Freddy R. Troya

9.0

Lunaria – “Civitas” Pecorino 2024
Abruzzo – Italy 🇮🇹 | Biodynamic (Demeter), Organic, Vegan-Friendly

Overview
Crafted from 100% Pecorino, an indigenous grape of central Italy, “Civitas” is made by Lunaria under strict biodynamic and organic principles. Certified by Demeter, it represents both sustainability and authenticity, offering a pure expression of this versatile variety. (Educational note: Pecorino grapes, once nearly forgotten, are now celebrated for their high acidity, aromatic lift, and ability to pair with diverse cuisines.)

Aromas & Flavors
Stone fruits (peach, apricot, yellow plum) at the forefront, balanced with citrus zest, green apple, and subtle herbal tones. Secondary hints of almond and white flowers give lift.

Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied with bright acidity and excellent balance. Crisp, textural, and refreshing, finishing long with a delicious, mineral-driven edge.

Food Pairings
Extremely versatile: pairs with seafood, pasta with clams, grilled chicken, risotto, or fresh cheeses. Also a great choice for vegetarian dishes.

Verdict
A delightful Pecorino — fresh, balanced, and crowd-pleasing. The 2024 Lunaria “Civitas” is not only delicious but also a model of sustainable, biodynamic winemaking. 🍷

Did You Know?
Pecorino means “little sheep” in Italian, as the grape often grew along sheep-grazing paths in Abruzzo and Marche. Once endangered, it’s now one of central Italy’s great white grape revival stories.

Hidden Gem 💎
An indigenous revival grape, made biodynamic, organic, and vegan-friendly — Lunaria’s 2024 “Civitas” is both authentic and progressive, a perfect teaching bottle. — 24 days ago

Freddy R. Troya

8.9

Vartsikhe Marani – Aladasturi Dry Red 2017
Imereti – Georgia 🇬🇪

Overview
Made from 100% Aladasturi, an indigenous Georgian red grape once nearly lost to history, this 2017 vintage from Imereti captures a lighter, more aromatic side of Georgian reds. (Educational note: Aladasturi is traditionally cultivated on high trellises, producing wines with pale color, soft tannins, and vivid acidity — quite different from Georgia’s bolder Saperavi.)

Aromas & Flavors
Red currant, cranberry, and sour cherry up front, with rose petal, pomegranate, and subtle herbal tones. A touch of spice and dried earth rounds out the profile.

Mouthfeel
Light-to-medium bodied, with refreshing acidity and very gentle tannins. Elegant, almost Pinot-like in texture, finishing bright and lifted with red fruit notes.

Food Pairings
Excellent with lighter meats like roast chicken or duck, grilled salmon, or tomato-based pasta. Also pairs well with khachapuri or herb-driven vegetarian dishes.

Verdict
A graceful, refreshing red that showcases the uniqueness of Aladasturi — delicate yet full of personality. At 7 years old, the 2017 vintage drinks beautifully, a reminder of Georgia’s wealth of forgotten grapes. 🍷

Did You Know?
Aladasturi was once one of Georgia’s most widely planted grapes, but nearly disappeared during the Soviet era. Today, small wineries like Vartsikhe Marani are reviving it as part of Georgia’s wine renaissance.

Hidden Gem 💎
A rare revival grape, Aladasturi is still scarcely seen outside Georgia. This 2017 bottling is a true gem for anyone eager to taste the diversity of Georgia’s indigenous reds. — a month ago

Shay A

9.3

@Delectable Wine : This is the La Pierelle Hermitage Blanc. I didn’t see it in the database.

Project between Louis Barruol (of Chateau Saint Cosme) and Kermit Lynch. From the small plot called La Pierrelle near the top of the hill (vines are more than eighty years old). 100% Marsanne.

