Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.7

Just a hugely expressive nose of dark berry fruit and huge amounts of crushed granite. Blowing me away. Insane clarity. Exuberant minerality. Stunning depth. A 10.0 nose. Yes I said it. This is a no brainer 10.0 nose. Palate is a bit behind but it is all there. Such fine, elegant and refined tannins and unreal purity and length. The length is truly crazy. 2+ minute finish. Nose gets some bittersweet cocoa, some spice and confectionary florals. Wow. The finish is maybe 3+ minutes. Unreal concentration and just so nimble and pure. This is young obviously but needed to taste: Will follow throughout the day. This will get better. 9.7 for now.

The 7 hour update.

Nose is perfect melange of blueberry/blackberry and granite. Also a meatiness has developed. So detailed and just perfect. 10/10. No more notes.

Palate has softened a bit but still is tight! The will be a 40 year Beliando. Wow the texture is velvety and the tannins are big but refined. Much more mineral at the juncture. Loooonf finish. But it has lost some midpalate effect. Will try one more time before midnight. — 2 years ago

David Shaw

9.3

Copeland Vineyard, Rattlesnake Hills. Orange red, excellent clarity. Cherry and citrus notes in nose. Cherry, tangerine flavors, rounded mouthfeel, fruity but dry, slight skin astringency on finish. Well crafted. — 4 years ago

David Shaw

9.1

Pale white, sparkling clarity. Grapefruit rind in nose with a hint of sulfite. Grapefruit flavor with orange finish, lactic aftertaste. Subtle but varietally on point. Slightly thick mouthfeel. — 5 years ago

David Shaw

9.0

219 cases produced. Light yellow, excellent clarity. Aromas of pineapple and guava. Lemon, pomelo pulp and tropical fruit flavors. Dry, almost syrupy mouthfeel, crisp lemon peel finish. Not quite as elegant as the 2016, but a lot to like here. Turning into one of my two favorite white varietals for wine as I drink more examples of these from Isenhower and, occasionally, others in the Pacific Northwest. More Roussanne please. — 6 years ago

Delectable Wine

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9.8

The 2010 Lafleur is showing a lot of Cabernet Franc on the nose. It is supremely well defined with incredibly clarity and terroir expression. You could almost mistake it for a Left Bank. Figeac? The palate is precise and detailed, touches of burnt toast and white pepper sprinkled over the persistent and structured finish that does not miss a step. Brilliant. Tasted blind at Farr Vintners 10-Year On Bordeaux horizontal. (Neal Martin, Vinous, April 2020)
— 6 years ago

David Shaw

9.0

A benchmark version for this varietal, and haven’t had it for awhile... A slightly golden yellow, excellent clarity. Floral, grass, perfume, ripe peach notes in nose. Peach and lemon flavors, slight skin astringency on finish, rounded mouthfeel, good acidity with dried apricot in aftertaste. Really good value — 6 years ago

David Shaw

9.2

Cooler Shades of Pinot, 66/34 blend of Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris. Willamette Valley. Pale golden, excellent clarity. Floral and citrus aromas, good acidity, rich mouthfeel, stone fruit, citrus flavors, lemon and lemon peel finish with length. Very well crafted — 3 years ago

David Shaw

9.2

Last bottle of the 2020 vintage, 130 cases made. Orange with a hint of pink, excellent clarity. Floral and stone fruit aromas, subtle. Lactic, citrus and subdued orchard fruit flavor. Some skin astringency on finish but less than you would expect after a 72 cold soak before fermentation in used wood. An orange wine with finesse, or at least a light touch. Refreshing — 3 years ago

David Shaw

8.9

Another year, another vintage. Salmon pink, excellent clarity. Cherry in the nose. Crisp, white flowers, cherry, orchard fruit and lemon flavors on the finish, with minerals and light skin astringency. Slightly watery mouthfeel, but plenty of acid and fruit to hold it together. Great value. — 5 years ago

Delectable Wine

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9.6

Limpid yellow. Vibrant, gently oak-spiced aromas of fresh citrus and orchard fruits, along with suggestions of anise and smoky minerals. Stains the palate with concentrated yet lively Meyer lemon, Anjou pear and bitter quinine flavors that are sweetened by a subtle vanilla note. Shows superb clarity and minerally thrust on the strikingly long, focused finish, which leaves a suggestion of honeysuckle behind. (Josh Raynolds, Vinous, July 2021)
— 5 years ago

David Shaw

9.1

Purple-red, moderately extracted pigment, good clarity with minor residue (it is unfiltered). Hints of butter, wood and cola in nose. Bright acidity, a touch of soy-umami in the flavors. Slightly gritty aftertaste on initial pour (it’s unfiltered!) Still assessing as it opens up... Cola flavor emerges after ten minutes, barrel tar aroma after thirty. — 6 years ago

Conrad Green

9.1

Dark plum and brooding fruit on the nose. Nice clarity and depth and quite fresh. Modernist in style but coming around now. Quite long. — 6 years ago

with Bex

Conrad Green

9.4

A slightly stinky front. Then real deep clarity of raspberry fruit. There’s a gentle luscious center of hauntingly pure aged fruit (dried roses, soft cherry?) leading into the end palate. Really lucid. Delicious. — 6 years ago

with BOT, Matt and 1 other

David Shaw

9.3

300 cases made. Ruby red, very good clarity, moderate to heavy pigment extraction. Rich flavor profile, slightly oily with black currant, cherry, raspberry notes in mouth. Light mouth coating tannins on finish. Mint and herb aftertaste. Nice complexity though fruit intensity seems lighter than tannin and alcohol levels. I like the acidity, not too low or high. Still highly ageable overall. After one hour, fruit expression intensifies, so decant at least that long — 3 years ago

Conrad Green

9.3

Melon, some, sharp and fresh. Lovely clarity and cut. Very good — 4 years ago

with Paul, BOT and 1 other

David Shaw

9.1

Pale yellow, excellent clarity. Sun dried linen aroma, though less intense than in previous vintages. Lemon and nectarine flavors, slightly tart. Mellows after an hour decanting with chalky mouthfeel on finish. Pairs surprisingly well with hummus and salmon with mint-cacao nib sauce. — 4 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

Opened another recently, legendary wine, said that in the 18th century was introduced to Sultan of Constantinople's palace b/c of its clarity and called "mineral water from Carbonnieux", defying Islamic law. Pale lemon with pronounce aromas of tropical and stone fruits with herb notes. On the palate flavors of melon, mango, apple, green herbs and a crisp mineral edge. Medium+ length, balanced acidity, ending with a fruit, citrus mineral character. Nice, aging well. — 5 years ago

David Shaw

8.9

Yellow, brilliant clarity. Tropical fruit - guava - and a touch of sulfite in the nose. Orchard fruit - pear, lemon and pineapple in mouth. Largely dry. Slightly lactic and citric finish, maybe some wood. — 5 years ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.6

Huge spice, huge citrus, sweet grapefult, tangelo, ripe, perfumed, bigger, chewy, texturally stunning, so juicy, long. Pure. Zippy. Dry and energy, very pure, very intense. Young but so pure.

After 8 hours this is crazy. Unreal spice, super pure apricot, so airy and perfumed. Unreal clarity. Palate is so fine and elegant with tangy citrus fruit, clarity like nothing else and a long finish. Stunning. — 6 years ago

Conrad Green

9.2

Lovely and balanced. Sweet with nice clarity and acidity — 6 years ago

with Bex