Shay A

9.2

Monthly WTF wine group meet up. Theme was “bring something good”. All wines (minus the bubbles and SB) were tasted blind.

This was opened after the BS was corked. Needed only about 30mins to blow off some funk and then settled in as expected. Not funky, and not as much iron as I would have thought. The fruit is all stewed and muddled, mainly red and black fruits, with red clay, oregano, and chewy fig. Drink up. — 9 days ago

with Jack, Dan and 4 others

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.6

I love this estate and of course Côte Rotie in 15 is the sweet spot in the N. Rhone. Stunning nose. Bacon, violets, olive, deep red and black berry fruit. Mint, menthol, super mineral. So deep. The palate is an exercise in finesse and refinement which is what Côte Rotie should be. Medium bodied, super juicy, hint of oak, incredibly complex and deep, with terrific acid and freshness. Amazing length and so so deep and fresh. Wow what a finish with tiny berry fruit intensity. Stunning out of the bottle but better in 2 hours and even better in 15 years. Refined and elegant yet powerful and structured. So good. — 10 days ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.3

Beautiful nose and one of the great vintages of this wine. Dark and red berry fruit, spice, smoke, leather, mint, earth and granite. Palate is ripe and so juicy with an incredibly opulent texture. Such freshness and balance. Velvety and beautiful tannins with terrific sweetness but not too sweet. A mineral sweetness among with gorgeous berry fruit. Terrific wine and oh so young. Value city. — 8 days ago

Willie Carter

8.9

Who doesn’t love Côte Rôtie? Always one of the best expressions of Syrah but this one is fun. A mild garnet with little hints of brownish tinges. The nose on this is truly magnificent with black olives, beautiful spice, and dark fruit. Despite the name, this is wonderfully rustic instead of being delicate. Dry and dusty, there’s enough fruit here but it doesn’t abound. Smooth tannins and medium plus acidity. Leather and green pepper on the palate with smoke and blackberries complimenting. Less refined than I was expecting but a lot more fun too. — 6 days ago

Joe D'Angelo

9.7

The 2016 Saint-Joseph from Pierre Gonon is utterly brilliant. This dazzling wine instantly bursts open with vivid aromas of fresh blackberries and red berries along with violets, salted meat, black olives, pepper, smoke and dried savory herbs. On the palate this is full-bodied, backed by beautiful polished tannins that surround a juicy core of fresh dark berries laced with pepper and spice flavors. On the palate this displays remarkable balance and concentration as well as striking freshness and purity all the way through the long expansive finish. Showing incredible youthful energy and vibrancy, this also displays serious aging potential. — 10 days ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.4

The nose. Huge perfumed, dark black berry fruit, overwhelming mint, Klondike bar, granite minerality, but a sense of depth is so there. So young. But so deep, so complex and so granite. Juicy and explosive fruit. But young. So impressive. Refined and elegant and has that Darnaud opulent fruit. Will be back once it opens more. — 6 days ago

Arden Barnett

9.8

Haha... just wrong. One of the most well integrated wines I have ever had. Thrown off not getting the typical smoked meat/ olive tapenade characteristics of northern Rhône. Dark red fruits, slate, gamy, fresh pepper and the right amount of funk. Simply sublime — 7 days ago

with Jack

Simon Weston

9.0

Big dark fruit nose with some vanilla. Deep reddish purple color. Dark fruits to taste with an earthy smoky middle. Delicious. However, quickly loses all the character in the glass and gets tight. My learned friend says it would probably open up again after an hour or 2 but we went for the drink quicker and pour more option. — 3 days ago

with Joseph and Jeffrey

Matt Perlman

9.0

Definitely provides a “sensation” of the northern Rhône with its meaty, peppery black fruit, herbs and flowers but in an elegant package — 7 days ago

Dave Harris

9.7

Extremely tight upon opening, but incredible a few hours after decanting. Predominant intense blackberry purée. Peppery candied black currants with a little watermelon jolly rancher. Smokey KC barbecue sauce. This wine is going to be amazing in 20 years. Thanks to MacMillan for the very generous donation. — 13 days ago