Pours a bright-gold color. Aromatically you can smell the dried apricots and honeysuckle from a foot away. Classically viscous and waxy, but by no means cloying or flabby. Reminds me of those Bit-O-Honey candies as a kid with honeyed-lemon followed by some truffle Marcona almonds at the finish. Mid-palate texture is weighty and the finish is lengthy. Fruit isn’t dominant here (as expected) but the complexity with the almond skin/waxy bitter notes is beautiful. I love Rhône whites.

Followed over two days and stayed consistent. Pop and pour now for stage one, or hold 7-10yrs for marsanne’s stage two revival. — 9 months ago

Freddy R. Troya

8.9

Anapea Village – “Kvareli Side” Amber Dry Kisi 2020
Kvareli, Kakheti – Georgia 🇬🇪

Overview
Made from 100% Kisi, one of Georgia’s rarest and most expressive indigenous grapes, this amber wine is produced in the Kakhetian qvevri tradition with extended skin contact. The 2020 vintage shows how Kisi balances aromatic finesse with structure and depth. (Educational note: Kisi was nearly extinct by the late 20th century, but its revival in Kakheti has positioned it as one of the country’s flagship grapes for amber wines.)

Aromas & Flavors
Honeyed apricot, baked quince, and dried orange peel lead, with chamomile, tea leaf, and subtle nutmeg. A touch of almond and earthy spice adds savory complexity.

Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied with firm tannins and lively acidity. Textured and layered, finishing long, dry, and slightly savory — a hallmark of Kakhetian amber.

Food Pairings
Perfect with walnut-stuffed eggplant, roasted lamb, or aged cheeses. Also excellent with hearty grain dishes like pilaf.

Verdict
A remarkable amber Kisi — structured, aromatic, and beautifully balanced. The 2020 vintage offers both freshness and maturity, making it a standout among Georgia’s revived heritage wines. 🍷

Did You Know?
Kisi was nearly lost during the Soviet era, but its revival has made it one of Georgia’s most celebrated indigenous whites, particularly for amber wines aged in qvevri.

Hidden Gem 💎
Kisi is rare enough — but in amber form, from the Kvareli side, it becomes a true gem, combining history, revival, and terroir expression in a single bottle. — a month ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.3

Ketevan Ninidze – Dzelshavi Rosé / Red Blend 2020
Georgia 🇬🇪

Overview
Crafted by natural winemaker Ketevan Ninidze, this 2020 bottling features Dzelshavi — a rare indigenous Georgian grape — blended with other local varieties to create a distinctive rosé leaning toward a light red. Produced with minimal intervention, it reflects the new wave of Georgian artisanal winemaking. (Educational note: Dzelshavi is an ancient western Georgian grape, prized for its naturally light color and vibrant acidity, often used for rosé or elegant reds.)

Aromas & Flavors
Fresh strawberry, pomegranate, and raspberry, layered with floral hints of rose petal and violet. Secondary touches of cranberry, citrus zest, and light herbal spice add complexity.

Mouthfeel
Light-bodied with crisp acidity and gentle tannins. Refreshing and silky, sitting between a structured rosé and a very light red, with a clean, lingering finish.

Food Pairings
Excellent with grilled salmon, roast chicken, or tomato-based pasta. Also pairs beautifully with mezze platters, soft cheeses, or summer picnics.

Verdict
A vibrant and elegant rosé-red hybrid — fresh, textured, and full of personality. The 2020 vintage showcases Dzelshavi’s charm, elevated by Ketevan Ninidze’s artisanal hand. 🍷

Did You Know?
Dzelshavi is one of Georgia’s oldest documented grapes, historically mentioned in the 5th century. Its revival by small winemakers highlights the country’s push to preserve indigenous varieties.

