Freddy R. Troya

9.4

Agricola San Felice – Pugnitello 2017
Toscana IGT, Italy 🇮🇹

Overview
Made from the ancient and rare indigenous grape Pugnitello, rediscovered and championed by San Felice, this wine showcases Tuscany’s dedication to preserving forgotten varieties. Its name comes from “pugno” (fist) for the tight cluster shape of the grapes. The 2017 vintage reveals the grape’s intense character in full force.

Aromas & Flavors
Deep black fruits dominate — blackberry, plum, and cassis — layered with cloves, forest mulch, and spicy wood. Subtle earthy notes and dried herbs give the wine a rustic but elegant Tuscan signature.

Mouthfeel
Bone-dry, powerful, and firmly structured. The tannins are bold yet polished, supporting a dense fruit core with savory spice and smoky undertones. The wine sits squarely in its prime drinking window, showing maturity and balance without losing its intensity.

Food Pairing
Pair with Tuscan bistecca alla Fiorentina, wild boar ragù, or truffle risotto. Also excellent with aged pecorino or charcuterie.

The Verdict
A compelling example of Tuscany’s viticultural heritage. The Pugnitello grape delivers depth, authenticity, and a unique sense of place. 2017 shows remarkable power and elegance — a wine lover’s discovery worth seeking out.

Personal Pick Highlight
Pugnitello is one of my favorite indigenous Tuscan reds because of its history and singular profile. This 2017 was at its perfect prime time — an absolute standout in San Felice’s lineup. Cheers! — a month ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Founded in 1932 by Isaac Muga Martínez, now run by Manuel, Isabel & Isaac Muga Caño. Deep Ruby, aromas of sweet red and black fruits with pepper spice, unmistakable Muga. 4 grape blend from the Haro district (70% Tempranillo, rest Garnacha, Mazuelo & Graciano), palate shows cherry and currant flavors with espresso, vanilla & toasty oak tones. Soft full tannins, lively acidity on a medium+ finish ending with an earthy mineral character. Nice value! Great vintage! — a year ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Gavi comes from small growing area in northwestern Italy located north of Genoa on steep slopes of Ligurian Apennines. White label is La Scolca’s everyday wine, an alternative to their “Black Label”. From Cortese di Gavi grape (younger vines), pale yellow with delicate aromas of stone & citrus fruits. Palate, with extended lees aging shows rich apple & lemon flavors, nutty notes, good mouthfeel. Crisper than ‘17, medium finish, vivid acidity ending with a mineral character. Nice! — 4 years ago

Vanessa

9.4

Cheers to experiencing Apalta’s beauty in the glass! 🇨🇱 🍷

💯 This is the 2018 Clos Apalta, an iconic wine produced by Domaines Bournet-Lapostolle.

Apalta is located in the Colchagua Valley, which stretches from the Pacific coast 🌊 to the Andes mountains 🏔️ , offering a wide diversity of microclimates from west to east.

It benefits from a long growing season that is generally warm & dry, with plentiful sunshine ☀️ , supporting development of color in the grape skin, ripening of tannins, & accumulation of sugar (that will become alcohol through fermentation)… 🍇

The subregion of Apalta is nestled into a south-facing amphitheater, capturing cool breezes from the west, which, together with a higher elevation, help preserve acidity in the grapes lending freshness & balance to the final wine. 🍷

This is a Bordeaux blend made with 64% Carménère, 18% Cabernet Sauvignon, & 18% Merlot grown on one of the oldest vineyards for Cabernet Sauvignon and Carmenère in Chile. 😮

Fermentation took place in a blend of 75% large French oak vats and 25% new French oak barrels. 🪵

It also matured 25 months in a combination of new and second use French oak barrels, imparting vanilla, cedar, sandalwood, chocolate, clove, and sweet baking spice notes, next to violet, black cherry, cassis, plum, mulberry, graphite, kalamata olive, leather, tobacco, roasted bell pepper, & tarragon. 🎶 — 2 months ago

with Deked1

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Six grape blend, Merlot, Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Mourvedre and Syrah, dark Ruby with ripe dark fruit aromas with spicy vanilla oak. On the palate flavors of black cherry and blackberry with notes of black pepper, leather, vanilla and cacao. Nice balance, fine tannins, medium+ finish ending with fruit, vanilla, oak and spicy notes. — 3 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.3

Deep Ruby, aromas of sweet red and black fruits with pepper spice and oak. 4 grape blend from some of CVNE's best vineyards in the Rioja Alta (85% Tempranillo, rest Garnacha, Mazuelo & Graciano), aged in both French and American oak for 24 months. On the palate flavors of blackberry and currants with licorice, vanilla, tobacco & toasty oak tones. Soft full ripe tannins, wonderful balance, lively acidity on a long finish ending with an earthy mineral character. Very nice! Tried several bottles! — 4 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

8.9

Gavi comes from small growing area in northwestern Italy located north of Genoa on steep slopes of Ligurian Apennines. White label is La Scolca’s everyday wine, an alternative to their “Black Label”. From Cortese di Gavi grape (younger vines), pale yellow color with aromas of stone and citrus fruits, extended lees aging. On the palate flavors of apple and lemon, nutty notes, nice mouthfeel. Medium finish, vivid acidity ending with a mineral character. Nice! — 5 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.3

Deep Ruby, aromas of sweet red and black fruits with pepper spice and oak. 4 grape blend from some of CVNE's best vineyards in the Rioja Alta (85% Tempranillo, rest Garnacha, Mazuelo & Graciano), aged in both French and American oak for 24 months. On the palate flavors of blackberry and currants with licorice, vanilla, tobacco & toasty oak tones. Soft full ripe tannins, wonderful balance, lively acidity on a long finish ending with an earthy mineral character. Very nice! — 5 months ago

David Kline

9.5

2010 vintage. Black cherry and black currant with cigar box and allspice and a touch of multi-grain on the nose. Black and bing cherry with chewy tannins and rooibos. Plum tartness, and an interesting grape-y aspect. Ripe currant and licorice.
This is more like it!


#chateaulynchbages #lynchbages #pauillac #appellationpauillaccontrôlée
#leftbank #bordeaux #grandcruclasséde1855 — 2 years ago

Ely Cohn

9.1

When winemakers devote themselves to the mastery of one grape, every bottling from top to bottom tends to be exceptional.

Such is the case with Raul Perez and his consistent ability to make Mencia bloom.

Vico is aromatically rich and complex. Cedar, new leather, blackberry, black currant, cinnamon, cocoa, coffee.



— 4 years ago