Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.8

Such a stunning nose and the grandiosity of Hermitage comes through. Complex white pepper, cracked black pepper, sauvage, black raspberry, blackberry, huge granite and some flowers. So complex and ethereal. What a palate. Sleek, structured and grapey but so much density without weight and lively herbs, fruits and stones. Super complex but it’s just beginning. Wow the density on the mid palate is remarkable. Superb concentration and such unreal weight. This is so large scaled yet feather like. Awesome wine. I am really impressed. More to come. So silky and elegant now with air. Real depth here and terrific noble Hermitage structure. This is just so great on day 2. Nose is insane. Feral, spicey, haunting. Just so clear. Unreal mint and just so elemental. Velvety stunning texture. Unreal structure. Really reminds me of a 1st Growth. Mouton. 9.7 to 9.8 overnight. — 2 days ago

Daniel Bloom

9.3

N:Melon flesh, burnt sugar, cotton candy, river stones/bleached. Something very elemental, almost like clay. apples.
P: Bright but not overtly acidic, gentle tannins, mouth puckering, burnt sugar, white/yellow flowers. VERY Interesting.
100% Viura on the skins for a year, maybe?
Opened the bottle, slo-ox about an hour. As this warms and oxidizes, you just want to stick your nose in the glass and leave it there.
Delicious , iconoclastic. — 2 years ago

Max Betzold

9.1

Farbe: orangene Reflexe // visko: hoch // Geruch I: balsamisch / Würze // Geruch II: kandierter Ingwer/ Geschmack: Trocken/ Saure Mittel / alk: 12% — 2 years ago

Freddy R. Troya

8.9

A valued-Sauvignon Blanc as part of the Trader Joe’s Reserve level. It does the job providing the elemental of basic Napa Valley Sauv Blanc. Light greenish hue, followed by tropical notes, lemon peel, pineapple and ripe mango come alive together with the grassy and some lemongrass you get from some Napa Valley blancs.
Extremely light mouthfeel, medium acidity, crispy and refreshing with a short finish. A pool companion wine! — a month ago

Conrad Green

9.7

Green pepper and bloody fruit. A meatiness. Gorgeous elemental stuff. Very fresh and vivacious. Lovely — 2 years ago

with BOT, Matt and 1 other

Conrad Green

9.5

Dark, with a texture like motor oil. Brooding earthy dark fruit. Early, and elemental. Savory and delicious. Gloopy and spectacular — 2 years ago

with Gregg

Joe Estrada

9.2

Friday night bottle # 3 — 3 years ago

Nick Brandon

9.0

Peach rim atop a darkening crimson.
Rich elemental earthiness sits sterile on the nose. — 8 months ago

Conrad Green

9.8

A rare treat and an immaculate bottle. Intense dark fruit, almost brooding on the nose. Gorgeous black cherry and plum with hints of iodine and some gnarly notes of underbrush and a slight tang of salinity. This is very elemental still in some ways but much of the fruit is in place and secondary notes are shining through. Really gorgeous and intense and an incredibly well kept bottle. What a surprise… I hope I get to encounter this unicorn again. You couldn’t ask for a more compelling bottle. — a year ago

with Tony and David

Tim

9.7

Drinking with Mom and Dad for Christmas 2022. Doing a side-by-side with their standard 2019. Color is also garnet, but more brown around the edges than its younger pair. Legs are also more intense, and the nose is so much more powerful. The dark leather, the tobacco, the currant, and the cacophony almost smacks your nose. The berries seem to have mellowed into the darker bouquet of elemental scents. Much smoother than its younger pair, the bright juice is now a wave of those foundational scents. The flavor lingers longer, it has a subtle transformation that holds onto your tongue, in place of that rough sandpaper feeling you are left with in the younger, you are left with something like the feeling of wiping off perspiration, being cool and dry, but with the endless flow from within that doesn't leave you gasping for water. Truly one of the best of this appellation I have ever had. Would drink again, although it was $69 at Blanchards. — 2 years ago