Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.5

I love 21 N Rhone reds and it’s a throw back vintage to maybe 96/98? It’s so red fruited, classically structured and elegant. Like a symphony in 21 and not the recent guitar solo vintages.

Unreal nose of absolute harmony and so red fruited. A hint of barely ripe black cherry. Dried herbs. So heavenly. Crazy floral. Best young Gripa St Jo nose. Palate is so red fruited. So unusual for Gripa. Great depth and concentration and high acidity. Dusty, young and unformed finish but the red fruit really leaves it mark. It will fill in and gain finesse if it follows the trajectory of other 21’s. What a finish.

Now it’s more complex and so refined. Classic Mauves from yesteryear. 9.4 to 9.5. Juicy, tangy red berry fruit. So ethereal. Brilliant.

Today it is meatier on the nose but still red fruited mostly with some black fruits peeking through. Unreal spice and desiccated leaves. Tree bark as well and some smoke. Wild mint and lavender. Juicy and elegant and so nimble. Wow. — 4 months ago

Kyle Harvey

9.0

Part of the old guard, classically made from heart of St Joe in Mauves, slight pepper, dark red fruit, hard to deny the allure. — 5 years ago

Julie Braglia

9.6

From Vinebox. Black currant and red fruits. Love this.
— 7 years ago

Shay A

9.1

“This Côtes-du-Rhône is technically made from purchased fruit. Chave generally has financed his sources and takes their grapes by a métayage (sharecropping) arrangement. He has more or less complete control over the farming, which is organic. The grapes are shipped to Chave’s facility inside his Saint-Joseph Le Clos site in Mauves. Fermentation is in stainless steel tanks and élevage is in an assortment of new and old barrels, demi-muids and large foudres.”

I’ve enjoyed a few of Chave’s “Selection” series, especially the Blanche (100% marsanne from Hermitage…fantastic). While I’ve been fortunate to try Chave’s Hermitage a few times, I did my best to set expectations fairly for this (at $25/bottle). Short story…very pleased with it. I followed this over two days and it stayed consistent. Deep red in the glass with aromatics of garrique, herbs de Provence, and spiced raspberries and blackberries. The palate still sports such a “clean” profile that I associate with Chave’s Hermitage, alongside pepper and fragrant/floral notes.

This is a CdR that has some staying power. Solid value. — 2 years ago

Katie B

9.3

a winner 💫 — 6 years ago

Henrik Möbitz

Owner/Winemaker Henrik Möbitz Wines

9.1

When in Mauves... — 7 years ago

Patrick Ayotte

8.9

Violet / dark ruby color. Expressive nose (the perfume was detectable all around the room) of black berries, flowers, bacon, pepper and some oak notes. With some air, the palate is silky with luxurious oak but not overpowering, black berries, warm spices, meat fat and flowers. Medium acidity level, the finish it more tight and severe and of medium length. Charming, and I like it! Very good+

Made of Syrah from vines of 30 to 50 years from Tournon, Mauves and Sarras communes, average yields of 35hl. Ageing of 24 months in second use oak barrels. Alcohol level of 13% — 9 years ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.6

Wow. This is unreal. Nose of herbs, black oozy fruit, granite, blackberry compote, grilled gamey meats, huge granite, mint, menthol, impossibly complex. Classic Mauves St. Joseph. Palate is juicy and very concentrated with just exquisite fruit. Showing maybe 10% of itself but a brilliant 10%. So fresh and dynamic with such fine tannins. Amazing juiciness and depth. So complex and detailed. So fine and refined. Big late breaking tannins that are ripe and so so refined. Amazing purity. What a finish. Gutsy. Brilliant. This finish never ends. What a beautiful oil slick like texture. A baby but I had to try it out. Wait 5 years. — 4 years ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.2

Love this St. Joseph. Such a different more “Côte-Rotie” style than the classic Mauves, Tournon, Epine styles. Super floral. Violets and more violets. Gorgeous precise and high toned aromas of mineral and lavender as well. Gorgeous red fruits and a lovely smokey, meaty and gamey element. Palate is structured and refined, and a bit tight out of the bottle but does blossom after an hour, but ideally I’d sit on this. Precise and linear, gamey, with huge granitic minerality and wonderfully pure. Give this 3-5 more years. But gorgeous wine if a bit young. — 5 years ago

Roel van der Burg

Sommelier at Restaurant Entrepot

9.3

Made in the central part of Saint-Joseph, on the steepest hill (above the village of Mauves) with granite soil (just like Hermitage) from 90+ year old vines. The name of the vineyard is called simply 'Saint Joseph'. This is the original part of the appellation. In other words 'Le Berceau' (the cradle). Powerful wine, dark fruit, smoked meats. On the bold side of the spectrum, but damn great. — 8 years ago