Freddy R. Troya

9.6

Besserat de Bellefon – Cuvée des Moines Rosé Brut – N/V
Épernay - Champagne – France 🇫🇷

Overview
A refined, gastronomic rosé Champagne from one of Épernay’s quiet icons. This non-vintage cuvée is crafted in Besserat de Bellefon’s signature lower-pressure style, resulting in a more vinous, creamy texture rather than aggressive effervescence. A blend of 35% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Noir, and 35% Pinot Meunier, delivering balance between freshness, structure, and roundness. The rosé is produced via red wine addition (assemblage) rather than saignée, the classic and more controlled Champagne rosé method.

Aromas & Flavors
Delicate red berries, wild strawberry and red currant, interwoven with citrus peel, subtle florals, and a gentle pastry nuance. The fruit expression is restrained and elegant, never overpowering, with a refined, savory edge.

Mouthfeel
Silky and refined with a fine, soft mousse. Creamy mid-palate, dry and precise, finishing clean with quiet persistence. The reduced CO₂ makes this Champagne notably food-friendly and composed.

Food Pairings
Exceptional with crudo tuna tartare (especially with Japanese seasoning), heirloom beet and burrata salad, shellfish, sashimi, or lightly seasoned Mediterranean dishes.

Verdict
An elegant, understated rosé Champagne built for the table rather than the spotlight. Subtle, balanced, and gastronomic, this is a Champagne that rewards attention and pairing rather than spectacle.

Did You Know?
Besserat de Bellefon has historically designed its Champagnes specifically for gastronomic service, even adjusting pressure levels to enhance harmony with food. That philosophy is clearly expressed in the Cuvée des Moines range.

🍷 Personal Pick Highlight
This is not a party popper, it’s a serious, food-driven rosé Champagne. I loved how seamlessly it paired with both tuna crudo and a beet & burrata salad, adapting effortlessly across cuisines while maintaining elegance and balance. — 6 months ago

romo

9.4

Classic sh!t that goes from a spotlight to a laser in mid-palate. Overly impressive. White WotN. — 2 years ago

Romain Fitoussi

8.9

The charm of the Cab-franc de Loire in the expression of a cuvée to drink on youth. Variety notes in the spotlight: raspberry, violet, slate. 2020 is concentrated, bearing the stigma of solar vintages with almost liquorice notes. Blindly, it almost feels like you're in the Rhône-Nord (without pepper) Fine and gourmet. Drink refreshed 13/15 degrees.

Le charme du Cab-franc de Loire dans l’expression d’une cuvée à boire sur la jeunesse. Notes variétales à l’honneur: framboise, violette, ardoise. 2020 est concentré, portant les stigmates des millésimes solaires avec des notes presque réglisse. A l’aveugle on se croirait presque dans le Rhône-Nord (sans le poivre) Fin et gourmand. À boire rafraîchi 13/15 degrés. — 4 years ago

Romain Fitoussi

8.9

A very nice and balanced Loire blend with the fruit in the spotlight. Gamay and Cot holding the top of the pavement, enhanced with 10% Pinot Noir and 10% Cab-Franc. The finish is well developed with pepper notes. Wine to drink in its youth over the next 5 years.

Assemblage équilibré fort sympathique typé Loire, mettant le fruit à l’honneur. Gamay et Cot tenant le haut du pavé, rehaussé de 10% de pinot noir et 10% de Cab-franc. La finale est bien développée avec ses notes poivrées. Vin à boire sur sa jeunesse dans les 5 ans. — 6 years ago

Romain Fitoussi

9.0

A modern Bordeaux with few sulphites, without inputs and unfiltered. The fruit is in the spotlight without excess of breeding marks. Beautiful roundness, well balanced. — 6 years ago

Romain Fitoussi

8.9

Young, round, fresh and fruity Malbec from Argentina ... marked notes of fresh black fruit and sweet spices. Discreet aging to put the fruit in the spotlight. A beautiful early wine. — 6 years ago

Freddy R. Troya

8.9

Castillo Clavijo – Rioja Blanco – 2024
Rioja DOCa | Spain 🇪🇸

Overview:
A very casual, approachable white from Rioja DOCa, a region better known for reds, this bottle delivers exactly what it promises: simplicity, freshness, and value. Viura-driven, made in a clean, straightforward style that favors easy drinking over complexity.

