Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.3

The 21 of this is just beyond, so far beyond every other vintage it’s not close. Soaring nose of green apple, baked apple pie, phyllo dough, pear, lime zest and sea air. Gorgeous. Terrific palate of lime rock intensity and so juicy but piercingly mineral and super focused. Amazing palate presence here. So long. A triumph. — 3 months ago

Byron Fuller

9.6

Everything I hope for in red burgundy. This had shocking ullage (almost to the base of the shoulder, scary on a burg) but opened beautifully. Soaring nose still has very pure fruit; fabulous dazzling length. No idea to describe the palate, just awfully good. Must be at peak but showed no signs of fading. — a year ago

Ron Siegel

9.4

La Paulee Liger Belair Dinner. Out of magnum that was a stunning VR, floral, elegant with soaring spices. Like all LB these wines were delicious — 2 years ago

ESF

9.3

Wow - the freshness, the color, the soaring rich liqueur aromas, pure decadence… Chambord, truffle, licorice, cough drop, vanilla, truffle, absolutely insane. Smooth rich luxurious - had this out of barrel and on release and it is still youthful. — 3 years ago

Seth Masterson

9.3

This wine makes me re-think what I know as Chenin Blanc.
It opens with a lot of lees/yeast. And wet rock minerality. Give it a few minutes for the fruits and florals to develop. Give it more minutes and it actually starts to smell like a Vouvray or savenniere - wax, wool and aged cheese.
Soaring acidity! (Ever bite into a Ranguapur lime?) But also body-oddy-oddy thanks to that yeast contact.

Not only enjoyable but also one that you want to pour many more glasses of t discover all the nuanced smells and flavors.

Don't chill it too much! You'll lose a lot of the subtleties. — 7 months ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.5

My favorite expression of Sangiovese. It’s amazing what Stella can do in warm vintages. 2011 Riserva is fabulous tonight, with soaring aromatics, stunning elegance and purity and fantastic intensity without any sense of weight. It’s fresh, floral and red fruited with complex layers of violets, forest leaves and exotic spice. The palate is juicy and vibrant with a silky texture, fine grained tannins and a long mineral inflicted finale that leaves behind hardly any warmth. Love these wines. Brunello for the Burgundy lover. — a year ago

Jay Kline

9.6

Presented blind alongside three other red wines; another Bordeaux and two Bordeaux blends from CA. All wines were descanted and returned to the bottle 8 hours prior.

This wine pours a deep garnet with an opaque core. Medium+ viscosity. Medium+ intensity. The nose was a mix of red and dark fruits with currants and cherries, tobacco, pencil shavings, earth, espresso and baking spice. There’s just a whiff of a barnyard in the distance too. On the palate, again the mixed fruit set with beautifully ripened blackberries and black cherries, currants, earth, coffee and baking chocolate. Medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Finishes looooooong, dry and immensely satisfying.

The wine is balanced and leans towards its structure. I called 2004 Latour. The soaring aromatics were simply incredible. I just wanted to spend the entire evening with my nose buried in the glass. This is squarely in the drinking window yet has many years left in it. Drink now with an extended decant or enjoy over the next 10-15 years. — 2 years ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.5

Been two plus years and wow wow wow is this the best bottle yet. Stunning nose of chestnut, soaring minerality, deep mid season cherries but smothered with wet leaves. Also amazing fireplace aromas. The palate is a marvel. Beats the sh*t out of sooooo many Barolo and Barbaresco at much higher price points. Omg the earthy sweetness on this is insanely magical. Perfect balance and elite elite finesse. Insane inner mouth aromas. What velvety texture and insane juiciness. Perfect fruit/tannin delivery balance. Just so so incredibly epic. This estate is magic. — a year ago

ESF

9.5

Sublime - just so in the pocket, soaring aromas of dusty cherries, spice, tar, violets, almost a tawny character. So textbook. Seamless flawless palate, the tannins are just perfectly resolved & elegant balance w/acidity, just enough secondary flavors mingled w/cherries on palate through lengthy velvety finish. — a year ago

ESF

9.5

Transcendent - loved this wine & winery for years, believe this is my last bottle & perhaps caught it at its zenith: deep dark ruby, still inky & opaque - soaring aromas of cherry liqueur, red berry fruit, licorice, dried herbs, tomato plant, tobacco, leather and some Earthy secondary notes. Still w/decent heft from a wine that for me has always had impressive extraction, power & vigor. Juicy acidity & elegant structure, plenty of ripe fruit - on the palate it shows like finely aged Sangiovese. Wonderful accompaniment to Christmas evening ham. — 2 years ago