Jay Kline

9.5

It’s been a couple of years since I last encountered the 2001 vintage of Chave’s Hermitage. That bottle was a library release from the domaine and so is this example. Splash decanted directly before service. The 2001 pours a garnet color with a translucent core; medium viscosity with significant staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is vinous and a total umami bomb: Koji beef broth, dried and baked brambles, dried purple flowers, black pepper, Kalamata olive, organic and inorganic earth along with fine warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. Looking back on my notes from 2024, there’s a common theme: the 2001 is all about dat bass. Drink now with some patience and through 2041. — 5 months ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.6

Big stones, earthy, mineral, darker red currants diverging on black. Smells more angular which is the vintage for sure. Lots of herbs. Huge minty and floral. It’s very grapey but also very dusty. Gorgeous nose but def younger than the 11. Stunning though. Mushrooms on the nose. The tannins are much bigger and substantial. Juicy and clean. Needs mega air. This really came together after air. Big structure and that Margaux finesse. Amazing fruit and such an old library effect on the nose. Phenomenal. — 2 years ago

David Nicewicz

9.8

Truly a memorable wine experience for this perfectly stored Sassicaia. The perfume on this wine was mesmerizing - Licorice, old library, tobacco leaves, leather and spice with a touch of cassis. I nosed it for 10 min before even tasting it (praying to the wine gods that the wine was intact) - perfection on the nose in my book. The palate lived up to the nose and perfectly reflected the notes with an added touch of dried roses and a hint of graphite. Why not a 10? The finish was a tad short, but I’m splitting hairs - I bought two more bottles of this from the amazing restaurant we ate at - La Caravella - in Amalfi. An outstanding restaurant, rich history (including a 1000 year old wine cellar with 20k bottles of wine which the staff graciously offered for me to tour) and lovely chef. A must visit for any wine/food geek if you’re on the Amalfi Coast. — 4 years ago

K L

9.3

Balanced with earth and cherry. Definitely still cherry forward but more developed. A nice get from the library mystery box — 4 years ago

with Matt

Josh Morgenthau

9.2

Dark berry, a little dark chocolate. A little cedar, fox, black currant. Library smells. Bright acid and rustic tannins, paired with such a lovely Margaux elegance and lightness. Really classic bottle of wine. — 5 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Stupid at under $40. Buy all you can.

Green & Golden apple, banana, lemon & lime candy, cream, super soft chalkiness, vanillin, fruit blossoms, spring flowers, jasmine caramel notes, honeysuckle to understated honey, with yellow florals, spring flowers with mixed greens. If you are an acid head (like me) it’s perfect. Excellent long finish that is well balanced, elegant, polished and sings persistently for minutes ending in mid white spice.

Photos of; one of their Grand Cru vineyards, likely 40-50 year plus rootstock, Pierre-Yves Colin and library cellar. — 6 years ago

Joe DAscoli

9.3

Smells like it’s a brand new young wine with wild and fragrant fruit.

But at first sip you get the age and depth of the wine that has the fruit hiding beneath some good structure.

Good stuff. — 5 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.6

It’s a night of consecutive first year decades, 90 & 80. Enjoyed in reverse order.

I had an 80 from Andy Beckstoffer’s cellar at Pebble Beach Food & Wine in April 24 with Andy & Tor Kenward. This library bottle I bought recently at K&L is better than what I had a Pebble. Just look at the cork!

Glorious mouth entry. Juicy, perfect, ripe fruit that shows age but it is not missing a step. Blackberries, black raspberries, dark, juicy, poached strawberries, baked rhubarb mid, dark cherries, candied raspberries to raspberry pudding. Just a touch of v/a, chocolate pudding/fudge, mocha, caramel, light, soft, sun tea, softened baking spices- cinnamon, clove, nutmeg & vanillin, some fresh & dry herbs, dark, rich soils with dry leaves, evolved, dark spices w/ some palate heat, dry top soil, limestone powder, hint of mint, with & fresh florals that are; dark, red, blue & liquid violets and lavender sprinkled in, perfect acidity and perfectly balanced, softly tensioned, knitted and a refined finish that lasts two-minutes.