Aromas & Flavors:
Fresh and subtle with notes of green apple, lemon zest, and soft white florals. There’s a gentle herbal edge typical of Viura, but nothing overt or demanding, clean and unfussy.

Mouthfeel:
Light- to medium-bodied with refreshing acidity. Smooth, easygoing, and crisp, finishing clean without weight or oak influence.

Food Pairings:
Grilled fish, light salads, seafood tapas, simple chicken dishes, or anything olive-oil driven. A reliable companion at the table without stealing the spotlight.

Verdict:
A “does-the-job” Rioja white that makes sense on the value side. Not meant to rival more serious white Rioja expressions, but a pleasant, practical option from a red-dominant region, especially when you want something uncomplicated and food-friendly.

Did You Know?
Viura (also known as Macabeo) is Rioja’s primary white grape, capable of both simple, fresh wines like this and age-worthy, complex whites when blended or oak-aged.

🍷 Personal Pick Highlight
This is the kind of easy, reliable white you reach for when you want something light, affordable, and regionally honest, proof that Rioja can still deliver on the white side, even if reds remain its calling card. — 6 months ago

Ana Bumgardner

9.1

2015 - ages nicely - with homemade pizza. Perfect pairing. Easy to drink red. Sad when the bottle was empty!! — 2 years ago

Romain Fitoussi

8.9

Very nice price/pleasure ratio for this beautiful natural grape variety wine featuring Montepulciano in the spotlight in an interpretation of the purity of fruit. Deep purple dress. Sour cherry, plum, almond, vanilla, integrated oak; of a beautiful intensity. In the mouth it is charming and intense, balance, on the generosity of the fruit, of a beautiful delicacy of which the Italians definitely have the secret. Coup de coeur! To drink a little refreshed.

Très jolie rapport prix/plaisir pour ce beau vin nature de cépage mettant le Montepulciano à l’honneur dans une interprétation sur la pureté du fruit. Robe violine profonde. Nez cerise, griotte, prune, amende, vanille, chêne intégré; d’une belle intensité. En bouche c’est charmant et intense, équilibre, sur la générosité du fruit, d’une belle gourmandise dont les italiens ont définitivement le secret. Coup de cœur! À boire un peu rafraîchi. — 3 years ago

Alexandre Pagliano

9.0

All the spices you can find on a really complex and medium body châteauneuf. Really good now and ready for the spotlight. — 6 years ago

with Adriana

Romain Fitoussi

9.0

Round and strong. The attack and the body of the wine put the Syrah in the spotlight in all its specificities: both intense and fresh, with aromatic notes of violets, black fruits, spices, black olives, menthol, and leather. The finish is developed without being really long, letting out some gourmet peppery and herbaceous notes. A very gourmet wine for meat eaters, or Syrah enthusiasts (including me). Requires 2 good hours of ventilation. 2 years in the cellar will perfectly calm this youthful ardor which is nevertheless very appreciable.

Rond et costaud. L’attaque et le corps du vin mettent la Syrah a l’honneur dans toutes ses spécificités: à la fois intense et fraîche, avec les notes aromatiques de violette, fruits noirs, épices, olives noires, menthol, et cuir. La finale est développée sans être vraiment longue, laissant ressortir des notes poivrées et herbacées. Un vin très gourmand pour les mangeurs de viande, où les adeptes de la Syrah (dont je suis). Nécessite 2 bonnes heures d’aération. 2 ans de cave assagirons à merveille cette fougue de jeunesse néanmoins fort appréciable — 6 years ago

