Freddy R. Troya

9.1

Blaauwklippen 1682 Red Blend 2021 Stellenbosch, South Africa 🇿🇦

Overview
A beautifully balanced Bordeaux-inspired blend composed of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon and 18% Cabernet Franc. Matured for 18 months in French oak, it captures the elegance of Stellenbosch with generous fruit, refined structure, and remarkable value. This is a polished everyday red that consistently drinks well above its price point.

Aromas & Flavors
Expressive aromas of red currant, cranberry, ripe blackberry, cassis, and dark cherry mingle with subtle cedar, baking spices, graphite, and gentle floral notes from the Cabernet Franc. The palate is vibrant, layered, and beautifully integrated, finishing with lingering red fruit and delicate spice.

Mouthfeel
Medium- to full-bodied with silky, polished tannins and impressive texture. Soft-edged and generous without feeling heavy, the wine delivers excellent balance, freshness, and a long, elegant finish that keeps inviting another sip.

Food Pairings
Excellent alongside grilled steaks, roasted lamb, barbecue, herb-crusted pork tenderloin, mushroom dishes, aged Gouda, or simply enjoyed on its own.

Verdict
A tremendous value that punches well above its price category. Elegant yet approachable, expressive yet restrained, this Stellenbosch blend showcases just how beautifully Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc thrive in South Africa. A wine capable of pleasing both casual drinkers and seasoned enthusiasts alike.

Did You Know?
Founded in 1682, Blaauwklippen is one of South Africa’s oldest wine estates. Long before Bordeaux blends became fashionable in the New World, Stellenbosch had already established itself as one of the Southern Hemisphere’s premier homes for Cabernet Sauvignon, thanks to its decomposed granite soils, Mediterranean climate, and cooling ocean influences.

🍷 Personal Pick
One of those bottles I love recommending when someone asks for an affordable red that tastes far more expensive than it is. It has the polish, balance, and elegance of a much higher-priced Bordeaux-style blend, making it an easy crowd-pleaser and an outstanding everyday cellar staple. — 11 minutes ago

Freddy R. Troya

8.9

Île de Conas Le Blanc 2025, Vin de France – France 🇫🇷

Overview
A blend of 65% Sauvignon Blanc and 35% Souvignier Gris, this bright and easygoing French white is crafted for pure enjoyment. Combining the freshness of Sauvignon Blanc with the softer, aromatic character of Souvignier Gris, it delivers an approachable style that overperforms well above its price point. A perfect reminder that great everyday wines don’t have to be expensive.

Aromas & Flavors
Fresh aromas of citrus, white peach, pear, melon, and spring flowers lead into flavors of ripe orchard fruit, lemon zest, and delicate floral notes. The fruit is slightly more expressive than classic Loire Sauvignon Blanc, making it immediately appealing to a wide range of palates.

Mouthfeel
Light-bodied with refreshing acidity and a smooth, easy-drinking texture. Crisp, clean, and balanced, finishing with pleasant fruit and floral persistence.

Food Pairings
Excellent with grilled shrimp, fish tacos, fresh salads, goat cheese, light pasta dishes, or simply enjoyed on the patio with friends.

Verdict
An outstanding value that punches above its weight. Dry, aromatic, and incredibly approachable, it’s the kind of bottle that disappears quickly whenever it’s shared.

Did You Know?
Souvignier Gris is a modern fungus-resistant grape developed in Germany by crossing Cabernet Sauvignon with Bronner. It has gained popularity because it requires fewer vineyard treatments while producing expressive, aromatic wines.

🍷 Personal Pick
This was one of the most approachable crowd-pleasers I’ve poured recently. While it’s a touch fruitier than my personal preference, I completely understand why everyone around the table loved it. Fresh, balanced, and incredibly easy to enjoy, it’s the kind of patio pounder that proves you don’t need to spend much to have a genuinely fun bottle. — 15 days ago

Freddy R. Troya

8.9

Rosa Dell’Olmo – Gavi DOCG 2025
Cortese – Piemonte, Italy 🇮🇹

Overview
Made from 100% Cortese, the 2025 vintage stays remarkably faithful to the elegant Gavi style. Compared with the 2024, the profile is strikingly similar, showing perhaps a touch more freshness and lift while preserving the crisp, mineral-driven character that makes this appellation so consistently enjoyable.

Aromas & Flavors
White flowers, pear, green apple, lemon zest, and subtle citrus blossom, supported by delicate mineral notes and a clean, dry finish.

Mouthfeel
Light to medium-bodied with lively acidity, refreshing minerality, and a slightly more vibrant energy than the previous vintage. Crisp, graceful, and effortlessly drinkable.

