Freddy R. Troya

9.1

TerrAmore – Pinot Grigio delle Venezie / 2024
Veneto, Italy 🇮🇹

Overview
A certified organic and vegan Pinot Grigio from Veneto, crafted in the delle Venezie DOC. Light, refreshing, and beautifully straightforward, a go-to for clean and crisp white wine lovers.

Aromas & Flavors
Fresh pear, green apple, citrus zest, and delicate floral tones with a touch of minerality.

Mouthfeel
Light-bodied, crisp, and vibrant with a refreshing acidity that makes it simply delicious and easy to enjoy.

Food Pairings
Caprese salad, grilled shrimp, vegetable antipasti, or a classic Margherita pizza.

Verdict
A charming everyday Pinot Grigio that shines with purity and balance. Proof that simple can also be satisfying, especially when made with organic grapes.

Did You Know?
The delle Venezie DOC covers three regions; Veneto, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, and Trentino-Alto Adige, making it one of the most important appellations for Pinot Grigio production worldwide. — 8 months ago

AraniW1

10

So good. The after taste was actually really good! my go to now for wines — 2 years ago

Austin Hohnke

8.9

Nice quaff. Sometimes simple is all you need. Well balanced. Organic. Paired with penne alla vodka with sweet Italian sausage. From half bottle. — 2 years ago

Daniel M

8.9

This is ridiculously good, although fairly simple.
Lemon and lemon zest on the nose, white peach, some very subtle petroly notes too. The palate is very acid driven but in a good way. The acid drive is massive as one could expect with dry German rieslings, but the palate is very balanced, with lemony touches, and even lemon curd. There is a tiny bit of bitterness toward the end, reminiscent of the zesty scents that blossomed on the nose. It's not complex, it's certainly not a great wine, but it's very well done and gives instant, true to type pleasure. Organic wine. — 3 years ago

Willie Carter

9.0

First off, this color is absolutely killer. A dark golden, cream soda in the glass with very nice perlage. Profuse tiny, rapid bubbles. Ripe apples on the nose along with orange slices and cinnamon. Fruity red berries show with time and air. Just a touch of citrus aromas with freshly baked bread. Slivers of hazelnut and lemon zest.

From the Premier Cru village of Vrigny, this is a superstar champagne. Composed of 60% Pinot Meunier from a solera dating back to 1995 with the rest equal parts Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Certified organic in 2019. Very zippy acidity with only 3 g/l of dosage and disgorged in March of 2019. Beautifully dry with a ton of character and personality. Medium bodied bordering on the fuller side. This is a most definitely a champagne that you want to sit with for a while before it reveals all of its mysteries.

Impressive in the mouth. Undemanding but certainly not simple. Raspberries and baked apple pie. Really nice stone fruit and sharp cheese with mushrooms. A touch of soil and chalk. The finish is long and ends on a sharp note. I can’t say enough about this wine but it’s very hard to think of one that beats it in this category.
— 4 years ago

Seth Masterson

9.4

I smell apricots, honeysuckle and a touch of a wood refinishing shop where an old man has been rubbing turpentine onto ancient woods. The smell of this Manzanilla makes my mouth water and I didn't want to take my nose out of the glass.
On first taste it has a bit of an 'Uh oh what have so gotten myself into' kick in the pants of your pallete. As the sherry warms in your mouth let it explore of the crevices and you will find flavors in corners of your mouth that I you have not encountered before in any bottle of non fortified white wine.
The freshness of this when served chilled and the amazingly long aftertaste make it one of the few wines that I prefer to drink on their own but it pairs great with simple salty food like premium organic fries tossed sea salt!
A steal at $16 for a half bottle at Little Death. (I've paid $13 for a three ounce pour of this at a tapas joint) — 4 years ago

Ely Cohn

9.2

Like Foradori, Ochippinti is a name I associate with unreckless natural winemaking - as it goes, the families are good friends. I’ve had the stubby Frappato many times - always good, feral, with minerals and tannins at a tiny 11.5% ABV. Simple enough - red berries and the truth. — 7 years ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.0

Mucchietto Soave DOC Organic 2023
Veneto, Italy 🇮🇹

Overview
Made from 100% Garganega, this certified organic Soave DOC captures the essence of northern Italy’s white wine tradition. Light, crisp, and refreshing, it’s built for casual enjoyment and warm-weather sipping.