Jeffrey Woo

8.9

Ruby hue with high saturation. Aromas and flavors of blackberry, cedar, cranberry, forest floor, licorice, mushroom, oak, plum, vanilla, and yeast. Medium-heavy body; medium tannins; and medium-high acidity. Bold, smooth, and structured. — 6 years ago

Ely Cohn

9.2

David Duband is a younger, increasingly spotlight Burgundian and his Nuits Villages is a beautiful bottle of dark red berries, mushrooms, and the right amount of oak which become a Dr. Pepper like thing. — 6 years ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.1

Macchia – “Delicious” Barbera – 2023
Heaven’s Vines, Lodi – USA 🇺🇸

Overview
100% Barbera from Lodi. an Italian indigenous grape known for its naturally high acidity, juicy fruit, and casual drinkability. Macchia Winery, celebrated for producing over 20 distinct styles of Zinfandel, also showcases its versatility with Italian varieties. Consistently recognized with domestic and international awards, the winery brings Barbera into the spotlight with this vibrant estate bottling.

Aromas & Flavors
Ripe red cherries, plum, blackberry compote, and a touch of vanilla and sweet spice. Fresh, fruity, and forward with that classic Barbera brightness.

Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied with lively acidity and a smooth, easygoing finish. Juicy fruit drives the palate, making it approachable and highly sip-worthy.

Food Pairings
Perfect with pizza, pasta with tomato-based sauces, grilled sausages, roasted vegetables, or charcuterie. A true “any day, any time” red.

Verdict
A fun, approachable, and fruit-driven Barbera with Macchia’s signature Lodi generosity. Casual enough for weeknight sipping yet polished enough to show the quality behind this estate-grown wine.

Did You Know?
Barbera is one of Italy’s most widely planted red grapes, cherished for its fresh acidity and versatility. In California, Lodi’s warm days and cool delta breezes help the variety express generous fruit while maintaining balance. — 7 months ago

Neil Valenzuela

9.0

Deep purple color. Aromas of blackberries, baking spices and coffee. Earthy flavors, cherry and black currant. — 10 months ago

Jeremy Shanker

Sommelier at RN74

9.2

Incredible Blanc de Blanc. Oiry needs a bigger spotlight. — 3 years ago

Katelyn Sharp

10

Dry, but juicy; bold but bright; heavy but acidic - it’s fascinating how much the 4% white grape steals the spotlight from the otherwise predictably solid Syrah/Petite Syrah/Grenache red blend. — 6 years ago

Romain Fitoussi

8.9

Nice discovery of the southwest, with this entry-level cuvée that makes you want to know the rest of the production. A blend that puts Abouriou in the spotlight, a grape close to Malbec or Tannat. The whole presents a very nice balance between structure and freshness; rather oriented red fruits, supported by marked tannins. Good q / p ratio

Belle découverte du sud-ouest, avec cette cuvée d’entrée de gamme qui donne envie de connaître le reste de la production. Un assemblage mettant l’Abouriou à l’honneur, cépage proche du Malbec ou Tannat. L’ensemble présente un très bel équilibre entre structure et fraîcheur; plutôt orienté fruits rouges, soutenu par des tanins marqués. Bon rapport q/p — 6 years ago

Monica Ramirez

9.7

Absolute perfection! Smooth, robust, and perfect time to enjoy! — 6 years ago

Romain Fitoussi

9.0

My favorite wine merchant pushed me to go to this winemaker .. carefully, I start with this entry-level cuvée around 13-15 €. The color is deep ruby, the nose is discreet. The palate confirm the visual intensity. Aromatic tones typical of Cabernet-Franc grape variety: strawberry, pepper, anise. A medium-bodied wine with a silky texture that testifies the mastery of winemaking. The aging is discreet, putting the fruit in the spotlight, more than the tertiary notes. It’s a friendly, accessible wine. For its price it's really great! it clearly makes you want to explore the rest of the winemaker’s Cuvées. — 6 years ago