Food Pairings
Oysters, grilled shrimp, seafood pasta, sushi, fresh salads, goat cheese, or enjoyed as a refreshing aperitif.

Verdict
Rather than reinventing the wine, the 2025 vintage builds on the strengths of the 2024. The differences are subtle, with a slightly brighter and more uplifting profile, making it another reliable expression of classic Gavi.

Did You Know?
Gavi was the first white wine in Piemonte to earn DOCG status. While the region is famous for Barolo and Barbaresco, Gavi has long been considered one of Italy’s benchmark dry white wines thanks to the Cortese grape’s naturally vibrant acidity and mineral elegance.

🍷 Personal Pick
What impressed me most is the consistency. Tasted side by side, the 2025 doesn’t try to be dramatically different—it simply feels a touch fresher while preserving everything I enjoyed about the 2024. That’s exactly the kind of reliability I appreciate in a well-made Gavi. — 15 days ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.0

Pago del Cielo Celeste Verdejo Sur Lies 2023 – Rueda DO, Castilla y León, Spain 🇪🇸

Overview
Made from 100% Verdejo, this wine undergoes sur lies aging, allowing extended contact with the lees to build texture and complexity while preserving the variety’s vibrant freshness. The result is a beautifully balanced Verdejo that overdelivers with remarkable depth and value.

Aromas & Flavors
Lime zest, grapefruit, green apple, white peach, fennel, fresh herbs, and subtle citrus blossom are complemented by delicate lees-derived notes of fresh bread and almond.

Mouthfeel
Bright and energetic with lively acidity wrapped around a creamy, silky texture. The sur lies aging adds weight and complexity without introducing buttery richness, creating a beautifully focused and refreshing finish.

Food Pairings
Grilled shrimp, oysters, ceviche, seafood paella, roasted vegetables, goat cheese, sushi, or herb-roasted chicken.

Verdict
An expressive and remarkably well-crafted Verdejo that combines freshness with texture in a way few wines at this price point achieve. Elegant, refreshing, and immensely satisfying.

Did You Know?
“Sur lies” means the wine remains in contact with its spent yeast cells after fermentation. Gentle stirring of the lees (bâtonnage) can further enhance creaminess and complexity while preserving freshness, a technique often associated with top white Burgundies but increasingly embraced by premium Verdejo producers.

🍷 Personal Pick
This wine genuinely surprised me. It delivers far more complexity than expected, with the creamy lees texture beautifully balancing its vibrant acidity. For anyone who thinks Verdejo is simply another crisp white, this bottle proves just how compelling, and underrated Rueda can be. — 15 days ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.0

La Sacrestia — Langhe Bianco 2024. Langhe DOC, Piedmont, Italy 🇮🇹

Overview
A refreshing expression of Langhe’s often-overlooked white wines. While the producer doesn’t disclose the grape composition (Langhe Bianco DOC allows a blend of several approved white varieties), the focus is clearly on freshness, minerality, and drinkability rather than oak or richness. The result is a vibrant, food-friendly white that captures the elegant side of Piedmont.

Aromas & Flavors
Bright aromas of citrus, white peach, green apple, white flowers, and ripe orchard fruit mingle with subtle stony minerality. The palate leans toward crisp stone fruits with delicate floral notes, finishing with a refreshing mineral lift.

Mouthfeel
Light- to medium-bodied with lively acidity, energetic tension, and a pleasantly textured palate. Fresh and slightly sharper than many Langhe whites, yet balanced by a soft, silky finish that keeps every sip inviting.

Food Pairings
Excellent with seafood, grilled shrimp, fresh pasta, risotto, roasted chicken, mild cheeses, or simply enjoyed as an aperitivo.

Verdict
A delightful surprise that punches above its weight. This is an easy-drinking yet characterful white that works equally well on its own or alongside food. Fresh, mineral, and effortlessly enjoyable, it’s exactly the type of everyday Piedmont white worth keeping on hand.

Did You Know?
The Langhe Bianco DOC is intentionally flexible, allowing producers to blend different white grape varieties grown throughout the Langhe. Rather than showcasing a single grape, many winemakers use the appellation to express the character of the vineyard and vintage, creating distinctive house styles.

🍷 Personal Pick
One of those casual cellar staples that quietly earns a permanent place on the rack. It won’t try to impress with power or complexity, instead, it wins you over with freshness, texture, and pure drinkability. The kind of bottle that’s just as satisfying on a warm afternoon as it is paired with a simple seafood dinner. — 19 minutes ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.0

Corvelia Sauvignon Blanc 2025
Paso Robles – California, USA 🇺🇸

Overview
Sustainably grown in the rolling hills of Paso Robles, this 100% Sauvignon Blanc takes a more delicate and refined approach than many of its New World counterparts. Rather than leading with bold tropical fruit, it focuses on freshness, subtle aromatics, and graceful balance, making it an elegant everyday Sauvignon Blanc.

