Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.6

I think this is now the top red at Cruchandeau. Mind blown. First that color is one of the darkest 23’s yet. Nose is grapey but so deep, so complex and so precise. Dark black cherries, gorgeous wet moss, unreal clarity and lift. Blackberry flower, blackberry juice and just unreal mineral lift. 9.7 nose. Absolutely stunning. Lush and energetic with just awe inspiring texture and insane tiny berry fruit intensity and such refinement and class. This is genius. The tannins are so refined and so velvety. It’s sweet but then finishes with a limestone crescendo. God’s jelly donut making an appearance on the nose. Just brilliant. My goodness this is a a hedonistic wine but also intellectual. Lush fruit, great energy and limestone for days. This needs air to develop but 9.6 off the bat. The nose on day 2 is gorgeous. All black fruits, spice, dark flowers and shimmering limestone. Big time God’s jelly donut vibes. Amazingly sweet fruit but also some sour complexity and unreal velvety texture. So silky. Just a stunning wine. Big and very suave tannins. — 2 months ago

Eric

9.3

My first BB in a while. Day 2 it came into its own in a big, beautiful way. Lucious and expansive. Rich and a long delightful finish. This is a Goldilocks Chardonnay. Cheers! — 3 years ago

Byron C Mayes

9.1

Slightly hazy (unfined?) gold. Abundant nose of honeyed tropical fruits, baked apple, and vanilla tinged orange crème. Full-bodied palate of cooked pineapple, baked apple, hint of orange, yellow lilies, and… how does one say “baseball bat” only subtly? Another quintessential Russell Bevan white that’s a monster in body, but velvet on the palate. A big wine that begs for big, complex dishes. My drinking partner (who suggested the wine was like an Adele song… you think it’s going to be a rustic stumble, but it clearly has much more going on) made an incredible pork loin, root vegetable, and apple entrée that was right where a dish should be to stand up to this wine. Similar dishes will work. Not your grandmother’s Chardonnay. Drink now through 2023. — 4 years ago

Willie Carter

9.1

This starts singing a song right off the bat with a very classic Champagne nose featuring toasted brioche and nuts, quite autolytic. Citrus fruits come with time but apples are dominant here on the nose. The floral accents are the real star here. Really nice balance on the nose.

Pure Pinot Noir from Verzenay and Verzy. Aged for three years on lees, with 30% coming from reserve wines dating back to 1968. Zippy acidity with good structure and balance throughout. Big, bold, and not a little bit burly but there’s still refinement and class.

Fresh and vigorous, this punches above its weight. Almonds and apples on the tongue initially. There’s a little peach and pear with toast for good measure. Grand Cru goodness. — a year ago

Shay A

9.2

My first experience with Laherte’s Extra Brut rosé. I’ve had the Les Beaudiers a few times (loved the 2014 over the 2015), and while that unique champagne has its place (more like a big red burg), this champagne hits the fresh and more typical experience.

Deep rose colored. As expected, the meunier here is evident right off the bat with the classical “gummy” flair. Lots of strawberries, Bing cherries, and red candied gummies. Bright and fresh profile, with lively mousse and a mineral streak down the middle. Chalky limestone too. There’s a black cherry vibe at the finish. Not yeasty, but not uber lean either. I’m not sure what extended aging does here, as it seems made to be enjoyed young/fresh. Quite nice. — 3 years ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.5

That’s the stuff. Much more complex than the normal Barolo. Just a stunning nose. So much mineral, cherry flower and unreal nuances. Spice, iodine, just penetrating and so refined. Deep cherry fruit with a citrus twang. Really fine. Wow the cherry fruit aromas are absolutely knee bucklers. Just so fine, deep and precise. Wow the florals now kicking in. This is a 9.6 nose. Maybe higher. Wow that is a sexy beast. This needs 45 minutes as it is very tight right now. Stunning depth and purity but big tannins and acid and an incredible core of fruit. This is an obvious 9.5. off the bat but this, like the 16, needs mega air. Nose gets so complex and expansive as it airs. Huge fruit. But nuanced and complex. An airy sense of minerality. Almost like an ocean breeze. Okay nose is a 9.6 now. Just sick.

Palate becoming more concentrated. Fruit getting sweeter and sappier. But tannins still fierce and leading the way. Ahh now the elegance picks up and it gets more spherical and sweet. Wonderful. — 4 years ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.2

2022 vintage. Medium body. Big boysenberry right off the bat. Juicy. Could use some more tannins. Maybe they’ll show up at some point. 3.27.24. — 2 years ago

Ely Cohn

9.2

Big boy MAGNUS big like a freakin' baseball bat. Big like 13% ABV and 1,000 volts of electricity in silvery gray green shades. Hovers indecisively for a second, then settles into intense sour citrus.

Delicate soft aromas of grapefruit, lime leaf and sage become crazy intense with tip of tongue acid, thick edges that suck your cheeks in tight. — 2 years ago

Chris A

9.0

Holy good golly this is amazing. Bright, citrusy with that vanilla hook - bold right off the bat. Tart, lingering finish. Bold Californian chard that brings it with a full body and mouth feel! Outstanding alone - take care to pair with something to compliment this big flavored. — 3 years ago

Jan A

9.2

Lots of big bubbles with biscuit and lemon — 4 years ago