Hidden Gem 💎
A Dzelshavi rosé blend from a boutique female winemaker, this 2020 bottling is both rare and distinctive — a true collector’s discovery from Georgia’s natural wine movement. — a month ago

Eric Urbani

9.2

In the early 1850s the first significant vineyards were planted in Sonoma. Over the next half century, through a rigorous process of trial and error, the components were narrowed to four distinct varieties – petite Sarah, Zinfandel, Carignane , and Alicante Bouschet– each demonstrating extraordinary quality. Ravenswood ICON is a revival of this traditional “native Sonoma mixed blacks“ blend produced from old, low production, vineyards planted before Prohibition and is a tribute to Sonoma County’s incredible ancient vines. 14.8% ABV. — 7 months ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.0

Martvilis Marani – Ojaleshi 2023
Samegrelo – Georgia 🇬🇪

Overview
Made from 100% Ojaleshi, a rare indigenous grape grown mainly in Georgia’s Samegrelo region, this 2023 bottling highlights one of the country’s most distinctive native reds. Traditionally semi-sweet but now often made dry, Ojaleshi is known for its floral aromatics and refined structure. (Educational note: Ojaleshi thrives on the steep, humid hillsides of western Georgia, where its cooler, wetter climate shapes its lighter body and elegant perfume.)

Aromas & Flavors
Expressive notes of wild strawberry, raspberry, and pomegranate with layers of rose petal, violet, and subtle spice. Secondary hints of forest herbs and wet stone underline its terroir.

Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied, with soft tannins and lively acidity. Smooth, balanced, and fragrant, finishing clean with lingering red fruit and floral tones.

Food Pairings
Excellent with roasted duck, lamb kebabs, or tomato-based stews. Also pairs well with grilled trout or Georgian walnut-stuffed vegetables (pkhali).

Verdict
A graceful and aromatic red that showcases the charm of Ojaleshi — lighter, perfumed, and utterly distinctive. The 2023 vintage is vibrant and ready to enjoy, making it a perfect ambassador for western Georgia’s wine renaissance. 🍷

Did You Know?
“Ojaleshi” translates to “grows on trees”, a nod to its ancient practice of being trained to climb high trees and fences in western Georgia.

Hidden Gem 💎
Ojaleshi remains one of Georgia’s rarest and most regionally specific grapes. This bottling from Martvilis Marani captures both tradition and revival, making it a true gem for adventurous tasters. — a month ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.0

Anapea Village – “Sandro Kissy” Blend 2020
Kvareli, Kakheti – Georgia 🇬🇪

Overview
A small-production qvevri wine by Anapea Village, the “Sandro Kissy” blend (sometimes referred to as “Kisi Blend”) brings together indigenous Georgian varieties for a distinctive amber expression. The 2020 vintage reflects both traditional Kakhetian winemaking and the estate’s artisanal approach. (Educational note: Anapea Village is known for reviving near-lost grapes and producing terroir-driven amber wines in micro-quantities.)

Aromas & Flavors
Ripe apricot, quince, and candied citrus peel upfront, layered with wild herbs, tea leaf, and subtle honey tones. Secondary earthy spice and a faint nuttiness add depth.

Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied, textured, and structured with firm tannins from skin contact. Acidity keeps the wine lifted, while the finish is savory, long, and complex.

Food Pairings
Excellent with walnut-based Georgian dishes (pkhali), roasted lamb or chicken, or Middle Eastern mezze. Also pairs well with hard cheeses.

Verdict
A soulful amber blend — structured, aromatic, and artisanal. The 2020 “Sandro Kissy” captures both heritage and experimentation, a hallmark of Anapea Village. 🍷

Did You Know?
Anapea Village ferments all its wines in buried qvevri and often experiments with micro-blends of indigenous grapes, making bottles like “Sandro Kissy” rare outside Georgia.

Hidden Gem 💎
A scarce artisanal blend from a boutique producer, the 2020 “Sandro Kissy” is a true discovery for anyone exploring Georgia’s indigenous wine revival.
— a month ago

FabianG

8.9

#wineaccess — 4 months ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.4

Gorgeous nose. Peach, tangerine, citrus, huge minerals. Softer. Peach skin. Juicy and incisive. Amazing finish. Juicy and clean. Full of fruit and mineral. Gorgeous long finish. Very clean and mineral. — a year ago