Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.5

Hébrart Special Club 2021 is exactly why hard Champagne vintages can be so compelling. Frost, hail, all the usual misery, and yet this wine came out nervy, precise and alive. No big ripe-year swagger here. — 10 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.7

Very fresh, clean, the softest mousse on the planet. Beautiful citrus, most delicate of minerals, gentle spice, grand acidity, focused precision and balance for days. Excellent. Just overtly expensive. — 2 months ago

Nathan Renfro

9.7

Looks like this is my 6th rating of this wine. PNP drinking fantastic now. Super silky. Perfectly integrated, very ripe black and blue fruit. Lovely! — 2 months ago

Gilbert Van Hassel

9.5

Crisp, pear and honey. Long burn. — 3 months ago

Devlon Moore

9.2

A little leaner than 2023 but still beautiful, lemon and lime and flint. — 14 days ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.7

Medium lemon straw , slight deeper than the P2 1998 served alongside . More persistent perlage than the P2, very fine . Here the nose is slightly deeper and more penetrating, with rich spiced citrus , buttered brioche , crushed chalk , seashell hints . This is powerful and dense on the palate , lemon , mineral , and chalky hints , fresh and vital, white flowers , even a touch of Indian spice. Long and balanced , still pretty youthful and probably needs more time to fully integrate the shear extract this has on the palate. Perfectly formed , with a fantastic future , better in 5 -8 years and will last a further decade. The complete package, spellbinding. — a month ago

Marc Melser

9.2

We had a vertical tasting of 2018 and 2020 Little Hill Single Vineyard PN. Both have similar bouquets and palates. Black cherry and minerality. 2020 is a little more floral. 2018 has a more darker tone; and that is good. Both have nice mouthfeels with smoothed out tannins. 2018 is a little more velvety. Both very good. It seems these PN need more time in the bottle — 2 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Had the 15 Salon two-weeks ago. After, I had this cuvée and their 2018 Delamotte. Not really a fair order. So tonight, thought I’d give it one. Been awhile since I enjoyed this cuvée.

In the rare case, Salon does not declare a vintage, this is where that fruit goes. So…when & if, buy this n/v.

Nice mousse, crispy, racy acidity. Lime pulp with zest, lemon pulp, green/golden apple, white stone fruit, some yellow peach, kiwi, tropicals, frothy, steamed whole milk, caramel, vanillin to vanillin, excellent white spice, palate penetrating volcanic minerals, limestone marl, brilliant chalky powder with bits, some yeastiness, baguette crust, brioche, toffee & butterscotch notes, almost a sweetish herbaceous quality, daffodils, white flowers set in greens with a nicely rounded, knitted, balanced, spot on tension and a 90 second, elegant finish that long sets on spice & volcanic. — a month ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.1

3rd wine . Medium ruby garnet slightly brighter in colour . Lighter garnet ruby rim . Slightly deeper more meaty, herbal in character , more red fruits with cassis , cool blackberry. On the palate this is denser and more saline , quite good dark cassis and tobacco notes, with some red plum too . Lightly grippy tannins , slightly clipped finish , cool saline freshness . A little below the others in length and intensity . From now but will last over the next 10 years or so . Thought this was the Latour , oh dear . — 6 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

I have written a few times regarding my tale of Caymus & Caymus Classic. Their vintages post 2011 and their vintages pre 2011.

I have at event tastings that Caymus was pouring, encouraged their staff to talk with Chuck to make both Caymus & Caymus Classic. Recently, I emailed them to pass on my thoughts to Chuck asking him to make both. If you liked Caymus the way it was, I encourage you to do the same. There is a dwelling amount of older, well preserved Caymus Classic vintages. info@wagnerfamilyofwine.com should you be so inclined.

Their post 2011 Caymus Cabernets are picked at higher brix and syrupy sweet. I get why Chuck changed. Many like sweeter Cabernets that drink easy young. That is not my wheelhouse.

In my intermediate wine days, I aged and enjoyed many pre 2012 vintages. This perfect bottle bought on the secondary market at around $70 is extremely well stored. The cork when I cut the foil looked slightly depressed, when I pulled it with an Ah-so was next to new.

I enjoyed this with a Ribcap, not the best wine for that steak but, ok. This 07 is more filet or NY Strip.

The nose shows; a very dark core of sweet currants. Ripe-lush-blackberries, black cherries, the blackest of plum to pudding, black raspberries, poached/slightly baked strawberries, circling raspberries, anise to black licorice, woven baking spices-cinnamon, clove, nutmeg & vanilla, caramel, dark chocolate, mellow dark spices, sweet tarriness & dark earth, dry crush limestone, moist, grey volcanic clays, dry top soil, dry tobacco, some sweet graphite, steeped black tea & withering/candied, dark, red flowers framed in liquid violets/lavender.

This bottle now nearly 18 years in bottle has not faded. It is at its precipice and will hold a few yrs. 2007 a grand Napa vintage. Decanted a little over an hour and enjoyed over the next 90-120 minutes. With this experience, another hour in the decanter is even better.

M-M+ velvety, rounded, tannins. The palate is round, ripe, lush, ruby fruits of; dark core of sweet currants. Ripe-lush; blackberries, black cherries, the blackest of plum to pudding, stewed plum, black raspberries, poached/slightly baked strawberries, circling raspberries with notes of liqueur overtones, anise to black licorice, woven baking spices-cinnamon, clove, nutmeg & vanilla, caramel, dark chocolate, black licorice, dark berry cola, distinct dark, Caynus Classic spices w/ palate heat, herbaceous notes, sweet tarriness & dark earth, dry crush limestone/rock, moist, grey volcanic clays, dry top soil, dry river stone, charcoal, notes of menthol, dry tobacco, leather, dry oak barrel shavings, some sweet graphite, steeped black tea & withering/candied, dark, red flowers framed in liquid violets/lavender, perfect, round acidity with an incredibly; balanced, well knitted-toned-structured, elegantly/smartly polished finish that goes on and on and long sets on beautiful earth & spice.

94+ This experience is becoming rarer & rarer. — a month ago