Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.4

The four single vineyards are my favorite Beaujolais done in the classic style. If doesn’t get better than these 4. Clos Bertrand is perhaps the most accessible and is such a joy. Stunning nose of spicecake, granite, red and black berry fruit, earth and flowers. So pure and vivid. These wines are so clean. Palate is ripe and tangy with excellent precision and detail. Lean-ish with lovely sweet fruit and purity. Linear. So juicy with such fine grained tannins and such impressive length. This oozes class. Amazing fruit saturation on the finish. So long. Brilliant. — 3 years ago

Sagee Aran

8.9

Carmel Winery, 4 Vats. A pleasent blend with Marselan, Carignan and Caladoc. Brilliant red color, very balanced and smooth on the palete. Great as a weekday wine. — 4 years ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.1

This estate is owned by Pierre Lurton (who is also in charge of lesser-known estates Cheval Blanc and Yquem). 2018 was the first vintage where the 4 white grape varieties were picked and vinified separately in order to finetune the blend which has led in this vintage to 44% Sauvignon blanc, 32% Sémillon, 20% Sauvignon gris and 4% Muscadelle. No wood. Brilliant light yellow. Attractive nose with pineapple, white peach, grapefruit and a hint of fresh mint. The same fruits show up in the mouthfilling ripe taste, balanced by crisp acidity and a fresh minty long aftertaste. This is absolutely delicious and great value at less than 15 euros. — 5 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Tried having this yesterday but, couldn’t bring it in to Nepenthe per usual due to their heavy Covid-19 business loses. Totally understandable. But, as Phil Collins sang, “Tonight’s The Night!”

The nose reveals dark, ruby, ripe & just a touch candied fruits of; blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, spiced plum, blue fruits, poached strawberries, cherries with raspberries hovering the edges of the glass. Dark spice, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, vanilla, mixed dark(er) berry cola, limestone/sandstone, touch of savory meats, light tobacco notes, soft woodiness, shades of licorice, light, fresh Provenance herbs, sage, whiffs of black pepper, tree bark w/ some sap, touch of damp, dark earth, top soil with brilliant fresh, candied; dark, red, blue florals framed in soft violets in a field of lavender.

The palate is; ripe, ruby, round and lush. The mouthfeel is gorgeous & sexy. Still showing some tarry, teethed tannins. The length, structure, balance & length have just arrived with another 8-10 years of good life ahead. Dark, ruby, ripe & just a touch candied fruits of; blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, spiced plum, incredible blue fruits, poached strawberries, cherries with classically perfect Williams Selyem raspberries . Dark spice, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, vanilla, mixed dark berry cola, steeped fruit tea, used coffee grounds, some dark chocolate, limestone/sandstone, touch of savory meats, light tobacco notes, wood shaving dust, shades of licorice, light, fresh Provenance herbs, sage, mint, whiffs of black pepper, tree bark w/ some sap, touch of damp, dark earth, top soil with brilliant fresh, candied; dark, red, blue florals framed in soft violets in a field of lavender. The acidity is round, voluptuous and perfect. The ripe, ruby, lush, well, knitted, balanced fruit & earth and polished long finish is glorious and persists endlessly into soft, dark spice with just the right amount of gentle heat.

Williams Selyem Pinots really start to be special at the 10 years plus.

This will continue to improve over the next 3-4 years and start a slow decline.

Also, appreciate they kept the ABV under 14%.

Photos of, Williams Selyem Winery & Tasting Room, designer barrel rack, tasting area where we tasted and one of their rolling hillside vineyards. — 5 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

A pre-tasting of my heavy meat red sauce in order to fine tune the spices and seasoning it before serving for 30 people for our friend’s 60th birthday party tomorrow night.

The sauce is 9 cans of whole tomato’s crushed & drained, 9 can cans of tomato sauce, 3 cans of tomato paste, 6.5 pound whole pork roast braised in diced garlic & olive oil that falls apart & shreds when done, 5 pepperoni sticks sliced, 4 pounds of meatballs (with Italian bread crumbs, garlic salt, coarse black pepper, eggs with warm water) and 14 seasonings & spices slow cooked over 36-48 hours. It’s a blend that once it’s done is magical harmony in the mouth like a well crafted & aged wine.

The wine works well but, I’ll have better pairing wines tomorrow night.

