Jay Kline

9.5

Poured into a decanter about an hour prior to service; enjoyed over the course of a few hours. On the nose, the wine is developing with fabulous notes of ripe and tart, mixed brambles, blueberries, figs, lavender, a touch of animale, black pepper, rocky earth and fine, warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium(?) tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. This seemed to get younger the longer it was exposed to air. The Benjamin Button of wine, lol. Might even rate it higher down the road. Lovely with kofta on a Thursday. Drink now through 2045+. Thanks for the assist @Lyle Fass — 2 months ago

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. — 5 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. — 5 years ago

Jeremy.Buss

9.2

So long since I’ve had a Rockpile wine and loved this!! Black and green pepper along with dark berries (raspberry and blackberry). An excellent jam flavor that just fits so well with bbq ribs. — 5 years ago

Matthew Cohen

9.2

Nose is sweet minerals.

Palate is rocky minerals. Fairly ripe almost tropical fruit. Grippy.

Always a winner.

Bought from fass selections. — 6 years ago

Tom Casagrande

9.2

Watchin’ the Celts and drinking a decidedly old school Zin. Only 13.2%, the grapes originate from rocky mountain terroir. Classic Zin nose of brambly, inky blackberry, and cracked rock minerality. In the mouth is where it diverges from most current-day fruit bomb Zins. It’s relatively lean, with noticeable dynamic structure and great acids. The fruit is there, but it doesn’t smother other aspects of the wine. Retro in the best way. This would absolutely strut with tagliatelle in bolognese or papardelle with duck sauce. — 7 years ago

MaJ CappS

8.9

Smells of fruit grown in gravel.

Loud blueberries, cran Pom grape good, clean, smooth, mouthfeel and wonderfully light heft. A whole lot bouncing around in this wine. The acid oak balance is strikingly harmonious.
Lingering blue fruit skin. A good one to watch the latest GOT with.
— 7 years ago

Jay Kline

9.1

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The 2023 (S) pours a deep ruby/purple with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with light staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of ripe strawberry, Bing cherry, red and purple flowers, red rope licorice, rocky earth and cool spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium. This vintage of Lapierre shows the warmth of the vintage and oozes generosity. In some ways, this reminds me of the 2015 vintage. Drink now through 2033+. — 4 months ago

Joe Santiago

8.9

Not too full but tasty nonetheless. Cherries and plums and vanilla, oh my! — 5 years ago

K Brooks

9.0

Lovely Syrah ($20) with rack of lamb, fruity, earthy delicious — 5 years ago

Martin Bergo

9.2

Take a typical good-quality PN and amplify everything from color, nose, mouthfeel, structure, and length - and you get to this wine from Rocky Point, a steep hill above a lake in central Otago. Color is deep violet; nose is high-octane black fruits (mulberry) and ripe cran- and strawberries, and minerality and a sweet herbaciousness; taste is full bodied with round tannins, dense fruit, medium-high aclohol, rubber and spice. And all well balanced. Would love to try in 3-5y. — 6 years ago

Steve Rura

9.1

Mostly deep and dark, with some dried red fruit and savory smokiness showing through. Peppery and some bitterness at the end. Delicious. Went really well with filet mignon in shallot-caper vinaigrette and roasted cauliflower, asparagus, and chorizo. Good for an overcast or rainy evening ☁️ 75% old stones Syrah, 25% Olsen Grenache — 6 years ago

Ray Quirolgico

9.0

Great for upscaling the outdoor amphitheater pre-theater picnic party - great with a variety of cheeses, almonds, dried fruits, crackers, and food truck entrees. — 7 years ago

Tree Kilpatrick

9.3

Fairly fruity on the nose. Hint of black pepper and something earthy/mineral. Flavor is very dry. Dried strawberries and red vines. Classic jammy Zin thing. Some pomegranate molasses perhaps. Fresh and zinfulliciuos. Plenty of tannin to give it more bite than Zin usually achieves. Complex. True. Enjoyable. — 7 years ago

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. — a year ago

Joe Santiago

9.1

Hint of currant, berries and vanilla. — 5 years ago

Joe Santiago

9.0

Young, but nice acidity and sweetness from pears. — 5 years ago

Shannon

9.0

I love it!! Not too acidic. — 5 years ago

Aaron Rankin

9.3

In a great spot. Drink up! — 6 years ago

Marshall Todd Herron DPM

10

Okay. First of all, this is Gap’s Crown Vineyard 2017 pinot noir in SONOMA baby! Kerith is absolutely amazing. She has developed and crafted a wine so beautiful, its worthy to be the house wine for the Royal Palace and the Queen of England! Nevertheless, it is definitely my house Pinot Noir as well as the best Pinot Noir you will ever have. Before I discovered Bruliam wines, I thought the best pinots came from Oregon. Boy was I wrong! Kerith.... wow. Excellent job. And that’s really all I have to say if you like Pinot Noir, you’re going to love Bruliam- wine is elemental! Just do it! — 6 years ago