Aromas & Flavors
Lifted aromas of citrus blossoms, white flowers, white peach, lemon zest, and hints of green tropical fruit. The palate is bright and refreshing, offering subtle citrus, crisp orchard fruit, and a clean mineral touch.

Mouthfeel
Light to medium-bodied with lively acidity and a silky texture. Fresh, vibrant, and beautifully balanced, finishing clean with lingering citrus and floral notes.

Food Pairings
Excellent with grilled shrimp, ceviche, oysters, sushi, fresh salads, goat cheese, or herb-roasted chicken.

Verdict
An elegant, easy-drinking Sauvignon Blanc that favors finesse over intensity. Crisp, refreshing, and versatile, it’s an excellent choice for warm afternoons or light cuisine.

Did You Know?
Although Paso Robles is internationally recognized for bold Cabernet Sauvignon, Rhône varieties, and Zinfandel, its cooler western districts and elevated vineyards are increasingly producing expressive Sauvignon Blanc with freshness and restraint.

🍷 Personal Pick
I really enjoyed the elegance of this wine. Instead of the explosive tropical profile often associated with New World Sauvignon Blanc, it leans toward subtle citrus, white flowers, and freshness. A lovely bottle for those who appreciate finesse over power, and one I’d happily pour as a relaxing aperitif or alongside a light seafood dinner. Cheers! — 15 days ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.0

Domaine Gabrielle Vivien – Saint-Bris AOC 2023
100% Sauvignon Blanc – Burgundy, France 🇫🇷

Overview
One of Burgundy’s best-kept secrets. Saint-Bris is the region’s only appellation dedicated to Sauvignon Blanc. Sourced from 25-year-old vines planted on Kimmeridgian limestone soils just west of Chablis, this wine delivers remarkable precision, minerality, and freshness while offering a distinctly Burgundian interpretation of the variety.

Aromas & Flavors
Vibrant aromas of lime zest, grapefruit, white flowers, and freshly cut herbs open the nose. The palate is crisp and energetic, revealing citrus, green apple, subtle gooseberry, and distinctive wet stone minerality that builds beautifully toward a long, savory finish.

Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied with lively acidity and remarkable tension. The texture is sleek and elegant, balancing freshness with a persistent mineral backbone that keeps every sip engaging.

Food Pairings
Outstanding with grilled mahi-mahi, oysters, ceviche, goat cheese, sushi, or herb-roasted chicken.

Verdict
A fascinating expression of Sauvignon Blanc that combines the grape’s aromatic character with Burgundy’s unmistakable sense of place. Elegant, mineral-driven, and wonderfully food-friendly.

Did You Know?
Saint-Bris is the only appellation in Burgundy where Sauvignon Blanc is the authorized flagship grape, making it a unique exception in a region otherwise dominated by Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

🍷 Personal Pick
One of my favorite Sauvignon Blancs. I love how it expresses the grape from soils traditionally devoted to Chardonnay, proving that Burgundy can still surprise me. The 2023 continues that beautiful tradition with freshness, elegance, and unmistakable character. — 15 days ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.1

Clos des Lunes "Lune d'Argent" 2024. Bordeaux Blanc – Bordeaux, France 🇫🇷

Overview
A classic Bordeaux Blanc crafted from 70% Sémillon and 30% Sauvignon Blanc, produced by Clos des Lunes, the white wine estate of the Bernard family (SC Domaine de Chevalier) in one of Bordeaux's finest white wine terroirs. While still in its youth, the 2024 vintage already reveals exceptional balance, precision, and elegance. Its beautifully integrated texture hints at an even brighter future with a few years of bottle age.

Aromas & Flavors
Expressive aromas of white peach, ripe citrus, honeysuckle, lemon blossom, and fresh herbs unfold alongside subtle notes of wet stone and flint. The palate is layered yet remarkably refined, where the richness of Sémillon meets the freshness and lift of Sauvignon Blanc.

Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied with a silky, almost creamy texture balanced by vibrant acidity. Despite its youthful structure, the edges are already remarkably soft, leading to a long, mineral-driven finish that lingers with freshness rather than weight.

Food Pairings
A natural companion for oysters, scallops, lobster, grilled prawns, sea bass, Dover sole, or creamy goat cheese. Its precision and elegance make it an outstanding seafood wine.

Verdict
Another outstanding vintage that continues the remarkable consistency of Clos des Lunes. The 2024 is tighter than the 2023 but noticeably more polished, combining youthful energy with impressive finesse. Delicious today, yet clearly built to reward three to six years of cellaring.

