Freddy R. Troya

9.0

Steiner Winery – Tokaji Szamorodni 2023
Kerestir, Tokaj – Hungary 🇭🇺

Overview
Crafted from Furmint, Tokaj’s signature white grape, this Szamorodni (“as it comes”) style wine is made from whole clusters that include both healthy and botrytised berries. The 2023 vintage reflects Tokaj’s historic winemaking approach — balancing richness from noble rot with freshness from the grape’s high acidity.

Aromas & Flavors
Golden in hue, with aromas of honeyed apricot, candied citrus, quince, and baked apple. Layers of dried fruit, beeswax, and a touch of marmalade emerge, with subtle vanilla and spice from oak aging.

Mouthfeel
Lush and textured, with sweetness balanced by vibrant acidity. Medium to full-bodied, carrying both weight and lift, and finishing long with lingering notes of fruit and honeyed spice.

Food Pairings
Excellent with foie gras, pâté, or blue cheese. Also a lovely match for fruit tarts, apricot galette, or simply enjoyed as a dessert wine on its own.

Verdict
A classic Szamorodni that bridges richness and freshness. Steiner’s 2023 bottling captures Tokaj’s dual nature: opulent yet lively, sweet yet balanced, making it both indulgent now and promising for short-term aging. 🍷

Did You Know?
Furmint, the grape behind this Szamorodni, is prized for its natural high acidity and ability to develop noble rot. It’s the backbone of Tokaj’s world-famous sweet wines, from late harvest to Aszú. — a month ago

Manda D

9.3

Delicious! Worth the dirt roads!
Smooth with a tiny bit of effervescence. — a year ago

Darren Dittrich

9.5

Fantastic effort from a somewhat difficult vintage… bridges the style gap for most in our tasting crew (modern vs traditional). Needs 2+ hours of air or 4+ years in bottle, but everyone loved this one. 2nd bottle tasted from this vintage, both terrific. — 3 years ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.3

Chateau Larrivet Haut-Brion, 2019
Pessac-Léognan, Bordeaux, France 🇫🇷

Overview
A classic Left Bank red blend composed of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, and 15% Cabernet Franc, from the highly regarded 2019 Bordeaux vintage. This vintage is widely celebrated for its depth, structure, and balance, ranking alongside 2018 and 2020 as exceptional years.

Aromas & Flavors
Nose: lifted aromas of blackcurrant, redcurrant, plum, and blackberry, laced with herbal notes, tobacco leaf, and subtle spice.
Palate: generous layers of dark fruits, cassis, herbs, and a touch of savory earthiness, supported by ripe, velvety tannins and a structured frame.

Mouthfeel
Full-bodied, with polished tannins, fresh acidity, and a harmonious balance between richness and elegance. The finish is long, perfumed, and textured, leaving a graceful impression of fruit and spice.

Winemaking & Style
Château Larrivet Haut-Brion is known for its meticulous vineyard management and refined winemaking, which consistently produces expressive Pessac-Léognan wines that balance fruit concentration with terroir-driven minerality and finesse.

Food Pairing
Perfect with grilled lamb chops, duck breast, roasted game, or earthy mushroom risotto. Also excellent alongside firm cheeses like Comté or aged Gouda.

Verdict
A standout Pessac-Léognan from an exceptional vintage — complex, elegant, and age-worthy, yet already a pleasure to drink. A wine that bridges power and finesse beautifully.
— 3 months ago

Eric Grasser

9.0

Pineapple and oak predominate with sliced apples and pears. Balanced with a nice elegant feel that bridges the profiles of California and France — 2 years ago

Christie S

9.5

Light, bright red wine. Nice with red meat and chocolate. — 4 years ago

Roman Ochocki

9.0

Another vintage. Still very good. Deep dark with dark fruit (a plum, blackberry), tobacco and leather. — 4 months ago

Brandon Boesch

10

So freaking good at 25 years. So fresh. A lot of earth and forest but also good fruit and balance still. Leather dried cherry, cinnamon stick, what a wine! Celebrating a huge birthday! — 7 months ago

Randy Fuller

9.6

This wine smells delicious - a bright cherry overlay with raspberry and coffee notes, plus a generous supply of earthiness. The palate holds plenty of red fruit with mocha, tea and a hint of vanilla in the flavor profile. The tannins are gentle and the sip is quite smooth. This is a lovely example of Oregon Pinot, one that bridges the gap between California and Burgundy very well. — 3 years ago

Tim Watkins

9.2

Great wine paring bridges the pasta and the fish perfectly - mature - opens up nicely - great balance of sweet and spice — 4 years ago