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. — a year 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) — 3 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Just on the other side of peak. Love it.

So this wine is critically in its last year. Not the case at all. Still had five years of good life in it.

I think people are so used to drinking wine young, critics purposely conservatively set their drinking windows to the younger side.

This 06 is just and I mean just the other side of its bell curve. I enjoy them at that stage and in fact, live on those descriptive edges quite often. .

The nose reveals; ruby, ripe & slightly baked fruits of; sweet, black plum, blackberries, black cherries, stewed strawberries, black raspberries, plums, raspberries, cranberries, pomegranate, raspberry cola, dry, crushed rocks, dry twig, dark spice, anise to black licorice, soft sweet tarriness, sage, graphite, dry tobacco, limestone minerals, soft leather, blonde volcanics, dark, slightly moist soils with candied, fresh & slightly withering; dark, red, purple, blue florals framed in lavender.

The palate is; round, juicy, voluptuous & sexy. Tannins are rounded yet firm & tarry. The tension, structure, balance and length are peaking. Ruby, ripe & slightly baked fruits of; sweet, black plum, blackberries, black cherries, stewed strawberries, black raspberries, plums, raspberries, cranberries, pomegranate, raspberry cola, dry, crushed rocks, dry twig, dark spice, anise to black licorice, dark chocolate, caramel, mocha, soft sweet tarriness, sage, Provence herbs, graphite, dry tobacco, limestone minerals, soft leather, blonde volcanics, dark, slightly soils with candied, fresh & slightly withering; dark, red, purple, blue florals framed in lavender. The acidity is round & like a gentle rain shower. The finish is rich, lush, ruby, nicely polished, elegant & finishing with persistent dark spices for minutes.

Photos of our visit to Vineyard 29. Our tasting area, two shots of the walk to their tasting room and display room of their love for a guitar artist I can’t remember. — 4 years 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. — 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? — 3 years ago

Tom Garland

9.6

1 hour decant (decent chunky/cloudy sediment). A majestic spartan crimson color with little signs of aging. On the nose: very aromatic with that sweet aged Napa perfume, red and black berries, cedar, smoke, slight minty menthol, wet earth, and slight creme brulee. Taste: Singing!!...classic Pink Floyd....Comfortably Numb with the ultimate guitar solo hitting mid palate (thank you David Gilmour!). Its smooth, dense, full body, mouth coating wine with rasberry, blackberry, mocha, crushed rock, pencil lead. A long vanilla mineral finish with some slightly grippy tannins.....will go another 10 years. — 4 years ago

with Brenda

Severn Goodwin

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... — 2 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. — 3 years ago

Mike Holzer

9.6

Jonathon brought back from Italy. I thought would not be ready/too tannic but was proved wrong. After 30 min huge bouquet of cherry/red fruit. Beautifully integrated tannins with cherry and other red guitar with mild oak tinge . Delicious want more. Will be good next 2 decades but why wait. A beauty. — 5 years ago

with Ania

Anthony Lombardi

9.1

Crisp steely stuff. Nose shows a beautiful depth of citrus fruit. The palate has a great balance of fruit, acid & salinity. This producer makes makes great wine across the board. This is a hauntingly beautiful record. Reminiscent of Leo Kottke & John Fahey in a slower tempo. Almost ballad-like guitar work from a virtuoso. — 5 years ago