Freddy R. Troya

9.0

Curran Wines – Grenache Gris Rosé / 2024
Santa Barbara County AVA – California, USA 🇺🇸

Overview
A distinctive rosé crafted from 100% Grenache Gris, produced by the rosé de saignée method. From Santa Barbara County, this wine offers a pale rose quartz hue with a structure that balances freshness and elegance.

Aromas & Flavors
Strawberry, wild raspberries, and honeysuckle up front. Layers of red citrus zest, white peach, and faint herbal notes add to its refreshing complexity.

Mouthfeel
Crisp and zippy, yet supported by a fine silky texture with a lingering, mineral-driven finish. Refreshing but not simple, this rosé shows a lot of finesse.

Food Pairings
Versatile enough to be enjoyed on its own, but pairs beautifully with seafood, chilled soups, braised meats, barbecued ribs, or summer brunch staples like bacon and quiche.

Verdict
An elegant rosé with real depth, showing off the potential of Grenache Gris in Santa Barbara terroir. Structured, flavorful, and seasonally perfect.

Did You Know?
Grenache Gris is a rare pink-skinned mutation of Grenache, most often found in southern France. Seeing it crafted as a rosé de saignée in California is unusual, and adds extra color and concentration compared to the direct-press method used in most rosés. — 5 days ago

Kristina Clifford

10

Loved this one. Smooth, light, dynamic. Bought from the winery at the “Old Place”. — 2 years ago

Doggfather

9.7

Beyond imagination — 3 years ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.0

Curran Wines – Grenache Blanc / 2024
Santa Barbara County, California 🇺🇸

Overview
An elegant, dry white that captures Grenache Blanc’s natural freshness and weight, crafted with precision in Santa Barbara County.

Aromas & Flavors
Bright citrus and orchard fruit open the way — lemon zest, pear, and white peach. The palate expands with ripe mango and tropical tones, layered with a faint floral lift and subtle minerality.

Mouthfeel
Dry, medium-bodied, and beautifully balanced. Crisp acidity carries the wine, while the impressive finish of mango and tropical fruit lingers long and clean.

Food Pairings
A versatile match for coastal cuisine: think grilled shrimp, ceviche, sushi, goat cheese salad, or roast chicken with herbs.

Verdict
A standout Grenache Blanc, crisp, vibrant, yet layered with ripe fruit and a polished finish. Proof that this Rhône white thrives in Santa Barbara’s terroir.

Did You Know?
Grenache Blanc is the white-skinned mutation of Grenache Noir, native to Spain’s Catalonia but celebrated in the Rhône Valley blends. It’s rare as a single varietal bottling in California, making this expression even more special. — 5 days ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.0

D’Alfonso-Curran – Gewürztraminer – 2022
Monterey County, California, USA 🇺🇸

Overview
100% Gewürztraminer from Monterey County, crafted to showcase the grape’s exotic aromatics with a West Coast lift of acidity.

Aromas & Flavors
Layers of lychee, white peach, and orange blossom are accented by hints of ginger, cardamom, and rose petal. The spice is subtle yet distinctive, balancing the floral exuberance.

Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied and lively, with firm acidity that reins in the grape’s natural opulence. The finish is fresh, lightly spiced, and lingering.

Food Pairings
Ideal with aromatic cuisine like Thai curries, Vietnamese spring rolls, or Moroccan chicken tagine. Also a natural partner for aged Gouda or soft, washed-rind cheeses.

Verdict
A beautifully expressive Gewürztraminer that balances exotic aromatics with freshness, a fine example of how this Alsatian grape thrives in California’s cool-climate Monterey region.

Did You Know?
Gewürztraminer is notoriously tricky in the vineyard: early budding, prone to frost damage, and often low yielding. But when grown in cool sites like Monterey, it develops intense aromatics while keeping that crucial spine of acidity. — 5 days ago

Ashley B

9.1

Mike likes this one — 4 years ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.0

D’Alfonso-Curran – Chardonnay / 2024
Santa Barbara County, California 🇺🇸

Overview
A limited-production (only 400 cases) stainless-steel Chardonnay that strips away oak to showcase the pure, unadorned character of the grape in Santa Barbara’s cool-climate terroir.

Aromas & Flavors
Bright citrus zest, green apple, and crisp pear with undertones of wet stone and a faint saline edge. The absence of oak allows the fruit to take center stage, framed by mineral precision.

Mouthfeel
Lean, steely, and razor-sharp in structure, medium-bodied with lively acidity and a refreshing, clean finish. Pure varietal expression at its finest.

Food Pairings
Perfect with oysters on the half shell, ceviche, sushi, goat cheese salad, or simply grilled halibut. A wine that elevates fresh and delicate dishes.

Verdict
An elegant, stainless-steel Chardonnay that proves restraint can be thrilling. Crisp, mineral-driven, and a true reflection of Santa Barbara County Chardonnay.

Did You Know?
Stainless steel fermentation preserves primary fruit and natural acidity, unlike oak, which imparts creaminess and spice. This style, popular in Chablis and coastal regions, is gaining traction in California for its ability to highlight terroir. — 5 days ago

Michael Chelus

9.2

Cherry, raspberry, eucalyptus, vanilla, curran, plum and oak. Full-bodied and soft tannins. — a year ago

Doggfather

9.1

Perfect with grilled or stewed meats. — 2 years ago

Doggfather

9.2

Shocked to see a Cab from Curran. But they did pretty well for themselves. — 4 years ago