Dave

9.2

A perfect pairing with tonight's sausage pizza and lasagna. Took me a minute to figure out who makes this wine, as the producer's name is in the smallest print. Dusty cherries, plums, leather, basil, tea leaves at the end. Fair acidity and a very soft mouthfeel make this chianti a winner.
Listening to my new addiction: a song called "Trickster" by Maromaro. Heavens to Betsy, I wish you would all check him out. A brilliant guitar player with his own unique voice. — a month ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.3

2019 vintage. Surprisingly, hooky lead vocals drinkability with decent backing fruit and a helluva solo electric guitar spice bridge. Ripe and ready to rock. California-styled French effort. — 3 years ago

Jamie Lauder

9.2

2015 vintage.
In Vancouver, we consider Washington State as local wines.
Just because there is a border doesn’t mean anything.
Charles Smith is a great guy. Long hair, plays guitar and loves hockey….he’s practically Canadian.
This Syrah has red/black fruit aromas with plums and cherries dominating.
Complex flavours of black currants, liquorice, smoked herbs and great minerality on the finish.
The vineyards are from Northridge and Clifton Hills (both on the Wahluke Slope) — 4 years ago

Riccardo L.

9.0

Not ready yet… but a bomb in waiting for sure. Electric guitar, blue bleached hair, heart shaped box. Grungy. — 4 years ago

Dave

8.9

Got some teeth on it. Very pleasant fruit, red and blue. Chalky tannins. Inexpensive and just fine to drink now.
Listening to myself tracking acoustic guitar in the basement. — 2 months ago

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. — 2 years ago

Ellen Clifford

9.1

Investigating classic pairings and realized the only thing I had to serve chèvre on was packets pretzels from the flight I just…flew in from?

Fortunately pretzels were good call. Otherwise?I’m annoyed. I’ve never cared for goat cheese. And I’ve scoffed at how Sancerre scarcely tastes like Sauvignon Blanc anymore.

But the two together are so delightful. It’s coming to terms with a madness in line with last week when I found myself hanging with a gorgeous couple (Los Angeles models yayyy) and I wished I could write them off. Then one picked up his guitar and started playing 90’s/early aughts hits with passion, and his girlfriend confided she wrote Edward Allen Poe inspired poetry and I thought “damn I love them…where did my inner Daria go???”

Both pairings really pleased me.
The humans it’s obvious they are asshole artists like me.

The cheese and wine? I never liked the gamey notes and (to me) overly rich bordering on pasty mouthfeel of chèvre. But somehow the floral, mineral, and white peach vibes from this Sancerre tease out the floral and earthy (without being animal-y) zings from the cheese.
I’m pissed that I found a way I like goat cheese. The more you know? — 4 years ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.5

2019 vintage. From a 375ml btl Coravin sample. Absolutely rocking. Shredding on both lead and rhythm guitar. And then the bass and drums with a vintage electric violin flourish. Not the cheapest Merlot expression from Sonoma but likely the best. Built to last. 06.18.25. — 6 months ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.1

2022 vintage. Medium/medium heavy body. Nice, initial draw and mid-palate kaleidoscope but a shunted finish. Started off nearly identical to the 2022 Gary's Vineyard same producer/vintage but lacking the epic, back end, guitar solo outro. Brand new so would like to retaste in 8-12 months. We all know how fickle the pinot noir grape can be. 04.02.25. — 8 months ago

Severn G

8.9

Nose has yellow apple peel, pear slice, straw and beach sand.

Palate has tangerine zest, ripe pear, under-ripe yellow peach, cold clementine orange with medium acidity and slightly dry finish.
A nice bottle; not sure if this wants more time, or a couple years past prime...

On the sold out (18K+ patrons) Lawn at Tanglewood this evening with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Our guest Conductor Ken-David Masur is leading a 90th birthday celebration of John Williams. BSO soloists tonight are J. Williams Hudgins (vibraphone) & Jessica Zhou (harp), joined by Yo-Yo Ma (cello), Branford Marsalis (saxophone), Eric Revis (bass) and James Taylor (vocals/guitar). A truly wonderful night lay ahead, and my money is certainly on hearing at least one or two Star Wars movements this evening... — 3 years ago