I definitely agree with my purveyor. See Lyle Fass’ notes.
Granite flowers and animal funk/leather on the nose. A wine you could huff all evening.
The palate rewards with opulence, but never treacly, red/black fruits, granite, gentle tugging at your cheeks. I think it’s ready to go but some yrs. wouldn’t hurt. It lingers on your lips lonnnggg.
Deliciousness, craft, terroir.
Thanks @FassSelections. — 7 months ago
Great wine. Nose of ripe apple, wild mint, some ML aromas and gorgeous pear. So pure and refined. Wow such great acidity and sweet, ripe Chardonnay fruit and gorgeously defined minerality and ample opulence in the mid palate. So juicy and energetic and finishes salty. Deceptively long finish. — a year ago
Lambert’s high end Chardonnay and wow what a wine in 21. Nose is nutty, mineral, green apple and pear. Ouille style so zero ox. So aromatic and focused. Some wood shavings and a hint of spice. Palate is super focused with tons of angles and green apple skins and some flesh but not much. Juicy and incisive. Really long and just the right amount of flesh. Great energy and high acids. So compact and lean but also has a hint of opulence that keeps you wanting one more sip. Very complex and wow this will wake you up in the morning with its intense acidity and minerality. Let’s see what air does. So clean and astonishingly pure.
With some air this got more fleshy, more acidic and more concentrated with a complex clearly defined saline note. Puligny look alike. — 5 months ago
The 2020 Gabbro is gorgeous. Montepeloso's bold Cabernet Sauvignon delivers tons of varietal character and savory intensity with less opulence than in most years. Dark fruit leather, licorice, smoke, tobacco and incense build into the somber finish. Here, too, the tannins are bruising. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, August 2023)
— 10 months ago
Another night, another insane Krug. Tessa’s palate has certainly been calibrated for this because the blind was instantly untangled by her - this is Krug… 02’ perhaps? Boom! Thanks for sharing this, Toni. Typical Krug opulence, yet so energetic. Just starting to mature, it combined ripeness, great structure, and phenolic grip, with deep mineral drive and acidity. Just hitting it’s stride, but I reckon it still has a long way to go. Love it! — 2 years ago
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. 😂🤥 — 7 months ago
Lyle Fass
Founder Fass Selections
Day 2 notes. Mineral and tropical nose. Sea salt and an airiness. So elegant. Juicy palate with razor sharp acidity and a wonderful opulence in the mid palate. Awesome purely. Like a Riesling drop (riffing off of gum drop.) Long. Just wonderful. Flavors of pink grapefruit, peach and apricot. So clear. — 4 months ago