Did You Know?
Clos des Lunes is owned by the Bernard family, also proprietors of the prestigious Domaine de Chevalier in Pessac-Léognan. Although produced under the Bordeaux Blanc appellation, the estate applies many of the same meticulous vineyard and cellar practices that have made Domaine de Chevalier one of Bordeaux's benchmark producers of dry white wine.

🍷 Personal Pick
This has quietly become one of the cornerstone whites in my cellar. I've followed several vintages, and each one seems to refine the style even further. The 2024 impressed me with its precision, softer edges, and seamless balance despite its youth. It's one of those bottles I never hesitate to recommend, beautiful now with seafood, but patient enthusiast will be rewarded with even greater complexity in a few years.
— 2 hours ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.1

Pazzia – Vermentino – Puglia, Italy 🇮🇹

Overview
A refreshing take on 100% Vermentino from southern Italy. While the grape is most closely associated with Sardinia and the Tuscan coast, this Puglian expression highlights a slightly different personality, less broad than expected, yet beautifully crisp, mineral-driven, and remarkably balanced. An excellent reminder that great Vermentino isn’t confined to its most famous homes.

Aromas & Flavors
Fresh lemon zest, green apple, white peach, Mediterranean herbs, and delicate white flowers mingle with subtle saline and stony mineral notes. The palate is clean, vibrant, and wonderfully refreshing, finishing with a gentle citrus lift.

Mouthfeel
Light to medium-bodied with lively acidity and a sleek, dry texture. The balance between freshness, fruit, and minerality is seamless, making every sip effortless and inviting.

Food Pairings
Outstanding with grilled shrimp, oysters, calamari, seafood pasta, grilled vegetables, lemon chicken, or simply enjoyed as an aperitif on a warm afternoon.

Verdict
An unexpectedly impressive Vermentino that overdelivers for its style and price. Bright, elegant, and refreshingly mineral, it proves Puglia can produce expressive white wines well beyond the region’s red wine reputation.

Did You Know?
Although Vermentino is strongly associated with Sardinia and the Tuscan coast, it is also cultivated throughout several Mediterranean regions of Italy. Puglia’s warm climate often gives the grape a slightly riper profile, yet skilled producers can still preserve the vibrant acidity and mineral freshness that make Vermentino so appealing.

🍷 Personal Pick
This was my very first Vermentino from Puglia, and I honestly wasn’t expecting it to impress me this much. I usually gravitate toward Sardinian or Tuscan examples, but this bottle reminded me why stepping outside our comfort zone is so rewarding. A delicious discovery that I’d happily pour again, and one I’ll definitely mention when teaching about Italy’s diverse white wines. — 15 days ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.1

Clos de los Siete by Michel Roland, Malbec Blend 2021, Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina 🇦🇷

Overview
A Bordeaux-inspired blend led by 59% Malbec, 15% Merlot, 13% Syrah, 6% Cabernet Franc, 4% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 3% Petit Verdot, crafted under the vision of Michel Rolland. Compared to the 2019 vintage, the higher proportion of Malbec gives the 2021 greater concentration, depth, and a more distinctly Argentine personality while maintaining its polished French-inspired elegance.

Aromas & Flavors
Ripe blackberry, black plum, cassis, violet, dark chocolate, espresso, graphite, cedar, and sweet baking spices unfold in generous layers. The fruit feels darker and more concentrated, revealing additional complexity with air.

Mouthfeel
Full-bodied with a luscious, velvety texture and beautifully integrated tannins. The extra Malbec brings added richness and depth, while vibrant acidity keeps the wine energetic. The finish is notably longer, more textured, and impressively persistent.

Food Pairings
Argentine asado, grilled ribeye, lamb chops, braised beef, mushroom risotto, aged Manchego, or hard Alpine cheeses.

Verdict
An outstanding evolution of Clos de los Siete that leans into a deeper, more expressive profile without sacrificing balance. Richer, more textured, and exceptionally harmonious, the 2021 stands out as one of the strongest recent vintages of this iconic blend.

Did You Know?
Although Clos de los Siete is inspired by Bordeaux, the increasing prominence of Malbec in recent vintages reflects the confidence of Argentina’s Uco Valley terroir, allowing the region’s signature grape to take center stage while the Bordeaux varieties provide structure and finesse.

🍷 Personal Pick
Having enjoyed both vintages, I found the 2021 even more compelling than the already excellent 2019 (also reviewed in Delectable). The additional Malbec adds a deeper core of fruit, greater texture, and a remarkably persistent finish that elevates the wine into an even more complete and satisfying expression. It has officially become my favorite Clos de los Siete vintage to date. — 15 days ago