Jay Kline

9.3

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of two days. Equally enjoyable on both nights however, the nose was most powerful on Day 1. “Ampodium” (formerly Classique) is 100% Syrah sourced from a dozen or so vineyards and made in a largely traditional style; plenty of whole cluster and a very judicious use of new French oak. The 2010 “Ampodium”pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and signs of light sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of ripe, some desiccated and some tart, black and blue fruits: blackberries, blueberry pie, fields of lavender, black pepper, bacon fat, iodine, and granite earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin (mostly integrated) and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and laden with rocky minerals. Totally in balance and at peak. Lovely. Drink now through 2035. — 24 days ago

Jay Kline

9.4

The first of my small tranche of 2019 Cuvée Reservée’s and I figured it would be fun to share with the Tasting Group. Popped and poured and presented double-blind. The wine pours a translucent, deep ruby with magenta rim, near opaque core, medium+ viscosity. On the nose, the wine was clean with macerated raspberry, cranberry, and pomegranate fruits. There were purple flowers, some black pepper and rocky minerality along with a slightly gamey note which was quite charming. Both the fruit and non-fruit characteristics were confirmed on the palate. The wine finishes dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. There’s a compelling sense of power and energy in this wine. Everyone was in the Rhône but most were in the North; from Saint Joseph to Cornas, citing that they believed this was Syrah. However, two in the group called Châteauneuf du Pape and one actually called producer (!!) but missed on vintage (2016). Universally, the wine was fawned over and the dude who called Pagaü thought he actually favored the 2019 over the 2016 he had a while back. While I’m not sure I would go that far, the 2019 is truly quite stunning already and seems to have the guts to see a very long and wonderful life ahead. These are currently enjoying their customary early drinking window however, that window will likely close within a year or so and then I could see this shutting down pretty hard until 2025 — 3 years ago

Shannon

9.0

I love it!! Not too acidic. — 4 years ago

Tommy

9.1

Rocky with lush, concentrated black fruit flavor. — 2 months ago

Kirsten Spalding

9.2

Easy to drink and smooth. Baking spices are the star here— cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom (slightly). Cranberry is second. I want to drink this on some rocky European coast in the fall— like small, cute rocks. Not a Californian craggy coast. And there is a cute town there, too. Pair this while petting a Saluki. — 2 years ago

with DLS

Jeremy.Buss

9.2

While a bit of age has softened this, you still get some of the pepper and spice along with soft dark berries, some light tomato and maybe even a hint of cherry at times. — 3 years ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.4

Wow this is singing! What a nose. Gorgeous lemon inflected minerality. Hints of attractive spicey oak and stunning rocky minerality. Tree bark and herbs. So good. What a screaming mimi of a nose. Palate is rich and ripe but also nervy and tense. Amazing purity buttressed by that awesome Meursault richness. Lovely texture. Awesome mouthfeel and a lovely lemon drop lime zest finish. Wonderful. — 4 years ago

Kyle Kniss

9.2

Jammy with structure — 7 months ago

Jay Kline

9.0

Unscrewed and poured; enjoyed over two days with consistent results. The 2022 pours a straw color with medium viscosity. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of yellow flowers, Cuties™️, hot steel and rocky minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with sneaky medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. There’s a somewhat waxy texture. The finish is long and savory. A charming Soave Classico. Drink now. — a year ago

John Tan

9.3

Sanshugong.

12% alc. Margalagua is a charismatic parcel of the Taganan vineyard comprising 100- to 300-year-old vines on a uniquely iron-rich seam of rocky volcanic soil. This treacherously steep vineyard site is planted with a mix of mostly indigenous red grapes, such as Negramoll and Listán Negro, with a small amount of Listán Blanco. This parcel is about elegance and depth rather than power: due to the silky character of the wines, it is vinified differently with a much longer (30- to 45-day) maceration and 100% stem-inclusion, yielding a darker, bolder, richer wine.
[Vintage 2018:] “This vineyard has been vinified and bottled separately since 2012 because it has a very strong personality, not surprisingly, because it's one of the most fascinating and exceptional vineyards I've ever seen in my life. . . This is a translucent bright ruby color, and it's aromatic, floral, spicy and mineral, expressive and super fresh, because of the year and because they have new cooler vineyards. It has lots of notes of violets and lilies. The flavors are pungent, precise, clean, symmetric and very elegant, with refined tannins and a tasty, somewhat salty finish. This is the best wine they have produced to date. Truly word-class.” WA 98 (Luis Gutiérrez) — 3 years ago