Freddy R. Troya

9.0

Aia Vecchia – Vermentino / 2024
Toscana IGT – Tuscany / Italy 🇮🇹

Overview
100% Vermentino from coastal Tuscany. A fresh, Mediterranean-driven expression highlighting purity, salinity, and balance. Crafted to emphasize drinkability without sacrificing varietal character.

Aromas & Flavors
Citrus zest, green apple, and white peach layered with subtle herbal notes and a touch of sea-breeze salinity. Clean, bright, and inviting.

Mouthfeel
Light to medium-bodied with a zippy, refreshing profile. Acidity is well-controlled, giving lift without sharp edges. The finish sits right in the middle, neither short nor extended, making it incredibly easy to keep going back for another sip.

Food Pairings
Seafood, grilled vegetables, light pasta, bruschetta, or simple appetizers.

Verdict
A pure, clean, and beautifully made Vermentino that overdelivers in drinkability. Not flashy, just precise, refreshing, and consistently satisfying.

Did You Know?
Vermentino thrives in coastal regions like Tuscany and Liguria, where maritime influence enhances its natural salinity and freshness, often giving the wine its signature “sea-breeze” character.

🍷 Personal Pick
This is my kind of “patio pounder”—zippy, dry, and dangerously easy to drink. Not because it lacks complexity, but because it’s so well made that it flows effortlessly. Whether by the pool or alongside light bites, this wine adapts and delivers every time. — 21 days ago

Todd Scurci

9.2

#frankies # — 3 months ago

with Annie

romo

9.1

Quite a value, esp here. Crispy and firm. — 3 months ago

Kristen Grimes

9.5

Salty minerality on the nose with a hint of citrus, the palate is all minerals with crisp green apple and some lime acidity, but the weighty body keeps it balanced. Super yummy, which I don't usually say of an Italian wine! — 15 days ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.0

Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG 2021
Torre d’Orti – Veneto, Italy 🇮🇹

Overview
A traditional Amarone crafted primarily from Corvina (with Corvinone), Rondinella, and a small percentage of Molinara, produced using the appassimento method (partially dried grapes). 17% ABV. A powerful expression leaning rustic rather than refined in this vintage.

Aromas & Flavors
Dried cherry, baked plum, subtle fig, light cocoa, faint walnut and restrained raisin tones. Tertiary notes present but not deeply layered.

Mouthfeel
Full-bodied and structured with elevated alcohol. Firm tannins and a slightly edgy texture. Lacks the seamless velvety integration expected from more polished Amarone examples.

Food Pairings
Braised meats, aged cheeses, wild boar ragù, mushroom-based dishes.

Verdict
Technically correct and gastronomic, but did not fully deliver the plush refinement and layered complexity often associated with top-tier Amarone. Better at the table than as a contemplative standalone pour.

🍷 Did You Know?
Corvina is the aromatic backbone of Amarone, responsible for cherry and spice notes, while Rondinella contributes color and structure. Balance during drying is crucial, integration is everything. — a month ago

Stephen Dodson

9.1

Friday night dinner - drinking well now — 3 months ago

Anthony Pro

9.1

Happy Easter. — 8 days ago

Youngcheul Kim

8.9

2024 vintage on Mar 13th 2026 — a month ago

Brandyn Pryce

8.9

At Pinard Wine Bar for the SFU Alumni event with Malachi and the Skoners! Lovely cab. — 2 months ago

with Erin

Matthew Doty

9.1

2022 vintage. Very nice, especially for the price. A little too bitter for H, but I quite liked it. Best within first few hours of opening — 3 months ago