Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.2

Big, ebbullient and deep nose. Black berry, black cherry, granite, some herbs as well. Very pretty and very refined for a Chevaliere. Palate is dense, juicy and explosive with awesome tiny berry red fruited intensity and a lovely granite cleanse on the finish and then a lovely hit of olive. Juicy and really nice tannins. This needs more finesse to be a Cote Rotie but it is close! Terrific power and concentration. Lovely wine. — 10 days ago

Ian Hamel

9.6

2021/2/27 with delivery from Joel Robuchon. Many of the greatest aged red wines (with many of the greatest meals) that I’ve had have been Chave Hermitage, and here was another. The great Syrahs of the Northern Rhône become so magical with age - it enhances them as much or more than any other wine - and this is as good as they come. Astonishing aromas of roasted game, olives, black berries and spices, deep and rich yet translucent and fresh on the palate. — 12 days ago

Matthew Cohen

9.3

Nose: lilacs. Granite. Licorice as it opens.

Palate: sweet fruit. Delicious. Sleek and elegant texture. Some light licorice. Dusty graphite. As it opens the licorice is more pronounced.

Hour decant is optimal.

Bought from fass selections. — 10 days ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.8

Sigh. Life does not suck when this is open. Unreal nose. The most mineral wine in the Rhone. Wow. Berry, smoked meats, granite, so vibrant and expressive. Leather, red berry, black berry, even a hint of cassis. Some barnyard to add complexity. Oh man this smells so so good. This will need 4-5 hours of air but man is this palate ridiculous. Amazing balance, opulence and finished with huge granitic crunch. Velvety and aristocratic tannins. The delicacy and royal breeding of this wine is so evident. Unreal, the best 09 Rhone I’ve ever had. It’s not close. Nails the vintage but stays so true to the style. This has the most incredible tiny berry fruit. The balance is perfect. On a tightrope. Extraordinary. A wine that oozes class and refinement. Sweet and ripe fruit but it finished with the most elegant granite you can imagine. Such a long finish. So so long. Just starting to drink but needs more time. Maybe 3 more years? But will be hard to wait. Now the nose is getting airy and spacious. Aristocratic. What a palate. The elegance is ridiculous. This is so perfect. All in its place. And that finish. Just sick. It’s a 9.8 because I know it will get better with air/age and need to leave myself some room. — 18 days ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.7

Holy hell this is great. I mean wow. Leather galore. Gorgeous, stunning, pure. So granitic and mineral. So expansive. Cocoa. Mint. Olive. So wafting and expansive. Palate is rich, ripe and dense with stunning purity, red berry fruit, a gamey, stoney character and lots of freshness. Awesome acids. Really elegant as well. Terrific inner mouth aromas. Really complex and finishes very stoney. So so long. Will only open more. I won’t get to evolve with it as I’m dropping off at a friend’s place for him to enjoy with dinner with some friends he needs to impress. Wow, this is long! Sickness. — 11 days ago

Jason Soloway

9.1

I’m having a hard time evaluating this wine as it was closed upon opening. An hour splash decant filled the room with violet, pepper, iron and earth, but the palate was muted. The next day showed more, but didn’t feel like the wine was ready to reveal its secrets. All the elements of good quality Cote Rotie are present, and perhaps with a little more time, will blossom. — 6 days ago

Vino Joe

9.3

Rockin’. Love this offbeat grape so much. One of my favorite white wine producers. This is a great change of pace. Nice grip and finish. — a day ago

Ron Siegel

9.5

Youthful needing another few years but so good now. This was rich, perfumed, floral, silky on the palate with velvety tannins that separates Allemand from its peers showing an inky, graphite, licorice note with black cherry & mineral. — 5 hours ago

Matthew Cohen

9.4

Nose is wonderful. Deep, sensual Lilacs. Violets. Blackberries. Cherries. A hint of unground black pepper. A mere hint of game. As this opens you get this psychotic swirl.

Palate is slightly spicy late early season cherries. Super vibrant. A very Burgundian feel. Just that balance. The mouthfeel. Deliciously drinkable. Silky tanins. As this opens the cherries are more perfect mid season.

Bought from fass selections — a day ago

Romain Fitoussi

9.0

Crunchy Croze « on the fruit ». Open nose, soft and fresh mouth with a nice volume typical of fairly natural wines. Beautiful, soft shades support the primary explosive notes of black, purple, iris, peppery and smoked fruits. Immediate pleasure, very greedy. Very nice wine to share as early as the aperitif.

Croze croquant sur le fruit. Nez ouvert, bouche souple et fraîche avec un beau volume typique des vins assez natures. De belles nuances réglissées, soutiennent les notes explosives primaires de fruits noirs, violette, iris, poivrées et fumées. Plaisir immédiat, très gourmand. Vin très sympa à partager dès l’apéro. — 12 days ago