Noel Lourdes

9.1

An excellent Chardonnay. Less than $10 at Aldi but better than some of the $30+ wines from California and Burgundy. Not too dry, buttery and semi floral. Perfect - not too much of anything. — a year ago

Kristina A.

9.7

CH Wine of the Month for August — 3 years ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.6

Ahhh. Been a while since i’ve tasted a Müllen THKF. 2015? Maybe? Nose is ethereal and heavenly. Huge spice and earth. Tons of intense wet dripping minerals. Lovely peach. Vulcanized rubber. Sea breeze. The spice on this is just beyond. Wow this is stunning. So sleek, so refined, that little bit of sugar is just incredible. A kiss of sugar. Perfect balance. Amazing peach clarity here. Extraordinary concentration and density but light as a feather. Brilliant. Hidden structure that suggests decades ahead. Now the nose has lime blossom. And citrus blossom. What a core! This is an incredible wine. — 4 years ago

Rob Moose

9.2

A lovely showing. Last sip best sip. Was shy at first and then showed candy corn, salted almond, a hidden tartness and kind of sea breeze and mineral notes. A distant banana cream kinda thing too. Palate was not long but no oxidation- pretty impressive for an old villages. Augustine w/ AL — 7 years ago

Andrew

9.1

This is a new wine to hit my local liquor store shelf and not going to lie the label sold me on it. Aromas of blackberry and plum. Medium to full body, soft, smooth and sweet. Black fruit, pepper and cocoa. Good length. — 11 years ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.3

The Setting — Rockpile Ridge Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2021, Rockpile AVA, Sonoma County, California, USA 🇺🇸

Overview:
A mountain-grown Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from the acclaimed Rockpile AVA, one of Sonoma County’s most rugged and elevated vineyard regions. Crafted by winemaker Jesse Katz, this wine captures the power and concentration of the site while revealing remarkable finesse with time in the glass.

Aromas & Flavors:
Deep layers of blackberry, black cherry, and dark plum are framed by hints of Black Forest cake, licorice, espresso, and cocoa. As the wine opens, subtle notes of cedar, graphite, and baking spices emerge, adding complexity and refinement.

Mouthfeel:
Full-bodied and firmly structured with dense, chewy tannins that gradually soften through aeration. The palate is rich and concentrated, yet the finish evolves toward surprising elegance, balancing mountain intensity with polished texture.

Food Pairings:
Prime rib, grilled ribeye, braised short ribs, lamb chops, aged Gouda, or wild mushroom dishes with black truffle.

Verdict:
A serious Sonoma mountain Cabernet that rewards patience. Powerful and layered upon opening, it slowly transforms into a remarkably smooth and sophisticated wine, showcasing the distinctive character of Rockpile. One of those bottles that reminds you why decanting matters.

Did You Know?
Rockpile became an official AVA in 2002 and sits mostly between 800 and 2,000 feet above sea level. The combination of high elevation, rocky soils, and abundant sunshine naturally produces small berries with intense concentration, making it one of California’s hidden gems for structured Cabernet Sauvignon.

🍷 Personal Pick:
This is not your typical plush Sonoma Cabernet. The evolution in the glass is what makes it memorable—starting bold and muscular before gradually revealing a much softer, polished side. It feels almost like drinking two different wines over the course of an evening, making it a fantastic bottle to share with friends who enjoy watching a wine unfold. — 2 years ago

Mark Presswood

9.3

Dug this hidden treasure out of the back of the chiller ad wow! The extra time in bottle has matured this Rose to a smooth drinking delicate start to a Friday wine night vin de Corse advertises as sea breezes of Southern France and they are not far off — 6 years ago

Tree Kilpatrick

9.0

Lovely funky, herbal and lemon peel-y aromas. Floral and fresh. Crisp and bright in the mouth. More citrus. Lemons, grape fruits and Granny Smith apples. Great minerality to finish. Bitter in the best of white ways. I cannot believe this was a $3 grocery outlet bottle. Drinks like a $20. Balanced, clean and super refreshing. — 8 years ago

Matthew Cohen

9.6

Needs a good 75 minUte decant. Very reluctant.

Nose: Smokey minerals. Lemon rind. Pith. Some sea breeze. Complete. Much richer and more dense as it opens.

Palate: hint of sweet lemon. Hidden density. Delicious. Elegant. Almost an herbal liquor taste after an hour. Denser an hour in.

Fass selections — 2 years ago

Aaron Tan

9.6

A blind provided by yours truly, which was easily defeated by Julia and KP. Only one producer achieves such distinctive green tea notes with age, so without even an ounce of doubt, the duo exclaimed, “Green tea is Grunhaus!” Next was the Pradikat, which was easily identified by a winemaker as seasoned in the system as KP. As for vintage, it was a toss up between the botrytis-plenty vintages of 1971 and 1976. At this stage, it was futile to kept the identity hidden so all was revealed. Insane how easy this blind was for Julia and KP, but also insane how distinctive old Grunhaus are (something a first time taster here proved easily in later blinds). As for the wine itself, it presented itself in trademark Grunhaus manner - packing so much flavour in such lightness. Notably, this was incredibly pure especially considering the level of botrytis. Flavours of green tea, lime, herbs, orange rind, and sea spray. Racy, long, and an absolute joy to drink. — 4 years ago

Brett Rogosin

9.0

Interesting stuff. Smells like sweet balsamic glaze you’d put into fresh mozzarella with basil, EVOO and sea salt. There’s this mulled red fruit element to the nose and palate as well, married with a bit of campfire smoke and vanilla. The fruit is still there, but a bit hidden. The acidity still shows itself. The finish is that sweet balsamic glaze again. — 7 years ago

with Brooke and Elaine

Jeff J

9.3

#4 of my tasting pack, 2013 Jean Marie Fourrier Echezeaux. Dark ruby in color. Raspberry, leather, wet stony mineralogy and sea breeze on the nose. On the palate its firm tannin hidden behind striking acidity, evident ripe pepper. Considerably more depth than those two volnays I tasted earlier. A remarkable echezeaux especially considering this is the negociant wine of Fourrier. #winetastingnotes #burgundy #fourrier #winetasting — 9 years ago