Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.7

Now we are talking. I love elite 14’s and this is as elite as it gets. The top wine from Sara Vezza at Saffirio. From 1948 Rupestris vines. The nose is divine. Just divine. Soft and spellbinding. Mulchy and incense like. Amazing detail and clarity. Dude cherries, ripe mid season red cherries. Expansive. Fresh wood shavings in a wood shop. Gorgeous. Under that is a profound minerality. Also smoke. Also mesquite. Complex, layered and lively. Perfumed like no other Barolo. The perfumes on the Vezza wines are incomparable. The soil signature as well is crazy on this. The fresh, perfect wet earth is so clear. Wow, that is the height of elegance on the palate. Masterful. Unreal fruit sweetness. Wow. Like a Burgundy in that aspect. Awesome texture and has the Alex ray or tension of 14. Awesome acidity and freshness and nervy. I adore the character of this vintage. It’s a high acid, super aromatic and structured old school vintage. A modern day 1988. The nose is so good here. Just more and more expansive. Spice and mint. Balance is spectacular. Amazingly juicy and the sweetness with all the acid and structure is so compelling. Needs some age but within 3 years it should get to the next level and my score could go higher.

24 HOUR UPDATE - Palate is so deep, so concentrated, so gripping and structured that this is truly an epic wine. 9.7 now. — 2 months ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.8

Wow. Sick wine. Just sick. 16 Barolo is crazy. Nose is so floral and layered it’s crazy just wow. Cherries from heaven. Cherry cough drop when god gets a sore throat. Not pennies. Floral. Like way way floral. So damn impressive. Tar, leather and tobacco, smoke, so so so complex. Mint, menthol. Tree bark. Heaven. Ethereal. 9.6/9.7 on nose. Dried roses. Fresh roses. Incredible. Palate is haunting. Gives one shivers down the spine. It opens like crazy. Elegant and so pure. Dazzlingly pure. Elite finesse and fruit quality. This makes one’s stomach drop. The level of detail and finesse is crazy. Beautiful pure cherry fruit. Just so detailed. And driven by finesse. Juicy and concentrated with velvety but substantial tannins and not a hair out of place. So so pure. I can’t say it enough. This is sick. How is this better than the Saffirio label? It just is. This is elite elite elite. Super elite. I can’t. This is a 9.8. The balanced is supernatural. — 8 months ago

Mason Balistreri

Sommelier, International Wine Guild; Balistreri Vineyard; Sales, Joy Wine and Spirits

9.3

Produced from a tiny little 0.80 hectare plot in Vezza d’Alba, this Arneis is crunchy and rich at the same time. Super fresh and elegant. It's hard to imagine a nicer Arneis... — 5 years ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.5

Wow. Just wow. Totally wow. Nose is just beyond. The finest roses in the store at their most full expressiveness. Amazing clarity and depth. Just hypnotic. Stunningly detailed cherry fruit with such clarity you want to cry. It’s so beautiful. Spices. Some tar but it’s really a cherry/rose explosion. Wow. Insane sweet fruit and density but classic Saffirio elegance and finesse. Sara Vezza has crushed the 2015 vintage. Perfect balance and just the most unreal, clear, delicate fruit. Inner mouth florals are terrific. Velvety and substantial tannins that are crammed with sweet, dark opulent fruit. Long finish. This has the guts to last 20+ years and needs maybe 7-10 years. Opposite of the regular which is ready to go now. Superb wine. — 8 months ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.1

Gorgeous nose of dense, thick grapey, berry infused and very expressive Barbera fruit. Complex earth and mineral tones that are ethereal. What a nose. Tree bark and pulverized rocks. Palate is juicy with fine grained tannins and wonderful berry fruit. Juicy fruit and dense with good extract, sap and purity. Long. Sticks on the palate. Seems like it needs air but very promising. — 9 months ago