Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.5

Girard really did well in 19. This has a level of aromatic refinement you only get in the best Girard vintages. 12 is the best vintage before this. Then 14. Then 17. 13 is a favorite of mine even if it is ranked here. Anyways the nose has refined and precise florals, dark black cherry that has a stank to it. Just classy and intense. Screams great vintage. Palate is terrific. Beautiful soaking fruit, amazing cut, clarity, freshness and concentration. Has that amazing tiny berry intense black/red 19 fruit. Focused like a laser. This is so good. What a spine this has. Lavieres always ages well but thus will age particularly well. Add 5 years to whatever window you think. Maybe 10. Wild berry fruit and wet earth develop with air. Really pretty and complex. Compact with terrific fruit sweetness. Superb grip. I’d wait 5-6 years. What a finish. Maybe the finest young red I’ve had from Girard. — 3 years ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.4

Awesome, expressive nose of big ripe cherries, mulling spices, cinnamon, cardamon, clove and bitter citrus. Such an aromatic nose. Tiny berry fruit intensity and just awesome depth. Palate is spicey, sweet and super fresh. Wonderful spice and oak accents. Terrific length. Supple texture and lovely sweet fruit and oak. Very fresh and complex. Air is this estate’s friend so I’ll be back. 9.3 for now.

9.3 to 9.4 overnight. - Big, ripe cherry nose. Spice and less oak than yesterday. Elegant, juicy and complex. Very elegant and pure. Zero oak today after significant wood yesterday. lovely freshness and length. World class. — 3 years ago

Jayna Fontenot

9.5

Toasty, oaky, delightful with a creamy mouth feel. Pear, apple, and typical Moet deliciousness.

Landed a new job tonight and having a tiny little celebration with my mom and my dog. ☺️ — 4 years ago

Stephen Redenbaugh

9.2

V18 April 2020 disgorgement....nice developed color...tiny pinprick bubbles...still a bit tightly wound. Ripe red apple/pear notes. Ethereal and weightless...with lively bright acidity. Far more complex and nuanced than all the big house NV bubbles. And the texture, taste and finish ramp up as it warms in the glass. Early Christmas quaff with great cheese, olives, and an ass-kicking local sourdough/green olive boule. Merry Christmas and peace on earth! — 4 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Had this a year ago at a tasting grabbed several bottle for the new year, one of my favorite Cava’s. Medium lemon straw color with tiny bubbles and soft mousse. Complex tangy aromas of fresh stone fruits and notes of blossom and honey. On the palate apple and pear flavors with a toasty nutty character, very dry. Long finish with biscuit notes and mineral tang. Great value. Tasting Sample. — 5 years ago

JordanneRenner

10

The effervescence is perfectly tiny, and bright! Delish on a sunny afternoon. — 7 years ago

LM Archer

8.9

Pale golden robe; dry toast, almond nose; tiny beads, elegant mousse; citrus notes, bright acids. — 8 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

Jack and Jamie Davies revived the historic vineyards and cellars in 1965, with a mission to produce California's first world-class sparkling wines. Today, led by their son Hugh, continues with this commitment to quality. A 100% Chardonnay, straw yellow with aromas of stone and citrus fruits, with floral scents. A terrific sparkler shows crisp green apple, orange and grapefruit zest. A medium-bodied, wine with a great mousse, tiny bubbles and nice length on the finish ending with some crisp mineral notes. — 9 years ago

Willie Carter

9.3

Oh my, what an absolute joy. This right here sings the song I want to hear. A pale old gold color in the glass. Perfectly precise perlage with a plethora of tiny, fine bubbles and showcasing innate creaminess. The nose is slightly intense opening with aromas of hazelnut, chalk, and lemon zest. Warm buttered brioche takes over for a moment full of bliss then a bit of smoke. Juicy peaches and pears commingle with fresh herbs and spices.

100% Chardonnay from the five Grand Cru villages of Avize, Chouilly, Cramant, Oger, and Mesnil-sur-Oger. The tête de cuvée of Champagne Taittinger and it shows. It’s a very noble, prestigious champagne that matches complexity with downright deliciousness. The juxtaposition between luxury and comfort is evident here. Like coming out of a bath and slipping on your finest robe. The racy acidity and exquisitely dry nature of the wine belies the dosage of 9 g/l.

Very creamy in the mouth and though it starts off a bit demanding, it soon becomes so inviting after some time. Every sip demands the proper time and contemplation. Chalky and rich, positively bursting with citrus fruits. Apples and toast everywhere along with gun flint and more smoke. Medium long finish with traces of spice. A powerful, graceful champagne that’s full of finesse. This can go for decades longer but if you open it now sit with it for a while. Give it the proper time. You might fall in love just a little. — 3 years ago

Daniel M

9.0

First day of summer holidays, it's pouring, it's cold, it's humid... But there's good wine so we are good.
Nose of violet, red and black currants, a bit of hay too. It's very welcoming as always. The palate is well balanced with red and black forest fruits, a nice width, a velvety mouthfeel until a mid palate with a tiny bit of drying tannins that power up a long fruity and delicious finish. Very biased here, but I love it — 4 years ago

