Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.6

Brilliant nose. Unreal barrel spice, green apple skins, ripe pear and some melon. Staggeringly pure. Wafting salty minerals. Really gorgeous. Palate is ripe and rich with just insane complexity. Juicy and so clean. Unreal finesse and delicacy. So mouthwatering and pure. Super juicy and clean. Terrific inner mouth aromas and endless depth. Outrageous. A stunning Equinces. Wow the nose on this wine is incredible. Wafting! — 4 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.7

The very definition of velvet wrapped in an iron fist. It is singing on my palate.

This Dry Creek is better than the Select Terraces I’ve opened lately. Deep, black, ripe, ruby, currants, blackberries, black plum, plum, black raspberries, boysenberries, blue hues, dark cherries, crazy, deep, Indian spices, dark berry cola, cinnamon stick, nutmeg, vanilla, caramel, malt balls, fresh tobacco, used leather, tree bark w/ sap, steeped fruit tea, limestone, crushed risks, river stone, forest floor with dry leaves, dry herbaceous notes, endless rainbow of florals, beautiful acidity and well balanced, structure and tension that is tightly knit with finish for days.

Crazy, stupid, producer that continues to fly well below the radar. I am thankful it does.

This 2010 has 10 years plus of life left ahead. The best Ca Cabernet I’ve had in many years. Wine affects me differently than most but this wine is like a full body massage. Maybe, that is why I discovered my palate. — 3 years ago

Josh Morgenthau

9.7

Mind-boggling confectionary aromas; part cotton candy, part spiced treat in a Moroccan bazaar. Then citrus, quince and vanilla cream. Palate is pure energy. Ripping acid, endless concentration. The vinous equivalent of seeing god?

Need to check in… 15 years? — 5 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Nice evolution and well integrated. 92 that pushes 93.

The other wine from the great Napa producer, Philip Togni.

The mouthfeel is supple, round, soft, yet meaty and tarry tannins. Ripe, juicy, rich; blackberries, baked plum for days, dark cherries, black raspberries, hues of raspberries & boysenberries. Black licorice, berry cola, muddy, volcanic clay, herbaceous notes, soft baking spices, slightly, melted chocolate, dark spice with a touch of heat, coffee, dry crushed, rocks, dry stem, dry tobacco, new leather, oak to cedar shavings, volcanic ash, dark, slightly withering, red, blue flowers framed in a field of endless violets, rainfall acidity, great balance, nice tension/structure and a smartly polished finish that last a full minute.

If you own, I would drink over the next 3-4 years before it starts to slide.

Photos of; Philip Togni vineyard, barrel room, vineyard soil & Philip Togni and his daughter Lisa. — 2 years ago

Raul Puga

9.3

So delicious. Paired perfectly with fresh Florida grouper. Yummm — 3 years ago

Peter van den Besselaar

9.9

Vintage 1989 | 3/4 transparant, Italian rooftiles brown rim. A very intense bouquet: cedar, forrest wood, laurel, flint, cherries, só multi layered you tend to smell endless. Powerful taste, prominent bitters, still too young imo, the taste comes together with the entrecôte, awesome harmony. A benchmark for wine lovers. Fine that HB delivers to mark a special moment! I bought this when my daughter was born | at restaurant Pollevie — 5 years ago

Manny Abascal

9.5

1971. Bright gold color, wax with bit of petrol on nose, gorgeous silky palate with honey, lemon oil, and an endless finish. 30 minute decant helped to blow off some funk. Brilliant wine. — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

This small Calistoga producer falls largely under the radar. I am thankful. The 12 vintage brings such fruit. However, this 12 Sisters rides the fence of 12 & 13. Shows dark currents, concreted mouthfeel in addition to its ripe, rich opulence.

The nose ascends with rich dark, purple, blue fruits, dark spice, violets framed in lavender for days.

The palate is ripe, ruby, lush, concentrated fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, boysenberries, very dark cherries, creamy raspberries, in & out strawberries & blueberries. Big, heated, dark spice-box, round, meaty, sweet tannins cigar ash, led pencil, tarriness, anise, moist, fresh tobacco, black licorice & cola, dark, nutmeg, cinnamon stick, vanilla, rich soil w/ dry leaves, dry, crush rocks/limestone, dry herbs-bay leaves, sage, parsley, notes of eucalyptus bark shavings, tree bark w/ hints of sap, touch of black sandalwood to barrel shavings, pepper, moist, volcanic clay, fresh & withering; dark, purple, red, blue floral bouquet framed in violets & lavender, excellent acidity with a lush, rich, big, round & meaty structure, still shows great tension, well balanced with endless polish & finish. 10 years of life ahead…properly stored. Wine post 4,600.

Such a deal at the Benchmark Bin Sale. @Paul T- Huntington Beach if you find any of this, just tell me about em, don’t buy em. 😂🤥 — 3 years ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.8

Just a stunning and unique nose of startling originality. Wild mint, flowers and pollen. Marzipan. Really floral like a flower shop but also the pollen is really there and really unique! Stunning. Deep slate and minerality behind it all. Genius. The vividness and accuracy of the aromas is blowing my mind. 9.9 nose. Just magical. Smells Tolkienesque. My god how elegant this wine is and super fresh. Intense, exploding minerality and endless depth. The acid is perfection for all the wealth of material. Length is stupid long. This glides on the palate. What a mid palate and an almost tannic grip on the finish. This initially is 100% mineral on the palate and I’m curious if it will fruiten up. I know it will. That finish is full of pulverized slate and keeps going and going. Amazing concentration and mouthfeel. The acid is so straight. Doesn’t go up or down, weather stays right down the middle of the plate. I love this when. So unique, delicious and exciting. I’ll be back as it airs out. — 4 years ago

Stephen Mandy

9.3

This was a great surprise at first tight and closed in but with an hour of air opened into classic Pauilliac beauty. Cigar box nose deep juicy currant flavors and endless finish. Fourty years old and an average vintage - WOW — 6 years ago