Jay Kline

9.6

Double-decanted the night before; enjoyed over several hours out of red Solo cups. It’s been several years since my last experience with the 2005 Blanc. The extended air treatment ahead of service is now customary for me with the Blanc and Rosé in particular. The entire bouquet has a chance to unfurl. The wine pours a deep golden color. On the nose, the wine is vinous and recalls my previous experience with the 2005 Blanc: redolent of ripe stone fruits, some dried citrus, wild flower honey, echinacea, marzipan and butterscotch. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long with slightly bitter, testa/skin coat sort of flavor. Fabulous texture. At this rate, I expect well stored cellared examples to drink well beyond my original assessment several years ago. Drink now through 2045+ — 19 days ago

Ellen Clifford

9.2

She is red-fruit forward, she has brioche touches and sea salt nuances on the nose. The palate is that sort of balance there isn’t a proper word for but gosh it’s there. Finishes slightly toasty with a zip of lemon and a squeeze of cranberry. — 2 years ago

Andrew Schirmer

9.6

This is a find. Tiny appellation Saint-Pourçain smack in the middle of France, renowned in the Middle Ages but sort of forgotten today. 70% Chardonnay, 30% tressalier (Sacy). Honeysuckle nose, pear. Rich luxurious palate unfolds like velvet curtains all balanced out by coursing acidity & mineral notes. Judicious buttery oak notes play second fiddle supporting the fruit. Stone fruit. Wow. 😍 @Lyle Fass @Matthew Cohen — 4 years ago

with Alsu

J Greene

9.3

Beautiful nose on this, remembering why I bought this while in the tasting room in Sta. Rita Hills (nice little spot in Los Olivos, highly recommend). Med+ intensity on the nose with bright cherry and strawberry. A bit of cedar/vanilla, but not much. Floral notes that almost turn to candy or runts. Nice on the palate too with a big pop of red fruit, med+ acidity and nice fine, integrated tannins. Long finish that sort of turns from sweet to tart cherry. Just a really nice wine. I scored a 93 but guessing this will improve and become a bit more elegant with a few more years. — 4 days ago

Andrew McIntyre

9.8

A aus Abtserde from young vines. Nose unmistakable Keller. Depth of flavour through the roof with tropical fruits lingering in the background. Strength, balance and precision. Could still taste this minutes later...wow.
Drinking this sort of wine is always a privilege and should be done with excellent friends! — 2 years ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.4

Nose is ripe. Caramel, sultana, dark black cherries, tree bark, black berry, this is a ripe and dark Pinot nose but has stunning freshness and after some swirling, clearly defined minerality. So pretty and so mesmerizing. Palate is just incredible. Rich and creamy but with stunning freshness and an assault of minerality. This needs a minimum decant of 45 minutes to an hour as it’s got a lot going on and needs to sort itself out. Amazing balance and purity and this is the most large scaled Max wine I’ve had but still is balanced and delicate. Big, substantial tannins. This needs, actually demands 5-7 years in the cellar. Tangy, juicy fruit on the impressively large and long finish. 9.4 for now. I’ll be back.

Yea baby this has come around. Palate is rich and has insane freshness and acids to counteract. They really nailed 18 in Baden. — 4 years ago

Randy Fuller

9.2

This wine has a dusty rose color, darker than pink but lighter than red. The nose was a surprise, and not a particularly good one. There was hardly any fruit to speak of at all. The dominant aroma was a funky, barnyard sort of smell. On the palate there were flavors of cherry and Meyer lemon, with a savory overlay and a ton of salinity. If you can get past the first whiff, the taste is a treat. Mine paired very well with a spicy soppressata, some cheese, and an onion focaccia bread. — 5 months ago

MICHAEL COOPER DipWSET

Owner TomeVinos wine shops, WSET Level 3, Blogger www.spanishwinesandmore.com, blog.tomevinos.com

8.9

#riesling #viognier no Pinot Noir in this wine — a year ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Pop and poured; consumed over five days. Best on day three and four. The 2016 pours a deep garnet, bearing purple with a near opaque core. Medium+ viscosity with some fine sediment. On the nose, brambles, garrigue, lavender and borsellino. It sort of reminds me of a damp earthen basement in the most endearing of ways. On the palate, the wine the dry; medium+ tannins that build through day four before softening. Acid is medium. The fruit set from the nose is confirmed…it’s a lot of delicious fruit with some leather, black pepper and earth. Long finish. These needed some time and the rewards are beginning to show. I have another bottle left and I’ll save that for a few years down the road. — 4 years ago

Adam Shobert

9.1

Sort of exactly what I wanted right now. Kinda farm funky, totally spicy and black fruited with notes of smoked meat, paprika, burnt rosemary. Really soft on the palate with pure fruit and nice acidity on a long finish. Yum. — 4 years ago