Aromas & Flavors
Bright, citrus-forward aromas with touches of tropical fruit, lemon zest, and white flowers. On the palate, expect citrus, green apple, and delicate floral notes, balanced by a subtle minerality.

Mouthfeel
Light-bodied, fresh, and very approachable, with a clean, zesty finish. Designed as an easy-drinking, crowd-pleasing style.

Winemaking Notes
Produced organically, fermented in stainless steel to preserve fruit purity and freshness. A classic everyday Soave meant for early drinking.

Food Pairing
Excellent with seafood, shrimp pasta, grilled vegetables, or as a poolside aperitif. Its crispness also makes it perfect for summer rooftop sipping.

Verdict
A bright, refreshing organic Soave—simple, clean, and versatile. Proof that Italian whites can deliver character and charm at a friendly price point. — a year ago

Roman Ochocki

9.1

It's simple wine, but very fresh, with a cherry & strawberry and touch of leather. — 2 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.0

Sample bottle from a friend who sells. This fruit is only about 30 miles from Burgundy.

Nice bottle. Round bottle, lighter c02. Brioche right off the top, lime, lemon pear, bruised golden & ripe apple, melon, non distinct red berries, hard chalkiness, flint, saline, crushed limestone minerals, ginger, yellows flowers, nice round acidity and a nice, fresh finish.

Organic tomatoes from my garden, burrata, olive oil, Tondo balsamic, fresh organic basil, Maldon salt. Simple Sourdough from Companion Bakery, the best.

— 3 years ago

Turd Ferguson

9.4

Day 2: This is killer. Super fresh but firm/structured. Atypical Bordeaux. Organic field blend. 13.5%. —- Domaine de Galouchey has to be one of Bordeaux's most idiosyncratic producers. The vineyards of this domaine were cleared and planted by Jean Terrade and Gérard Pantanacce, but things didn't really start to take off until they partnered with renowned sommelier Marco Peltier. They make two wines from organically grown grapes from their tiny estate and their Vin de Jardin (Wine of the Garden) might be the most exciting thing to come from Bordeaux in a very long time.

Galouchey is in Beychac-and-Caillau, 7 km from Libourne, across the river from Saint-Emilion and Pomerol. They could choose to label their bottle as a Bordeaux but instead choose the simple table wine designation of Vin de France. This is so that they can make a wine that they feel more closely reflect the type of Bordeaux that they want to drink. Something more closely aligned with the region's wines before WW11 when commercial interest and the armies of consultants ushered in an era of homogeneity. This area is mostly known for dry whites and value reds but in the 18th century the wines from in and around the estate were some of the most sought after.

The vineyard sits on land that has never been touched by modern synthetic agricultural additives and has been farmed organically from day one. All the permitted grape varieties of the region – Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Carmenere, Petit Verdot, Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc, Sauvignon Gris and Muscadelle – are planted in the vineyard and the wine is made as a blend of all of the grapes, white and red. Merlot plays the lead with white varieties playing very small yet important roles. This was the way it was done many generations ago when most Bordeaux was a field blend.

Each of the nine varieties is separately harvested by hand at very low yields. Top quality Bordeaux estate can regularly produce 7,000 bottles per hectare, but the trio took it further limiting yields and producing only 3,600 bottles. This means sorting at the winery is surgical, with only the grapes going into the vat they would want to eat. Made with almost no sulfur, nothing is added or removed. The result is a masterpiece of Bordeaux and one that you don't have to pay $100 or more for.

Freshness and drinkability are not terms that we associate with Bordeaux but that is the first thing that came to mind after one sip. It’s bright fruit melds into its seamless texture. This is very much Bordeaux with flavors and aromas of tobacco, dark chocolate, graphite, and wild herbs but there is a purity of fruit and incredibly vivid floral notes that take this to another level. — 4 years ago

Michelle M

8.9

This one starts with a fun bouquet that includes some notes of char and brûlée, some leather shop, earthy woods, and drying tobacco aromas, some herbal spice like mint and rosemary, and some tart cranberry and raspberry red fruits. The palate keeps things simple and easy, with juicy cranberry and chewy red cherries and hints of smokiness and vanilla, with a medium-short finish. This grape doesn’t seem to have the tannins and phenolics to balance out the charred wood, but overall it’s a solid value that reminds me of a Brunello di Montalcino I had a while back that was about five times the price. It’s a great food wine that goes well with fresh and simple Italian dishes like plain cheese pizza and pasta with marinara. Organic and vegan for anyone interested in that. — 5 years ago

Howard Grush

8.9

Ok. This is a very inexpensive Italian blend. But, it has a great drinkability profile. It’s simple, clean and great for quaffing. Let it breathe for a couple of hours and enjoy. — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

Farmers market visit this morning dictated this after finding some decent Heirlooms awaiting my organic garden ones and deserving after cleaning the damn gutters all afternoon. .