This bottle is in a perfect spot & as good as it gets. Perfectly stored. It has another 5 years. Liquid, velvety tannins. One of the more perfect bottles I’ve had in 5-10 years.

Photos of, my tasting at Pebble Beach Food & Wine. The retail wine shop at Spanish Bay, Andy Beckstoffer & Tor Kenward. — 2 years ago

Matthew Cohen

9.3

Man. I love this winemaker.

Nose is smoke and dark fruit. It’s like a warm hug from your best friend Who’s wearing a sweater.

So comforting.

As it opens you get dried roses. Library book. Amazing.

Palate is dark cherry but in a light way. Still fresh. Elegant.

Man. Such a great winemaker.

Bought from fass selections — 4 years ago

K L

9.2

This library case was a great purchase. Excellent for the money and drinking smooth. — 4 years ago

with Matt

JKT

9.2

Balance fineness and an almost velvety texture. Earthy plummy cherry notes with long finish. Yum. JR library special in 2016. One left? — 5 years ago

Ron R

9.0

Sunday night quaff.
Still holding on. Good fruit and texture. Don’t leave em any longer.
— 6 years ago

with Anne-marie

Mia Mendez

9.5

Complemented an herb roasted pork tenderloin. From their library collection. — 6 years ago

JKT

9.0

Balance and soft textures thirty years! Say ten years after acquiring from JR whose email says matriarch passing freed up this library holding back then. — 9 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

Using a library photo from Delectable. The vintage I had was 2014 which was a brilliant White Burgundy vintage. The nose showing struck match sulphides - also mineral with flint. Notes of fresh herbs with white flowers. Palate is restrained but very precise. The first white from the Burgundy dinner in Sydney on August 7. Just catching up with notes now. The food match with steamed Murray Cod was superb. — 10 months ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.5

Killer nose at 33 years young from an OK vintage. Chestnuts galore. tar, roses, melting road tar and crazy florals. Woodshop. Old Library books. Macerated cherries. Smells like elite Barolo. Just gorgeous. As it airs the minerals come through and the nose gets more and more expansive. I could smell this all day. Palate is tasting so young. Tannic and structured but with glorious cherry fruit and a mix of dried and fresh cherries. Very delicate yet big. This is so beautiful. Wow what sweet sweet cherry fruit and glorious freshness and acidity. This is terrific. Needs air as these all do. Nose now has burnt ember from a fireplace. Now after aid the complexity and finesse come in spades. It’s so elegant. The cherry fruit gets more defined. Now on Day 2 it has gotten better and better. These wines are timeless and ageless. Nose is a nebbiolo symphony with tar, dried roses, cigar box, dried cherries and huge minerality. So enveloping. Unreal chestnut. Palate is juicy and so clear. Amazing velvety tannins and so silky. Unreal wine. More finesse and better fruit clarity today. — 3 years ago

JKT

9.1

Indeed still a lively lovely old Riesling from Haubs-Barzen library release via JR, as previously noted. Color not as dark as non library wines. Wasn’t expecting a Kab can age so long and so well. Perfect for hot pot Birthday dinner for Evan. Yum. — 5 years ago

Martin Sher

9.4

One of a set of three library Alexanders. — 6 years ago

Cathy Corison

Owner/Winemaker Corison Winery

9.3

This is a unicorn given a tragic warehouse fire that wiped out the LMR library. Lovely bottle development. Inky. Nice natural acidity. Unity — 6 years ago

with Noah, Grace and 1 other

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Something to pair with cupcakes from the Buttery Bakery...Carrot Cake, Rum Custard with Coconut, Red Velvet and Dark Chocolate.

Everything the Buttery makes is near perfect.

Excellent finish to a great evening! Thanks James & Christina for hosting.

Photos of; the House of Bollinger, caves with library bottles we’d all like to get our hands on, one of their barrel coppers and Grand Cru vineyard. — 6 years ago

with Christina and James