean Hills, Israel 🇮🇱

Overview
A bold red blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, and 5% Syrah, aged for 24 months in French oak. Produced by Hevron Heights Winery, this wine reflects the unique terroir of the Judean Hills — one of the oldest winemaking regions in the world, now regaining global recognition for producing structured, world-class wines.

Aromas & Flavors
Deep and concentrated, with aromas of ripe blackcurrant, plum, and dried herbs, layered with espresso, cedar, and a touch of vanilla from the extended oak aging. The palate shows dark fruits, cassis, blackberry compote, and hints of spice and earthy tobacco.

Mouthfeel
Full-bodied, robust, and structured with firm tannins and notable concentration. The finish is long, lingering with both fruit and savory oak-driven notes. Still youthful but beginning to soften beautifully.

Winemaking Notes
Carefully selected fruit, traditional vinification, and extended oak maturation (24 months in French barriques) yield a wine that balances richness with complexity. Built for longevity.

Food Pairing
Pairs perfectly with roasted lamb, beef short ribs, or spiced Mediterranean dishes. Also a great match with aged cheeses.

Verdict
A powerful, age-worthy red from the Judean Hills, Armagedon 2017 showcases both the depth of the blend and the rising reputation of Israel’s terroir. A bottle that commands attention and rewards patience. Cheers! — 2 months ago

Jay Kline

9.0

Popped and poured; enjoyed over two days. Best on Day 1. The 2011 “Caravina” pours a deep, we’re going to call opaque, garnet with some slight browning towards the rim. There appear to be signs of very light sediment. Medium viscosity and medium staining of the tears. On the nose, cassis, tobacco, bell pepper and the faint smell of baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry and notes from the nose are confirmed. Medium tannin and medium acid. Finish is a bit clipped so I would place at medium-. On Day 2, the wine was still intact but it seemed to have lost some of the energy that it had on Day 1 and now came across even more green and earthy than before.

This 2011 Caravina is probably the most “2011” Cabernet from Napa that I’ve had in some time. It’s green and lacks the structure I would want for longevity. While I would still call this a good wine, it’s not the charmer that Caravina is in most vintages these days. Drink now with a meal. In this case, it worked well enough with Cincinnati-style chili 😋.
— 3 years ago