Shay A

9.2

Probably my first 100% Syrah from this region. Color me impressed!

90mins bottle decant and this was absolutely ready to go. Wonderful pairing with venison shank risotto! Deep purple/black in the glass (Paso-like). Big aromatics of fresh mixed berry pie, crème de cassis, and espresso beans (again, a bit Paso-like). The palate is silky and rich (Paso-like again) with a wash of dark fruits, dark chocolate, baking spices and black pepper. The finish takes a detour from Paso as the heat isn’t noticeable and has just a hint of underripe fruit and clean leather. This is a killer value and a wine I’ll look for again. — a year ago

S.S. Mandani

9.5

Bready in its breadth and then you take a breath and get the apricot and maybe some mango peel.

Whoosh. After understanding my palate, the homies at Frankly have listened and pointed me to a wonderful bottle. What an adventure. I feel seen.

Waxy, slightly effervescent. Refreshing. I’ll say it again. Refreshing as can be. Well worth the wait after a long run in the heat. Edging on orange, but stopping short of zesty and taking a detour to somewhere along Chenin’s spectrum. Minerality.

Really love this idiosyncratic blend. Something new.

Buy the ticket, take the ride type shiiii. — 3 years ago

David White

9.0

This Western Australian Frankland River Cabernet is a very good example of new offerings from non Cabernet regions
Well worth a detour to try something different — 4 years ago

Lisa F

10

Bought on my girls trip. Free sample from when we took a detour through the hotel lobby — 5 years ago

Robert Krupp

9.2

Slight chill and full of personality. Crunchy fruit and perfect w grilled pork and a simple salad. Great detour from@ baudrys cab francs — 2 years ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.5

What a deep stoney nose. Ripe black cherry fruit and a compote aspect. Dense, brooding and layered. Incredibly vivid fruit. A saline aspect as well. Gorgeous. Palate is stunning. Bright but dark fruits and amazing freshness. So sappy and pure and elegant. The elegance in the kid’s wines has really ramped up. Beautiful wispy yet velvety and sweet tannins but not too sweet. A raspberry coulis aspect and lip smacking freshness on the finish. I love the 2020’s here. Terrific inner mouth aromas and insane opulence. So juicy and energetic. The tannins are super high quality and the fruit is dark and opulent but just so perfect. Not overdone and owns its darkness and opulence. Silky and sweet and so long. A brilliant bottle. The fruit never quits on the finish even as it takes a detour for the minerals to express themselves. Almost a 9.6.

This has come alive after many hours. Nose is more integrated. Much more. Gorgeous raspberry and cherry. Wow. Palate is insanely juicy and fruit is more red. Sappy as all can be. Brilliant. — 2 years ago

Richard Rosensweig

8.9

If you can get an organically grown wine from France to the US that is fresh and lively on the palate with no trace of funk, then kudos to you Madame Cartier and sons. This baby is all fruit: blueberry, black cherry, currants. Well worth a detour to southwestern France for this well-balanced blend of Grenache, Syrah and Cabernet. — 4 years ago

Adriana Fabbro

9.3

Another year, a new RM producer! An gorgeous, exuberant and lively Blanc de Blanc for José Dhondt (375ml). Preserved lemon, golden apple — fresh and baked — hazelnut and toasty brioche in abundance. That elusive balance of brightness and depth/richness….

En route home from the airport, I realized that I had no champagne awaiting me at home and risked a birthday passing without a glass (😱). Managed to swing by Ferry Plaza Wine Merchant on my way back to the East Bay 15 minutes before closing for this little gem. Well worth the 30 minute detour. — 2 years ago

Ely Cohn

9.1

Things of nature don’t usually exist in glowing magenta.

Cruse’s 2020 Valdigue Noveau is an ode to the Nouveaus of Beaujolais.

Like the others, his starts bubbly, fruity, carbonic. Gets interesting with a detour to raw, stemmy, rosemary woods. Finishes tart - cranberries and cedar dust. — 4 years ago

Ely Cohn

9.2

Just like Le Souffle, Le Detour is mature for a winemaker with just a few vintages under his belt. These are wines that stay in their lanes with graceful minor swerves. Natural, but not polarizing. I don’t come across much Loire Gamay and Le Detour is more substantive, denser, fruit heavy compared to what we see from Beaujolais. Dark red berries and spice form the nose. The mouth is high acid and lodged with minerals and a strawberry raspberry finish. — 4 years ago