I know it’s become a bit of a cliché...
It IS rather dear for a rosé...
The cult of Kermit and all that...
...but it remains a benchmark. It’s SUBSTANTIAL, for one, you don’t want to gulp it down, it’s 14% ABV and so marvelously complex. Nose is strawberries, herbs, brett. Palate is more strawberries, watermelon, slate, brett, moss, garrigue. Bitter finish with a bit of zing. It’s wild and untamed, yet sophisticated—Keith Richards in a tuxedo. — 6 years ago
Perfectly balanced. Smooth long mineral finish. Real Old school funk… Is like a guy with a mullet Wearing a tuxedo and somehow blending right in… — 2 years ago
Very tightly wound right now. I'm not certain how anyone can rate this wine correctly right now but for me this one is a 93/94 right now. Powerful, dense, dark baking chocolate, blackberry cassis with a lot of pepper and a lot of tannin on the finish. 100% tuxedo, but with a very stiff tannic finish. Full bodied wine without a doubt. This one has the makings of a 96/97 in probably 10 years, but I do think that quite a bit of this wine was masked in the tannin which wasn't all that off-putting. For those who like to drink them really young and don't mind the tannic 'iron curtain' shutting down the show, this one is probably a 98 right NOW and it truly is an excellent display of the power of St. Helena and the talent of Melka. Would love to own one of these so that I could see how it develops over the next 15-20 years. — 7 years ago
Too bad I can't score 1/2 points! And both the 2008 and 2010 about 2 years ago. The 2008 seemed to be very shut down, with the 2010 being the polar opposite. This one was definitely more along the 2010 side of things, and wish I could give this one a 94.5. This is St Emilion wine with a tuxedo. Rounded structure, kind of becomes more brambly and tobacco driven towards the finish. Very polished, very open. And with its huge structure, you can hold this one for a while. I think I have one more 2008 left, but I would trade it in a heartbeat for one of these. — 5 years ago
Pretty good with Tuxedo cake. — 6 years ago
Lyle Fass
Founder Fass Selections
Nose is showing age. Truffley, porcini, aged mashed cherries, tar and wet earth. Really earthy, primal and feral but still well put together. Swamp-Thing in a tuxedo. Palate is silky and sweet and intermingled with those aforementioned truffles and mushrooms. But bright cherries, high acids and powdery but effusive tannins counteract the feral. Excellent. — a year ago