Freddy R. Troya

9.4

Château Canon 2023 – Saint-Émilion Grand Cru, 1er Grand Cru Classé, BDX, France 🇫🇷

Overview
A poised and beautifully balanced Saint-Émilion showing depth of fruit, polished texture, and quiet structural authority, driven primarily by Merlot 70% with Cabernet Franc 30% support. Dark fruit concentration is layered with mineral tension and refined oak, delivering a wine that feels complete yet still evolving in the glass, inviting extended exploration.

Aromas & Flavors
Black cherry, ripe plum, blackberry compote, crushed stone, violet, subtle cocoa dust, graphite whisper, gentle spice and refined cedar.

Mouthfeel
Medium-plus body with supple entry, fine-grained tannins, excellent mid-palate density, seamless acidity integration, and a long, resonant finish that lingers with freshness and precision.

Food Pairings
Roast duck, lamb loin, mushroom risotto, beef tenderloin, truffle pasta, aged Comté or Gruyère.

Verdict
A composed, terroir-driven Canon showing purity, balance, and textural polish rather than brute force. The finish is especially compelling, signaling strong aging potential and classic limestone-driven Saint-Émilion finesse.

🍷 Personal Pick
This one pulls you back for a second lap, deep fruit framed by elegance, not excess, with a finish that keeps unfolding. It feels confident, grounded, and quietly powerful, exactly the kind of wine that rewards patience and attention. — 14 days ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.5

No wine for 5 days while recovering from a canker sore. Coming back strong. No formal notes but mineral and so focused. Great Rheinhessen weight and density. Nimble though. Super long finish. Unreal purity. — 4 months ago

Conrad Green

9.4

Lucid and supple. Rounded fruit. Contained. Not too hot with lovely purity. Great stuff. A little tight. Some dried herbs. Delicious. — 9 months ago

with Rick

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.5

One of the best Girard 23’s. First time since April and it’s just as I remember. What a wine. Lush, giving cherry nose that just exudes purity and generousness. So inviting. Palate is lush and generous with unreal fruit. Black cherry, red cherry, blackberry. So dense, so explosive and fresh. Gorgeous, diamond cut tannins. Unreal wine. Wow. — a month ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.6

Chappellet – Signature Cabernet Sauvignon – 2022 🇺🇸
Pritchard Hill (Mountain Fruit) – Napa Valley AVA – California, USA

Overview
A cornerstone of Chappellet for over three decades, the Signature Cabernet Sauvignon continues to define what Napa Valley mountain Cabernet is all about: power, elegance, and longevity.
The 2022 vintage carries a subtly adjusted blend of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Petit Verdot, 7% Malbec, 2% Merlot, featuring a touch more Cabernet Sauvignon and slightly less Petit Verdot and Malbec compared to the 2021 (see my v2021 notes).
This shift gives the 2022 an extra dimension of muscle and purity, heightening its mountain-driven character.

Aromas & Flavors
Undeniably dark and expressive. Notes of blackcurrant, dark cherry, plum, and cassis rise first, followed by cedar, sage, aged tobacco, thyme, and beautifully integrated toasted oak.
As it opens, deeper nuances emerge, espresso bean, cocoa, graphite, and subtle mountain herbs.

Mouthfeel
Full-bodied and impeccably structured.
The increase in Cabernet Sauvignon amplifies its power and linearity, while polished tannins deliver a glowing richness across the palate.
Flavors of black cherry, currant, chocolate, espresso, and warm spice saturate the mid-palate. The finish is long, confident, and built for aging.

Food Pairings
Prime rib, grilled ribeye, lamb with rosemary, venison, black-truffle dishes, or aged gouda/cheddar.

Verdict
A formidable yet seductively elegant expression of Pritchard Hill. The 2022 is slightly more commanding than the 2021, with enhanced Cabernet purity and structural depth. A true benchmark in Napa’s hillside Cabernets, age-worthy, expressive, and unmistakably Chappellet. Cheers!

Did You Know?
Pritchard Hill’s volcanic, iron-rich soils and elevation create Cabernets known for density, refinement, and remarkable longevity, which is why so many iconic Napa producers source or plant here.

🍷 Personal Pick Highlight
Among my personal favorites in the mountain Cabernet category. The 2022 delivers that unmistakable “whoa” moment, especially when shared with friends and family. — 3 months ago

Conrad Green

9.3

From mag. soft raspberry fruit. Slightly tart. Very good purity. A little light compared to the wines alongside — 9 months ago

with BOT, Matt and 1 other

Zach D

9.5

My first of the 2023’s. Really spectacular. Pours a medium yellow with some viscosity. On the nose such purity. Lemon pith, white flowers, mixed citrus, high toned and pure, the palate is silky like crème brûlée but with a lightness; beautiful oak framing. I think I’m a Brissett junky. The winemaking highlights everything I love about Chardonnay. @Lyle Fass — 2 months ago

Steven Heydemann

9.4

Showing so beautifully right now. Density and purity of dark berry fruit, olive wood smoke, sage and thyme notes. Terrific.  — 4 months ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.5

Nose is a spice bomb. Dried, desiccated leaves. Some mid season cherry, wet earth and everything about the nose says aged but with some youthful vigor. Palate is lush and rich, really good, with great concentration and freshness. Nimble and with wonderful acidity and such purity. Velvety sweet tannins and so focused. This is drinking so well. Terrific sweetness and love the classical structure. Long finish and still got some fuel to burn. Even better in 5-8 years. With air this gets so juicy and the energy really shines through. Wow the elegance shines through after 2 hours. 9.5 now. — 5 months ago

Norman

9.0

This is powerful sake. Thick on the palate with a lot of flavor. I get a bit more alcohol and even some heat than I prefer in sake. There is a long finish on this one. Bottled 12/22 — 10 months ago