The nose reveals; dark, sweet & slightest sour dark cherries, cherry kirsch liqueur notes, ripe, bright blackberries, baked black plum, ripe, juicy, strawberries, slightly candied black raspberries, blue fruits, mixed berry cola, dry crushed rocks, limestone minerals, dry stems, soft, leaner, sweet, tarriness, touch of dry herbs with the most amazing, bright, red, dark blue florals, violets and shades of lavender.

The body is medium full, round with great mouth presence. The tannins nicely, rounded, slightly tarry and baby teeth. The tension, structure, length and balance have just started to tango. Dark, sweet & slightest sour dark cherries, cherry kirsch liqueur notes, ripe, bright blackberries, baked black plum, ripe, juicy, strawberries, slightly candied black raspberries, blue fruits, mixed berry cola, medium intensity dark spice with a little palate heat, dry crushed rocks, limestone minerals, dry stems, leathery, dry tobacco, shades of graphite, soft, leaner, sweet, tarriness, nutmeg, clove, a touch of dry herbs with the most amazing, bright, red, dark blue florals, violets and shades of lavender. The acidity is nicely executed. The long finish is nicely knitted, balanced fruit and earth, polished with soft, brilliant florals and persists minutes.

Third largest Co-op in Europe and they produce some quality wines. Especially, for the volume the make.

Delectable has this @ $99. I bought it at Costco upon release for $28.99.

Photos of, the beautiful, quaint hilltop town of Barbaresco, my meat sauce, their tasting room just to the right at the feet of the clock tower with Gaja just a little further down to the right of there and the best Michelin star restaurant we’ve experienced for lunch. We dined there right after our visit to Gaja. What service, food and a day!
— 6 years ago

Isaac Pirolo

9.0

Curiosity got the best of me. Steve Mnuchin and Jared Kushner bro’d out over a bottle of this 2015 Arbalest on Sunday. Apparently it’s newsworthy when a wealthy politician brings a ‘cheap’ ($22) bottle of wine to a bro out. I wonder what price gets the ‘politician drinks expensive bottle’ story (see Paul Ryan at Bistro Bis in 2011). No matter, it’s brilliant product placement — I’m surprised Trump didn’t tweet about it... “Did everyone see Poor Stevie’s wine? So Sad. My 2015 Meritage is So Much Better.”

The wine is made by Benoit Touquette. Here’s his background courtesy of critic Jeb Dunnuck, “Born in Lyon France and gaining his education from the University of Bordeaux, Benoit worked at numerous French wineries before getting a job (with the help of his friend and mentor Michel Rolland) in Napa Valley with Andy Erickson. He consulted for the likes of Screaming Eagle, Ovid and Arietta. Today, Benoit is the winemaker for Realm Cellars, Hartwell, and Kata, as well as numerous other labels, including his own project Fait-Main.” Who wouldn’t want to try a $22 bottle of wine from a winemaker with that kind of resume??

Dunnuck also scored the wine 91 points, calling it “Full-bodied, ripe and rounded, with a sexy, opulent style, lots of mid-palate depth, and a great finish, it's well worth your time and money and is a smoking deal at 20 bucks.”

The blend is 82% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Petit Verdot. It needed about an hour to fully open up... one of my fellow tasters called it soapy... which I think was because of its noticeable herbaceousness. Focused black cherry, pipe tobacco, clove. Juicy, but dry, with lots of grip. I’m not doing backflips over it, but you could do much worse at $22. 90+ — 7 years ago

Jakub Kalinowski

9.1

#4 of Jura Savoie evening
Lovely aromatics, very Pinot style with red berry fruit and nice undergrowth. A good mineral whiff, too.
On the palate this is feather light but with loads of character. Nice precision with a light yet persistent tannic frame, juicy acidity and light red berry fruit.
Brilliant drinkability though, I admit, it’s not everyone’s cup of tea.
Love it! — 3 years ago

Delectable Wine

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9.6

The 2019 Mev. Kirsten, which is pure Stellenbosch Chenin, is taut and precise on the nose, displaying a similar marine influence as the Kokerboom, plus touches of fern and lanolin. The saline, slightly nutty palate is supremely well balanced with a killer line of acidity and touches of sour lemon on the aftertaste. This deserves 4–5 years in bottle, as it has huge potential. A quite brilliant wine from guru Sadie. (Neal Martin, Vinous, April 2021)
— 4 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

I like how under appreciated WS is in the market by consumers & by critics when they score them young. That means that I can pick these up on the secondary market for just either side of $50 pre-aged.

