Jason Gelman

9.7

2000 Cheval Blanc. Soaring palate sensation but also very delicate and fine texture. Still very fresh, great drinking window. A real treat. — 7 months ago

ESF

9.5

Sublime - just so in the pocket, soaring aromas of dusty cherries, spice, tar, violets, almost a tawny character. So textbook. Seamless flawless palate, the tannins are just perfectly resolved & elegant balance w/acidity, just enough secondary flavors mingled w/cherries on palate through lengthy velvety finish. — 4 years ago

Chris MacLean

9.3

Wings on the close. — 4 years ago

with Sarah

Ian Hamel

9.2

2021/5/5-6 with mole chichilo and chicken, katsuo tataki, etc. I adore this wine; this year’s model is especially effusive and giving. Soaring raspberry, strawberry, cherry and flowers - it really is Burgundian, but with that twist of blood orange that says Chianti. Limpid like cool spring water but with a savory mineral depth. People sometimes talk about dangerously drinkable wines, but this is truly that - so delicious and moreish it’s hard to stop. — 5 years ago

David Shaw

8.9

Last bottle, fair to call this a white blend, maybe even an orange wine. Light pumpkin orange in color, excellent clarity. Floral and sulfite notes in nose initially. Stone fruit flavors - apricot, ripe peach - plus spice (wood? white pepper?) and a touch of vanilla with moderate skin astringency and lemon-orange flavor in finish. Love this winery and what they do — 7 years ago

Joe Davant

9.5

My WOTN at the Charlotte Hirsch dinner, showing what proper aging can do to bring out a wine's fine points and soften its rough edges. All the elements of this wine were working together in harmony. Soaring floral aromatics, deep, rich fruits and a wonderfully smooth, long finish made this wine a real pleasure to drink. The more Hirsch I drink, the more I realize that patience is rewarded with their wines. 2011 was widely panned as a tough vintage in CA, but this 2011 was absolutely singing. — 8 years ago

with brent

Bill Bender

9.6

From Mag with bone-in NY prime. This is finally in an approachable drinking window. An hour decant gave this wings. As “Bordeaux” an Insignia I’ve had in a while. I know it’s a Bordeaux blend but it’s never really performed that way for me. Great strength here, silky lines and some legit nuance. — 8 years ago

Tom Garland

9.4

1st wine of the new year and had to open something fun. Of course, enjoyed with its classic pairing of chicken wings 😉

1.5 hour decant(minimal fine/cloudy sediment). A stunning dark purplish magenta color. On the nose: brambly red berries, herbaceous, wet forest floor, graphite, floral. Taste: silky, soft, juicy, layered beautiful mouthfeel wine with red plum, dark chocolate, dried herbs, touch of spice and a cedar espresso captivating long finish. YUM! — 2 years ago

with Brenda

Ron Siegel

9.7

This was my 2nd favorite flight with both wines showing red & black fruits, earth & spice. I slightly preferred the RB over the RSV for its soaring aromatics & long finish. Splitting hairs as both wines were really superb! — 4 years ago

Jay Kline

9.6

Presented blind alongside three other red wines; another Bordeaux and two Bordeaux blends from CA. All wines were descanted and returned to the bottle 8 hours prior.

This wine pours a deep garnet with an opaque core. Medium+ viscosity. Medium+ intensity. The nose was a mix of red and dark fruits with currants and cherries, tobacco, pencil shavings, earth, espresso and baking spice. There’s just a whiff of a barnyard in the distance too. On the palate, again the mixed fruit set with beautifully ripened blackberries and black cherries, currants, earth, coffee and baking chocolate. Medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Finishes looooooong, dry and immensely satisfying.

The wine is balanced and leans towards its structure. I called 2004 Latour. The soaring aromatics were simply incredible. I just wanted to spend the entire evening with my nose buried in the glass. This is squarely in the drinking window yet has many years left in it. Drink now with an extended decant or enjoy over the next 10-15 years. — 5 years ago

Maggie J

8.9

Very good! Dark fruit- plum and cherry w/ smoke and tar(?) — 6 years ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.4

Soaring nose of wet earth, sour cherries, wild spices, sweet blackberries, mint, and just superbly aromatic. Palate is super precise, loaded with sweet/sour cherry fruit and loads of crunchy minerality. Stunningly pure and deep. Terrific length. Will age wonderfully. — 7 years ago

Ron Siegel

9.3

Beautiful drinking vintage that has black cherry, soaring Vosne Romanee spices, game, orange peel & mineral. — 8 years ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.5

Been two plus years and wow wow wow is this the best bottle yet. Stunning nose of chestnut, soaring minerality, deep mid season cherries but smothered with wet leaves. Also amazing fireplace aromas. The palate is a marvel. Beats the sh*t out of sooooo many Barolo and Barbaresco at much higher price points. Omg the earthy sweetness on this is insanely magical. Perfect balance and elite elite finesse. Insane inner mouth aromas. What velvety texture and insane juiciness. Perfect fruit/tannin delivery balance. Just so so incredibly epic. This estate is magic. — 3 years ago

Carolyn Herlihy

9.4

Another winner from NZ and TJ’s (millbrae)

Tropical fruit and crisp finish - deliciously paired with chicken wings and pork loin. — 4 years ago

with Fahmeen and John

Ron Siegel

9.5

This had soaring aromatics with dark cherry, berry fruits that was polished, inky & precise showing iron, olive, pepper, licorice, savory spices & violets — 4 years ago

Ron Siegel

9.4

Amazing 07 thats nose is Leroy like showing lots of dark cherry, berry with soaring sweet Asian & Vosne spices, sous bois, earth, orange peel & violets round out some of the notes. — 6 years ago

ESF

9.2

Really impressive thru vintage but this bad boy was especially strutting it’s stuff showing plenty of polish & sophistication: soaring black & blue fruit, creamy vanilla, gentle spice & warmth, little cedar & tobacco - plush, finely grained tannins, med bodied, smooth & seamless. Hot diggitty this was nice! — 6 years ago

Kristin Elliott

9.3

Smooth light red blend, flavorful — 8 years ago

Michele Weyland

9.0

Very good smooth light red. — 8 years ago