Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.6

The last remaining unicorn in Cornas. The great Elie Bancel. He is finally coming to America. The new Sozet. What an amazing wine. Nose is superb but a bit reticent upon opening. Meaty, red berry, blackberry, some olives but what stands out is the absolute harmony of the aromas. Just elite. Gorgeous granitic background and some flowers as well. This is a 9.8 nose and it’s not barely aired out. This is old man Cornas at its best. My god how aristocratic this nose is. That palate is like if Noel Verset and Louis Sozet had a love child. Juicy and wow the granite. More Beliando on the palate now with some air. Big, granitic tannins and some major structure. Gorgeous sleek fruit and some wildness as is par for the course for old man Cornas. This needs air but my goodness this is wonderful wine. Authentic as they come and full of character and soul. So juicy and intense with stunning energy and slate like granitic tannins. Toothsome. Nose now getting more floral with violets and some lilacs. This smells like history. Terrific inner mouth aromas and balanced between olive and meat. Juicy and so deep. This is more structured than Sozet and reminds me of a Bordeaux, structurally speaking. It’s got a finish that doesn’t quit but will expand mightily once it’s given air. This seems like it will greatly improve with an unlimited amount of air. Seems almost like an “oxygen-proof” wine. I will be back. Oh man the tannins and fruit are separating and wow this is getting insane. Now the nose is crazy. Super granite and much more Beliando than Sozet. So stoney and aristocratic. So elegant now. Wow has this gained finesse and the olives are like an oily deep olive slick that is so pure. Really insane wine. What a texture and energy. Really not like Sozet at all now on palate as the mineral is so much granite. Unreal. Still more to come.

Day 2 - Nose is all black fruits, granite shavings, burnt charcoal, and some dark blueberries. The stoniness is unreal. Palate is rich and ripe with stellar concentration and purity. Nice hit of opulence and so elegant and generous now. Huge concentration and depth. Unreal. — 2 days ago

Jessica Heath

9.2

Wow, great first champagne from Elie club. This was so full of wonderful flavor and full bodied. Great mouth feel. Amazing with cheeses and apples. I got fall harvest fruit and spices, tons of structure — 6 years ago

Matthew Cohen

9.5

Giddyup Sheriff. There’s a new gunslinger in town.

Nose is floral and graphite gorgeous. Elie berry flower.

Palate is sweet elegant blueberry. Graphite. Mineral. So long and sweet

Mos def on the elegant side of st Josephs. Which I like.

— 2 years ago

Ted

9.2

Plan is to drink a bunch of Beaujolais for the holidays after a fun visit with @Todd Abrams at Elie Wine. This is number one. Lavender smoke and oh so good. 🤓 — 5 years ago

with Jeni

Erik Heath

8.9

Elie - nice fruit/tannin balance? It’s good.
— 6 years ago

Jessica Heath

9.3

Had this wine Christmas Day 2018. Along with a wonderful first baby Christmas this wine was warm and inviting. Beautiful fruit with some spice at the end, like a pie. From Elie. — 6 years ago

Stephanie Hui

9.0

Easy drinking — 3 years ago

Ted

9.0

Happy Thanksgiving!! Delicious and tasty. I have to spend more time drinking the bubbles. Thanks to my bud Elie for suggesting this one. Warm just baked pretzels. Be safe everyone — 4 years ago

with Jeni

Ted

9.4

My final wine of the trio I bought from Sesti via Elie wine company. Went very well with stuffed peppers. Has a bit more earthiness to it with some gorgeous cherry fruit. — 6 years ago

with Jeni

Jessica Heath

9.2

Paired with homemade mushroom risotto for Christmas dinner (2018) and it was absolutely delicious. It was dark berry forward, got cherry/chocolate on the nose. Nice acid to cut the creamy richness of the risotto. From Elie. — 6 years ago