This 12 shows the beauty of the vintage. Glorious mouthfeel. It glides on the palate as juicy, round, ripe & ruby. The fruits are outstanding up & down their line up with 6 years plus of bottle age. Love the dark cherries, cherries, black raspberries, strawberries with highlights of blue & purple fruits. It’s their raspberries & blue fruits I really enjoy from them. Before it unfurls in the decanter, it shows quite a bit of dark spice/clove but mellows by the second glass. Cola, soft & subtle baking spices; cinnamon, vanilla and hints of nutmeg. Rich, dark soil, dry crushed rocks, limestone minerals, some herbaceousness with brilliant; dark, red, purple & blue florals. Acidity is especially good. The finish is beauty, elegance & balanced defined persisting for minutes.

Photos of; Williams Selyem Winery and our visit to their October pick up party 4 or 5 years ago. — 5 years ago

Amy

9.7

Color: Pale Ruby
Aroma: Cranberry, Fig, Olive
Sweetness: 1
Acidity: 5
Tannin: 5
Alcohol: 4
Body: light
Finish: short

Brilliant Chianti- lovely drying tannins hit the palate first, light body and short length make you want to keep sipping. Loved this wine. — 5 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.8

No. 4 in the Vosne Romanee Grand Cru bracket. Tasted blind. As I mentioned earlier some tasters picked the 2 x DRC wines at #1 and #4 and this was indeed La Tache. My notes:- “Stalky peppery spicy nuances - more peppery than I recall from these previous tastings. On the palate earthy sweet black cherry but not as opulent as in prior years. Savoury. Brilliant - lives up to its reputation. “ — 5 years ago

David Shaw

9.0

Blend of six German white varietals, 35/24/18/14/5/4 of Siegerebe, Madeline Angevine, Madeline Sylvaner, Grüner Veltliner, Gewürtztraminer, Riesling. 270 cases made. Pale yellow white, brilliant clarity. Light spice, citrus notes in nose. Neutral, slightly citrusy flavors (grapefruit, lemon), slight skin astringency on finish, dry to semi dry. Good acidity with slight lactic on finish. After ten minutes, a light pineapple tang and spice note emerges in the finish. Simple, bright, but fruity enough to sip as an aperitif. — 6 years ago

Joe D'Angelo

9.9

The 2016 Château Pichon Comtesse de Lalande is simply sensational in this vintage. This brilliant wine is made from 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc and it exudes sheer class and elegance. It begins to impress with its beautifully pure aromatics of fresh dark currants, exotic spices, coffee bean, spring florals, graphite, tobacco all taking shape in the glass. On the palate this is medium to full-bodied with remarkable structure, balance and depth. It further impresses displaying striking precision and definition through the long, graceful finish. The 2016 may require a decade of cellaring, but it is such a beautiful wine and clearly has the potential to be an all-time classic from this legendary Château. — 6 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.6

The first of three Lafleur vintages. Quite a tiny Vineyard at only 3.75 hectares or 9.26 acres. Blend of 50% Merlot and 50% Cabernet Franc. Lafleur owes its reputation to the complexity of its terroir. Mainly Gravel on clay and sandy clay it varies across the property into 4 sub-sections which are picked and vinified separately. An annual production of around 1000 dozen. The 2006 is dense, restrained and subtle with a long life ahead. Precise round and generous. Imperious - brilliant wine. Touch of dark chocolate. Our host said that Lafleur has to be caught at the right time whereas Petrus is more forgiving. Probably because of the tiny size of Lafleur. — 7 years ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.3

Super forward and aromatic. Wow. Gorgeously ripe mid to late season cherries, florals and almost a hint of compote. Under all that is spice, tar and superb minerality. Really wide and complex nose. Expansive and inviting. Just so pretty. Sot really knows what’s up. Awesome palate. Shows all the glory of what a successful 17 is. Great sweet fruit. Strawberry and mid season cherry. Awesome freshness from acidity and minerality. Toothsome and ripe tannins. Amazing levels of fruit and really profound freshness. This opens rapidly in the glass and develops just mesmerizing aromas. Hints of ripe citrus rind and exotic spices. Really round and well balanced. Shows what a great winemaker Maurizio Sot is. Long, persistent finish. I’d wait 3-4 years for the tannins to come into balance but a very very fine 17. Nose really comes into action after 15 minutes or so. So complex and just so much fruit, tar and spice. Just a brilliant wine! Now after 45 minutes or so the finesse has arrived. Wonderful wine! — 4 years ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.5

