Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.7

LOVE when this shitty app eats an almost 500 word tasting note. I love it. Anyway. This nose is inane. Meyer lemon that is pure, clean and crystallized in a way that is just next level. It’s so focused and pointed. There is a lemon sweetness on this nose that is just super elite. The background is all minerals but this nose floats. There’s an almost Mosel Rieslingesque affectation here. Like Weiser-Kunstler. The wet earth, which this cuvée is known for needs some hours to come out but when it does, and it will, the nose will go from 9.7 to 9.9, just like 21 and 22. The powdered minerals really is channeling dry Mosel or even Nahe. That palate is just insane. Unreal orb like insanity and then detonates with the lemony intensity of a thousand mini perfect Meyer lemons all exploding at once. It’s so intense. Like stop you in your tracks. The lemon sweetness is just incredible. It’s so pure. Like Icelandic glacial water runoff pure. The opulence balanced by the electric acidity makes this conscious on your palate. Crazy inner mouth aromas. Elegance is top and the finish is long and winding. Wow the lemony intensity with flesh, pith and sweetness is just insane. This is genius wine. 9.7 for now but air will tell the story. The sap and extract on the finish is just insane. After 24 hours this was crazy. It got richer, but kept that acid line firm and had the most insane texture. — 11 days ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.3

2012 vintage. 78% Cabernet Sauvignon and 22% Merlot. An excellent effort in a largely forgotten vintage. Cassis, blackberries, cedar, and Pauillac-like lead pencil. — a year ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.5

2014 vintage. Already rocking and a-rolling splishing and a-splashing. No one does silk and gossamer elegance better. Only getting better in the near term and far beyond. 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 7% Cab Franc and 6% Petite Verdot. Always a top fave. — 3 years ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.2

2021 vintage. The best, sub $20 resto cost Napa/Sonoma Zin I've had in ages. May hafta pick up a few cases. Excellent balance and concentration throughout. Gives me hope for CA Zinfandel that I've not had in nearly two decades. That's a whole lotta Zin under the bridge. 0 — 2 months ago

James Everhart

9.0

Much smoother than in 2021 when first had the 2018 vintage. It’s thrown a lot of sediment. $22. — a year ago

Mary Ellen Bonisteel

9.3

Good wine! — 2 years ago

Daniel P. Drake

9.2

For our Thanksgiving Dinner yesterday one of the wines we had the pleasure of opening was the 2018 Penfolds Bin 600 Cabernet Shiraz. A California wine 20 years in the making. Cabernet Sauvignon from all around Sonoma and Shiraz from the Camatta Hills Vinyard in the Paso Robles area. A blend of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon and 22% Shiraz.

On the nose there is black cherry, blackberry, black currant, spice, chocolate, herbal notes, eucalyptus, leather and earth.

On the palate is black cherry, blackberry, spice, clove, licorice, black pepper, savory smokey meat and earth.

This wine is medium to full bodied with medium+ acidity and medium+ fine tannins that gives a ling black fruit earthy finish. As yesterday was a day to give thanks for which I am sure we were all thankful for many reasons, family, friends, life and so much more. Please stay safe and healthy and look to the future with many thanks. Nostrovia! 🍷🍷🍷🍷 — 3 years ago

"Odedi"

9.3

It is time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday. Let's bring Merlot back!

Dark inky in color with a reddish rim.

Very pretty nose with black fruits, cedar, licorice, light vanilla, tobacco, chocolates, coffee, Indian spices, cola and light black tea.

Full-bodied with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with sweet raspberries, plums, cooked cherries, cedar, chocolates, toast, light vanilla, dark coffee, Indian spices, light cola licorice and peppercorn.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.

This is a delicious 9 year old Merlot from Columbia Valley. Rich and extracted. Spicy and entertaining.

Peaking now and will continue to drink nicely in the next 5 years.

Good right out of the bottle, and better after 3 hours of airtime.

Nicely balanced with a soft mouthfeel. Smooth and elegant. Fruit forward and tangy. The high alcohol is well integrated by now.

Good by itself as a sipping wine.

A blend of 75% Merlot, 21% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Petit Verdot. Aged for 22 months in (85% new) French Oak barrels.

14.9% alcohol by volume.

93 points.

$75. — 3 months ago

Ken Z

9.3

Drank 12 /7/23.

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas!

Scents of plum, blackberry, currant, and chocolate. Flavors are similar, with blackberry, plum sauce, and soil. Tannins are still firm, but, well integrated and mix with black fruits on the long finish. This one goes on for over a minute. Drinking well now, but showing no signs of slowing down. This should last another 10 plus years, but is in a nice place now.

4/22/8/4/5 +50 = 93 pts.

Great with a NY strip, but even better with the balsamic glaze that complimented it. This pairs wonderfully with sweet dark fruit flavors. — a year ago

Katie

9.6

7/3/22 “It’s like heaven” fancy wine for our first house together. All our dinner too! — 3 years ago