Jeff Orlowski

9.6

Toast and apples on nose. Bold, just the right amount of tiny bubbles, with minerals, acidity, pears, and apples. — 4 years ago

with Michael and Joe

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

This wine hit 18 on top 100 list in 2017. Best known for Sparkling Wines, served at White House since 1985. Pale salmon color, a blend of 75% Pinot Noir and 25% Chardonnay & aged 3 years prior to release, showing aromas of red fruit with citrus and biscuit notes. On the palate apple, strawberry and cherry flavors with orange zest, earthy yeasty spice and tiny bubbles. The wine is well balanced, good acidity, some yeast and minerality on the long finish. — 5 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.6

Pale light yellow gold. Lively constant tiny bubbles. Deep round nose with high pitched fruit. Notes of pear, grapefruit, chalk and limestone. With more air you find some citrus and honeysuckle. Chewy in the mouth with great mouthfeel. Coats the entire mouth. Long finish lingers a minute or more. Velvet. Killer juice. Was inspired to open one of these after seeing a friend’s TN this weekend. Glad I did. — 6 years ago

Stephen Redenbaugh

9.3

Gorgeous light pink color, elegant nose of dark ripe plum, beaucoup tiny pin-prick bubbles that persist like the head of a beer. The flavors are electric dark plum, blood orange, and ruby red grapefruit with a long, lean finish that eventually tapers off with a tartness that refreshes the palate for more. Ultra bruts and low dosage bubbles rock! — 8 years ago

"Odedi"

9.1

It's time for my #FridayCabernetfix. Here is a tasty one from Mount Veeder.

Deep ruby in color with a reddish rim.

Fruity nose of black plums, black currants, dark coffee, oak, spices, pencil lead, vanilla, tobacco, licorice, earth, light herbs and peppercorn.

Medium plus in body and smooth, with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with black currants, plums, cooked cherries, cedar, coffee, vanilla, spices, cola, licorice, mint, black pepper, bitter herbs, vegetables and earth.

Tangy finish with fine grained tannins, cranberries and peppercorn.

This young Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley is starting to drink nicely now, although it needs a few years in the bottle to mature properly.

Showing nice complexity, elegant and spicy, with lots of earth notes.

Good right out of the bottle, and better after an hour of airtime.

Smooth, elegant and tangy. Feels like a young Bordeaux, and will age nicely in the next 10 years.

Good by itself or with food. Will pair nicely with BBQ Meats. I paired it with a Brie cheese and crackers.

100% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes were aged for 30 months in French oak barrels (50% new). A tiny production of only 125 cases.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$95. — 3 years ago

John Bratincevic

9.1

Nose: pear, toast, mild cheese. Taste: nuts, toast, dry lemon, lovely smooth champagne-y texture and bubbles. Tiny dash of red fruit (pomegranate?). Nice acidity. Not worth the price premium by a long shot - but tasty. And a suitable excuse for poor Sean Connery mimicry. — 4 years ago

Ray Vanderhoff

9.0

Pear and golden delicious apple aromas and flavors. Hints of white flowers on the nose. A bit of lemon pith, brioche and honey on the finish. Nice creamy texture and mouse. Consistent stream of tiny bubbles. Nicely structured. — 4 years ago

Byron C Mayes

9.0

Pale gold with tiny persistent bubbles. Inviting nose and palate of ripe golden apples, ripe peaches, and clover honey. Light and fizzy on the tongue. Sweet (of course) but balanced with refreshing acidity. Short-ish finish, but you’re likely taking another sip before that matters. The gold standard for Moscato. A lovely treat on its own, with fresh fruit, or with lightly sweet dessert crepes. Also a great pair with the exceptionally spicy dishes that my dining partner likes to make (remember, “Sweet beats heat!”). Stop fronting. You know that you like this stuff. Drink now. — 5 years ago

with Jay

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.6

Stunning perfume. Wow. Raspberry, deep blackberry, black cherry, but even though a very red fruit vibe. Hugely floral and so expressive. Amazing mineral soil tones. Wafting. Floral. A treat to smell. Amazing purity to the fruit. High quality here. Stunning palate of great depth, energy and density. Amazing tiny berry fruit quality here with precision that is really compelling. Beautiful sweetness and so linear. Straight. Really long, intense and very flavorful finish. Like the best sweet tart ever. Really compelling character. Unreal concentration and power but so beautiful. This is super profound. Wow. Amazing quality tannins and just ridiculous fruit. What a finish. Still can age and will likely get better the next 4-5 years. But this is thrill a minute drinking right now. — 6 years ago

with Matthew

Mark Flesher

9.3

Pretty good strawberry and some lighter, less severe watermelon notes here. The wine has a nose with a lot of sweeter strawberry and nutty notes. Enters with tiny bubbles all around, coating the glass and your mouth. The finish is VERY mildly tart and quite dry. Overall I think this wine is doing great, especially given its roots. Very well balanced sparkler. Takes me back to touring and tasting in the cave. — 7 years ago

with Dan, Shay and 1 other