2014 vintage. As Sauternes suffers from a lethal combination of high production costs and low demand, it is about time we all start drinking more of it. The 2014 vintage combines a lot of botrytis with high acidity resulting in beautifully balanced wines that are very attractive young but should age beautifully for decades. Rabaud Promis has a long history (a lot of it in common with Sigalas Rabaud), but has been in the hands of the Dejean family for the last 4 generations. In early 2020 Jean Merlaut (Bordeaux négociant and owner of Gruaud Larose) took a majority share in Rabaud Promis, but Thomas Dejean remains the winemaker. And to judge from this terrific effort there is indeed no reason to change the winemaker. 80% Sémillon, 16% Sauvignon blanc and 4% Muscadelle. Brilliant golden yellow. Intoxicating complex perfume of fresh and dried fruits, flowers and subtle roasted flavours combined with an amazing lemony freshness. The mouth confirms this complexity with layers of concentrated fruit, balanced by crispy acidity and a knock-out brown sugar, lemon confit and noble rot "rôti" finish. It has amazing intensity while remaining light on its feet. Fabulous value at 28 euros! Abv. 12,6%. Note: these wines are much more versatile at the table than you think. While foie gras and blue cheese are classic combinations, I tried it today with veal, sautéed carrots and mushrooms and baked potatoes. Works really well. I invite you all to experiment with the culinary possibilities of these wines. — 5 years ago

Lauren Golanty

9.0

Delicious red blend from 4kilos. Mid weight, brilliant with food, hefty without being overwhelming — 5 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

I bought 3 or 4 bottles of the 06 Heitz Napa. I think this is my first bottle. I either have none or one left. Better gets notes tonight! I think I gave others away. What was I thinking? Wine is meant to be shared.

What is better than paying around $33 for a bottle of wine, forgetting about it for twelve years and having it blossom on your palate the way it is tonight? This is a prime example of two things; you don’t need to spend a hundred(s) for a really good bottle of wine and their is absolutely no substitution for appropriate cellaring time.

The nose reveals; steeped, dark fruit wading in fruits of ripe/ruby; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, baked, black plum & strawberries, hovering raspberries with pomegranate, light liqueur notes. Mild alcohol vapors, black licorice, sweet tarriness, mixed dark fruit cola/licorice, mid, dark spices, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon & vanilla, saddle-wood, graphite, dark rich souls, forest floor with dry leaves, dry crushed rocks, dry twigs, tree sap, mint/eucalyptus, soft leather, dry tobacco with ruby, brilliant, fresh & withering, candied; dark, red, purple florals with a field of violets.

The body is, rich, ruby and creamy with fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, baked, black plum & strawberries, hovering raspberries with pomegranate that shows light liqueur notes. Mild alcohol vapors, black licorice, dark, steeped, black , assorted fruit teas, sweet tarriness, mixed dark fruit cola/licorice, mid, dark spices, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon & vanilla, caramel, mocha, saddle-wood, graphite, savory grilled meats, dark rich souls, forest floor with dry leaves, moist clay & top soil, dry crushed rocks, dry twigs, tree sap, mint/eucalyptus, hints of Provence herbs, soft leather, dry tobacco with ruby, brilliant, fresh & withering, candied; dark, red, purple florals with a field of violets. The acidy is like a cool waterfall on a warm day. The beautiful, elegant, extremely well knitted balance is in the realm of “forget about it”. Sometimes the right wine, when it’s right, moves the entire body. Such as it is tonight.

The tension, structure, length and balance have just hit their high point and will remain there for another five years into a slow decline over the next 10-15 years, stored impeccably.

This might be the best Napa Heitz I’ve bought & stored. It’s stunning and way over delivering its price point. One complex wine!!!

Photos of; Heitz Winery, tasting bar, tasting room garden patio and the Hwy 29 signage for the tasting room with the valley floor vines that surround their tasting room. — 5 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.9

Wine No. 4 in the Vosne Romanee lineup. My notes - Powerful yet balanced. Toasty Oak notes. A tarriness to the violets and perfume. Brilliant- probably deserves 💯. Romanee Conti?” The unveiling revealed it to be the next door neighbor La Romanee. My highest pointed wine in the group. — 6 years ago

Lou Dizzle

9.5

Brilliant. Open 4 hours early and let sit. — 7 years ago