Like this Rosé quite a lot. The price for it, not so much. But, worth it once in a while and this one has been laying down a number of years, so… If you haven’t had a good Tempranillo Rosé worth acquiring.

I like it as it is not overtly sweet like many Bandol’s & Californians.

The nose shows; blood orange, not quite ripe tangerine, baked rhubarb, strawberries, red not dark cherries, ripe, yellow peach with skin, hints of watermelon at the rind, limestone marl with orange & red flowers.

The palate shows nice viscosity. Blood orange with peel, not quite ripe tangerine, baked rhubarb, strawberries, red not dark cherries, ripe, yellow peach with skin, hints of watermelon at the rind, touch of pink grapefruit, something in between Cointreau & Grand Marnier, sun tea, very soft chalk & white spice, limestone marl with orange & red flowers, rainfall acidity, nicely knitted, a fair amount of tension for an aged Rosé, excellent balance & structured with a smartly polished, elegant, lush finish that lasts nearly two- minutes.

This 2010 is in high cotton and not slowing down. Another 8-10 years with maybe more. Leans into 95.

Pairing; Organic Heirloom tomatoes grown in a greenhouse topped w/ di Stefano Burrata, Spanish Ricon Subbetica Olive Oil, Tondo Balsamic Vinegar (the best period), organic fresh basil, Companion Simple Sourdough Crustini’s. — 2 years ago

Ceccherini Cristiano

9.0

I like this MR blend that mimics the Bordeaux Blanc one.
This is less austere, more direct and more fun
Mind i am not saying better, but different in the result not in the varieties used
I personally love this expression of Margaret River, i am sorry that Aussies find it a bit outdated, but i reckon they will reconsider it in the future; it definitely has a far greater reason to exist at the moment that a lot of labels made out of European indigenous variety planted not long ago.
These are all grape sourced from the Luminosa vineyard, uncertified but fully organic since day 1.
About 60% sem and the rest sauvignon blanc
It has freshness to sell, it is altogether simple for now,but i bet it will get so much better with time.
It would be a top match with any fish cooked pretty simply on a barbie. — 2 years ago

Emily Bolles

8.9

Really quite good - nice and zippy but simple! Apple vibes. Summer sipper. Crowd pleaser! — 4 years ago

with Jessica

Belinda

9.2

Organic, delicious with easy complexity. Uncomplicated, simple to drink. — 4 years ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.1

2019 vintage. Another great effort from this Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel that will be certified organic in 2022. Interestingly I just read an article which states that they use energetic healing methods for the vines, based on quantum physics. The truth is in the glass, and the last 3 vintages (2020 , 2019 and 2018) are all terrific value for less than 20 euros. — 4 years ago

romo

9.0

Props to a vegan restaurant in LA for a SS BTG. Simple but clean GSM. — 5 years ago

Chris Zitzman

9.0

I know the history of Trump Winery. All politics aside- for this review only, if you please- what Trump has done with this incredible property and the caliber facility that it has truly become- is a story into itself. The 2017 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon ($25 from the tasting room) is the perfect style of red to enjoy with all kinds of fare. Winning a Gold medal at the Virginia Governor’s Cup- is actually quite the deal. In truth, it’s hopped into contention for my “vanishing middle class’s Cheeseburger Wine of the Year”- which is fairly less prestigious as the aforementioned, Virginia Governor’s Cup. It’s a simple delight with just enough stricture to hold up to all kinds of cuisine. From a deep garnet color the nose evolves and grows from simple notes of currant and blackberries into deeper, fuller expressions of those flavors. Medium-full bodied on the palate, earthy elements begin to emerge and frame flavors of blackberry, stewed cherries and a whisper of smoke. I’m blown away by its elegance and simplicity. Winemaker Jonathan Wheeler is most definitely someone to watch, and deserves a hand foe crafting this delightful, easy-drinking Virginia Cabernet. — 6 years ago