Jay Kline

9.5

It’s been a couple of years since I last encountered the 2001 vintage of Chave’s Hermitage. That bottle was a library release from the domaine and so is this example. Splash decanted directly before service. The 2001 pours a garnet color with a translucent core; medium viscosity with significant staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is vinous and a total umami bomb: Koji beef broth, dried and baked brambles, dried purple flowers, black pepper, Kalamata olive, organic and inorganic earth along with fine warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. Looking back on my notes from 2024, there’s a common theme: the 2001 is all about dat bass. Drink now with some patience and through 2041. — 2 months ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.5

Killer nose at 33 years young from an OK vintage. Chestnuts galore. tar, roses, melting road tar and crazy florals. Woodshop. Old Library books. Macerated cherries. Smells like elite Barolo. Just gorgeous. As it airs the minerals come through and the nose gets more and more expansive. I could smell this all day. Palate is tasting so young. Tannic and structured but with glorious cherry fruit and a mix of dried and fresh cherries. Very delicate yet big. This is so beautiful. Wow what sweet sweet cherry fruit and glorious freshness and acidity. This is terrific. Needs air as these all do. Nose now has burnt ember from a fireplace. Now after aid the complexity and finesse come in spades. It’s so elegant. The cherry fruit gets more defined. Now on Day 2 it has gotten better and better. These wines are timeless and ageless. Nose is a nebbiolo symphony with tar, dried roses, cigar box, dried cherries and huge minerality. So enveloping. Unreal chestnut. Palate is juicy and so clear. Amazing velvety tannins and so silky. Unreal wine. More finesse and better fruit clarity today. — 2 years ago

K L

9.2

This library case was a great purchase. Excellent for the money and drinking smooth. — 4 years ago

with Matt

Joe DAscoli

9.3

Smells like it’s a brand new young wine with wild and fragrant fruit.

But at first sip you get the age and depth of the wine that has the fruit hiding beneath some good structure.

Good stuff. — 3 months ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.6

Big stones, earthy, mineral, darker red currants diverging on black. Smells more angular which is the vintage for sure. Lots of herbs. Huge minty and floral. It’s very grapey but also very dusty. Gorgeous nose but def younger than the 11. Stunning though. Mushrooms on the nose. The tannins are much bigger and substantial. Juicy and clean. Needs mega air. This really came together after air. Big structure and that Margaux finesse. Amazing fruit and such an old library effect on the nose. Phenomenal. — 2 years ago

David Nicewicz

9.8

Truly a memorable wine experience for this perfectly stored Sassicaia. The perfume on this wine was mesmerizing - Licorice, old library, tobacco leaves, leather and spice with a touch of cassis. I nosed it for 10 min before even tasting it (praying to the wine gods that the wine was intact) - perfection on the nose in my book. The palate lived up to the nose and perfectly reflected the notes with an added touch of dried roses and a hint of graphite. Why not a 10? The finish was a tad short, but I’m splitting hairs - I bought two more bottles of this from the amazing restaurant we ate at - La Caravella - in Amalfi. An outstanding restaurant, rich history (including a 1000 year old wine cellar with 20k bottles of wine which the staff graciously offered for me to tour) and lovely chef. A must visit for any wine/food geek if you’re on the Amalfi Coast. — 4 years ago

JKT

9.0

Balance and soft textures thirty years! Say ten years after acquiring from JR whose email says matriarch passing freed up this library holding back then. — 6 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

Using a library photo from Delectable. The vintage I had was 2014 which was a brilliant White Burgundy vintage. The nose showing struck match sulphides - also mineral with flint. Notes of fresh herbs with white flowers. Palate is restrained but very precise. The first white from the Burgundy dinner in Sydney on August 7. Just catching up with notes now. The food match with steamed Murray Cod was superb. — 7 months ago

David Nicewicz

9.5

Excellent start to fall with 82’ Cos. Perfume of cassis, old library and saddle leather gives way to an unctuous palate - cassis, hoisin, bacon, animal, tobacco and the classic Cos silky tannins. Excellent wine. — 4 years ago

Matthew Cohen

9.3

Man. I love this winemaker.

Nose is smoke and dark fruit. It’s like a warm hug from your best friend Who’s wearing a sweater.

So comforting.

As it opens you get dried roses. Library book. Amazing.

Palate is dark cherry but in a light way. Still fresh. Elegant.

Man. Such a great winemaker.

Bought from fass selections — 4 years ago