Tom Kobylarz

9.1

Textbook Northern Rhone Syrah in a very affordable, drink now package. Bing cherry, currants, light and pleasantly integrated peppercorn and smoke notes, a touch of beef bouillon and soil. Medium bodied, pure textures of finely grained tannin and perfectly integrated acidity. Med+ on the finish. If you have been drinking new world syrah and are hesitant to buy in on a Cote-Rotie, Hermitage or even a Saint-Joseph, this is a nice entry point. — 8 days ago

Brian Hearty

9.0

2010. Needed time to open up and then paired really well with an assortment of mild Indian lamb dishes. It was nice to have wine after a long weekend of Pilsners, DIPAs, Sour Ales, and Stouts. — 4 days ago

Ericsson

8.9

Rhône white of Grenache Blanc, with some Viognier, Marsanne, Rousanne with deep floral notes. Fresh, and easy drinking. — 6 days ago

Matt

9.6

What a smoke show! Completely different animal than LBT. Density, sinew, complex and savory perfume, length and balance given the ripeness. Open for business for sure. Chewy black cherry, plum, licorice, bacon fat, leather, garrigue, cured meat, tar, wood smoke, lavender pastille. Mouthfulling and rich, warm and heady, there’s some incredibly alluring barrel back notes but it’s deft and integrated. Great use of stems here, just enough to prop the wine up and add layers of spice. — 5 days ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.6

Needed a knock you on your ass so obviously great wine and decided on this. 17 is in a great place as well. Deep nose of blackberry, granite, soil tones, and blueberry. So much but so precise and focused. A lovely pottery studio aroma after air. Palate is ripe and juicy with wonderful precision and freshness and really terrific and succulent fruit. The elegance here is top notch. Beautiful mouthfeel and awesome purity. Such vivid fruit and backed up by terrific granite. Masterful wine. So poised. Let’s see what air does. Maybe it will get better? Long finish that pumps out blackberry on a granite slab. Just awesome. 9.6999. — 10 days ago

Vanessa

9.2

This is a deep ruby wine.

It offers robust notes of leather, anise, black cherry, pipe tobacco, peppercorn, nutmeg, baking spice, and earthiness; it has smooth, well-integrated, and velvety tannins.

100% Syrah 13.5% ABV. — 7 days ago

with Deked1

Pooneet K

9.2

Was going to get the 2016 given I generally love that vintage across much of Europe but the somm talked me into the 2015 saying it was more open. He was right - this was delicious, and still traditional and “old school” with a restrained 13.5%. Tons of pepper and dark dark fruit with some olive. Very delicious with nice medium acid and a long finish. — 13 days ago

Vanessa

9.2

Now we’re headed to the Southern Rhône and more specifically one of our favorite “Cru” appellations; the Châteauneuf-du-Pape AOC, which may feature up to 13 sanctioned varieties as part of its blend, though it’s commonly dominated by Grenache and Mourvèdre. These blends can lead to delightfully complex and balanced wines.

This particular wine is medium ruby with notable tearing. On the nose and palate, we’re finding black cherry, blackberry, fig paste, prune; also black licorice, anise, cardamom, graphite, grape seed, leather, tobacco, meat, garrigue, and forest floor notes.

Overall this wine has a dried fruit and earthy, spicy/savory expression. It’s complex, balanced, and intense. The tannins are firm and grippy. The alcohol is high (15%). This wine has the bone structure to continue aging but is a pleasure to drink now.

According to @winespectator 2015 was a great vintage for late-ripening varieties in the Southern Rhône, as it was sunny, warm and dry through July, leading to reds that are “rich, ripe and full of powerful fruit.” 🎯

Clos de l'Oratoire des Papes Chateauneuf-du-Pape Les Choregies 2015. — 5 days ago

with Deked1

Jay Kline

9.3

Popped and poured. The 2014 Pegaü “Cuvée Réservé” appears a deep ruby in the glass with a translucent core; medium+ viscosity. The nose is funky cherry, bruised strawberry, barn yard, stone fruit, brambles, garrigue, spiced meat, and damp forest floor. There is a touch of VA but it’s on the charming side. On the palate the wine is dry, with significant structure still. In fact, I feel as though the structure is showing more than I recall from earlier experiences. The fruit is generous but more red fruited than usual. Fresh and juicy with a long finish. Awesome. Still another 10 years in this, easy. On the lighter side for Pegaü, thanks the 2014 vintage, but still a stunner. — 4 days ago

Doug Powers

9.1

Ripe, red-fruited Grenache, minerality, still shows some structure, but drinking very well tonight, the first Burle wines I’d bought since the 1989/1990 Gigondas which you were so fine!! — 9 days ago

with Jim