Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.8

Remarkable. Juicy and so dense but my goodness this is so elegant. It’s amazing how light on its feet the wine is for such a big boy. Genius. — 11 days ago

Delectable Wine

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9.1

The 2021 Côte-Rôtie Ampodium used 90% whole-clusters during fermentation. This winemaking technique becomes visible in the aromatic profile through a marked stemminess, complemented by bright red fruits, cedar and floral shadings. Medium-bodied and framed by low levels of soft tannins, the 2021 is a polished and refreshing Ampodium that concludes with a bright finish. (Nicolas Greinacher, Vinous, March 2024)
— 22 days ago

Jay Kline

9.3

This was a real treat after the Gentaz-Dervieux since Rene Rostaing is Marius Gentaz’s son-in-law. While the vineyards that belonged to Marius are now famously part of the Rostaing domaine, that vineyard goes to Rene’s Côte Brune; this is his Côte Blonde and arguably his most famous bottling. This 2004 pours a cloudy ruby with brambles, purple flowers, blood, dust and leather. Slightly rustic which is what I want from Rostaing. I love the individuality and how it paired with the Iberico pork cheek, mushroom ragu with lavender and thyme. Plenty of life left. Drink through 2034+. — a month ago

Conrad Green

9.3

A touch of butterscotch on the nose then a deep blue gnarly fruit with a bit of tang and black pepper. Savory and delicious on the palate z quite cool blooded which is ironic given the vintage. Sour cherry notes on the end. — a month ago

with Paul and Ara

LM Segal

9.7

Spectacular. Ethereal nose of strawberry and faint notes of cured meats. 1,000 layers after it came to temp, needed a short decant. This has turned towards Burg with a lightness and power. Silky smooth. Thanks, Aaron. 🙏🏼 — 21 days ago

Delectable Wine

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9.2

The 2021 Côte-Rôtie La Landonne offers a red-fruited profile paired with pencil shavings, meaty undertones and a marked herbaceous streak. Framed by firm tannins and balanced by refreshing acidity, the 2021 hits the palate with juicy red fruits and great intensity. Still, it can’t compete with the more generous and complex 2022. (Nicolas Greinacher, Vinous, March 2024)
— 22 days ago

Jay Kline

9.4

Believe it or not, this is my first La-La and what a way to do it with a 1994 no less! Flintstone vitamins, gym socks, pomegranate, purple flowers, minerals like crazy…and what seemed like an impenetrable wall of granite. Tons of baking spices. Modern? Yeah of course but my goodness the quality is indisputable and this worked really well with Iberico pork cheek, mushroom ragu with lavender and thyme. The reality is, even at 30 years old, this is youthful. Drink now through, I dunno, 2044? — a month ago

Ted

9.1

Cigar box, nut roll, and still going strong. — a month ago

with Jeni

Raun Kupiec

9.3

Very integrated, good structure, at first, 20 min after opening got more blackberry and dark fruits. As it opened up there was more peppery, smoky Syrah. Didn’t get the licorice that I commented on previously. Cassis on the finish. Long finish. But it’s 2+ years since the last bottle of this vintage. Very good, complete, enjoyably wine. — 18 days ago

with Barbara

Jay Kline

9.6

Okay…so I entered the night fully aware that we were going to be taking down some unicorns…but this?!  I wasn’t prepared for this. I walked into the room, greeted my fellow brothers-in-wine and began to set my contributions next to the other bottles in the line-up. I casually scanned from left to right in complete wonder at what was on display…and stopped halfway, as my eyes recognized a label from the recesses of my memory. A label that had been filed away under the category of “Academic” since there was very little likelihood that I would ever see a bottle, let alone have an opportunity to enjoy it. And yet, here I was, in a small town north of Lincoln, NE, staring in disbelief at a bottle of 1990 Gentaz-Dervieux. I turned to our host who, at this point, was smiling at me; like a childhood friend who had invited me over to play with his GI Joe Aircraft Carrier, the U.S.S. FLAGG. “F***ing Gentaz?!”

The nose? Magic. Brambles, granite, mushrooms, cumin, espresso, purple flowers, leather, smoke; so sanguine, so savory. Vinous. Rustic. Tremendous with Iberico pork cheek, mushroom ragu with lavender and thyme. I took my time. Drink now through 2035+. — a month ago