Freddy R. Troya

9.0

69 Miles – Chardonnay 2024
Yolo County, California – USA 🇺🇸

Overview
An entry-level label of Lloyd Cellars, this Chardonnay showcases Rob Lloyd’s signature richness at a more approachable price point. The name 69 Miles represents the exact distance from the vineyard source to the winery’s crush pad—a nod to the precision and timeliness in harvesting and processing that preserves freshness.

Aromas & Flavors
Concentrated notes of mango, pear, and white peach lead, accented by buttercream and a touch of vanilla. The wine balances ripe fruit intensity with a gentle creaminess, offering opulence without heaviness.

Mouthfeel
Medium to full-bodied, creamy yet lifted, with a crisp streak of acidity that carries through the finish. The contrast between richness and freshness makes it both indulgent and food-friendly.

Winemaking Notes
Crafted under the careful hand of Rob Lloyd, known for his polished California Chardonnays. Though positioned as an entry-tier, the attention to vineyard sourcing and quick-to-crush handling gives this wine a high-quality edge.

Food Pairing
Perfect with roasted chicken, creamy pasta primavera, or seared scallops. Its tropical fruit core also plays beautifully with spiced dishes like Thai curry.

The Verdict
An affordable but well-crafted Chardonnay that delivers Lloyd’s signature plush style while keeping a refreshing edge. Proof that even at the entry-level, care in sourcing and timing can result in standout quality.

✨ Personal Highlight: I love how the story of 69 miles reflects vineyard-to-winery precision—it makes the wine’s freshness and balance even more meaningful. A perfect example of how detail in winemaking can elevate even an “everyday” label. Cheers! — 21 days ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.6

1997 vintage. Still dark as all get out. A quarter century has thinned out the massive body to medium body but the unified nose/flavors are full of chaparral/scrub, cassis, baking chocolate, gravelly dirt and blackberry reduction. Tasted approximately two hours after decanting. Miles to go before this one sleeps. In the zone now and likely so for another decade before any noticeable drop off in this old school Dunn experience. — 3 years ago

Anna Sangiacomo

9.4

Two Miles from the Pacific Ocean with an elevation of 1500 feet. This is one of the most elegant wines of the three different sites.  Rose petals, crushed raspberry, wild strawberry.  — 3 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Pale lemon color with aromas of stone fruits and blossom and spice, fruit from the Martinelli Charles Ranch, two miles in from the Pacific, aged for 12 months in 25% new oak. On the palate flavors of apple and pear with a touch of zesty lemon, crisp, with nitty vanilla notes. Nice mouthfeel, vivid acidity, medium+ finish ending with fruit, vanilla and citrus mineral character. Nice! — 7 months ago

Doug Powers

9.8

[8 hour decant] Impenetrable, super opaque dark purple color, seriously, color is SO DARK it looks like 5W-30 motor oil after 10-15 thousand miles, lovely raisin aromas and flavors, tending a little dry as Dow’s VP does, super long, lingering finish, if any Vintage Porto could easily go 100+ years, this might be it!! Seriously, the color alone suggests a VERY YOUNG barrel sample, AMAZING!! — 9 months ago

with Jim

Martinez

8.9

Entry-level Chasselas by Luc Massy, a historic producer from the village of Epesses in Lavaux (right on the shore of Lake Geneva, about 6 miles southeast of Lausanne). Pale gold color. Discreet nose with subtle aromas of pear, bake apple and vanilla. Light-bodied, round, delicate. Low acidity, subtle minerality. Great breakfast wine, as they say around here. — 3 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

In the heart of the Chianti lies Estate of Sette Ponti, 15 miles northwest of the city of Arezzo, past village of San Giustino Valdarno. Has 10% Merlot, aged in French Allier barriques, deep Ruby with red fruit aromas and floral notes. On the palate blackberry, plum and cherry flavors with blossom notes, spice and fine integrated tannins. Good balance, long finish ending with some oak and mineral tones. Nice! Will age a bit! Tasting well now! — 9 months ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.6

2011 vintage. Decanted with some sed and tasted after 1 hour. Bigg structure with plenty of tobacco, underbrush and dark fruit. A complex kid. Lots of moving parts but really unified currently and moving towards a common goal. Total BDX ringer in a pricey blind. This has miles to go. 8.2.24. — a year ago

Al Shikoh

9.3

dark purple; blueberry, black plum, white pepper, black olive, hint of smoke; medium body, medium+ acidity, grippy tannin, 13.8% ABV; made from Syrah sourced from remote high altitude vineyard in Mendocino County 3.3 miles from the ocean and cofermented with 5% Viognier, 50% whole clusters used, aged 14 months in neutral French Oak puncheons; $48 — 3 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

Last ‘17 in cellar! In the heart of the Chianti lies Estate of Sette Ponti, 15 miles northwest of the city of Arezzo, past village of San Giustino Valdarno. Has 10% Merlot, aged in French Allier barriques, deep Ruby with red fruit aromas and floral notes. On the palate blackberry, plum and cherry flavors with blossom notes, spice and fine integrated tannins. Good balance, long finish ending with some oak and mineral tones. Nice! Will age a bit more! Tasting well now! — 4 years ago