Shay A

9.4

My contribution to a large Rhône dinner. Standouts were ‘07 Chapoutier Le Meal Blanc, ‘89 and ‘90 Jaboulet La Chappelle, ‘11 Guigal La Mouline.

An over-generalization, but what I love about Cornas is the rusticity and sometimes feral nature of the wines (which I don’t find in Hermitage or CR) and this ‘05 is in that vein. I followed this from pop (after all, we are at the almost 20yr mark) and over the course of three hours.

Interplay of red and black berry fruits, black pepper, slightly herbal (maybe closer to potpurri floral) aromatically. Bright and nimble on the palate, nothing about this is ripe or soft. Energetic acidity all the way through surrounded by notes of iron (sanguine-like) and rocky minerality. Crunchy red and black fruits (whole-cluster?), hint of gaminess but not in the meaty-style I semi-expected. Clean and pure style of Syrah. Big structure at the finish…hard to imagine drinking this 10+yrs ago. Acidity and tannin will carry this a long time, but I think this is peak window for getting depth of fruit and complexity. — 4 days ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of two days. Equally enjoyable on both nights however, the nose was most powerful on Day 1. “Ampodium” (formerly Classique) is 100% Syrah sourced from a dozen or so vineyards and made in a largely traditional style; plenty of whole cluster and a very judicious use of new French oak. The 2010 “Ampodium”pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and signs of light sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of ripe, some desiccated and some tart, black and blue fruits: blackberries, blueberry pie, fields of lavender, black pepper, bacon fat, iodine, and granite earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin (mostly integrated) and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and laden with rocky minerals. Totally in balance and at peak. Lovely. Drink now through 2035. — a month ago

Robert Stackowiak

9.0

100 per cent Syrah. A very nice Crozes Hermitage that will provide a day to day solution for those of you who like Hermitage wines. May 2025. — 8 days ago

Conrad Green

9.5

Lovely stuff. Dark leather notes and intense tangy black cherry. Touches off tarry underbrush and meaty intensity. Savory, with a light hit of salinity. Long. — 4 days ago

with David

Ron Siegel

9.4

Great vintage for Jamet showing dark cherry, berry, meat, graphite, olive, savory spice, mineral & violet — 2 days ago

Chris MacLean

9.0

Full flavored and beautiful but unexpectedly a touch scratchy on the close. Needs time. — 17 days ago

with Sarah

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.6

All fruit and finesse. Great Syrah, not much Cote Rotie…..yet. — 15 days ago

Conrad Green

9.5

Pure and resolved. Great fruit- rounded with blood, dried herbs, plum, tangy black cherry. Some stone, saddle leather. Very good. — 4 days ago

with David

GaryWEdwards

9.3

I'm in new territory and I really like the offering here. Nice smoked meat and big dark berry . Fairly approachable out of there gate and only improved with time. — 8 days ago

Jake Hajer

8.9

Blackberry, Prune, rubber. — 3 days ago