Austin Hohnke

9.3

Big and animal. Lots of good funk and wild sappy fruit. Delivers pretty immediate pleasure, but on the bigger side of Burgundy. Aged in clay amphorae and barrel. — 7 months ago

Mark Eastom

9.1

Wild fruit, leather, white pepper, dried herbs, other than fruit notes, nice acid. — 2 years ago

Dave Mayers

8.9

What a joy to find this bottle at a NYC steakhouse. It’s been a while. Initially turned on by these ancient Lebanese vineyards and organic practices. And blending fruit that we are Las Jaras use. Drinking well for being a ‘16. VA a bit high but reminiscent of some wilder Barolo — 3 years ago

Jay Kline

9.2

This was presented to me double-blind at Tasting Group. The wine appeared deep ruby with a nearly opaque core. There’s slight staining of the tears and the viscosity appears medium+. On the nose the wine is intense. It’s slightly funky with an almost cheese rind sort of thing going on. There’s a combination of red and dark fruits with some purple flowers, dried tobacco leaf, something that sort of resembled pyrazines and a little bit of baking spices which suggests there’s some French barrique being used. On the palate, the wine is bone dry and fiercely tannic. Acid is medium ++. It’s definitely on the darker fruit side with some black berries and blue berries, black pepper and baking spices which all but confirms French barrique at this point. Long finish. I’m scratching my head with this one. It’s wild. Clean and fresh…but wild.

I could see this in a few places: Moulin-à-Vent is one possibility considering all the darker fruit and firm structure. However, I find some real Italian sensibilities to this wine. Despite the monumental structure, I cannot place this in northern Italy. Given the presence of French barrique, I could see this being a Cabernet Sauvignon-based Super Tuscan with a little Syrah and Sangiovese for good measure. So that was my call: 2015 Super Tuscan.

Wow…what a lovely surprise. I mistook the Rotundone for pyrazines (a recurring issue for me) which had me thinking Bordeaux varieties instead of Syrah. And to be fair, we don’t see a lot of Côte Rôtie at Tasting Group. This was my first time tasting the 2016 “La Chavaroche” and while it was a real treat (big thanks to the generous member of the group), it was also a reminder as to why I cellar my bottles of “La Chavaroche” for so long. This is a wee babe and frankly, pretty tough for me to love right now. That being said, the quality and character is unquestionable. I say give it until 2030+ and these will light up your right prefrontal cortex like a supernova.
— 4 years ago

Matt

9.8

Instense and saturated with roasted black plum and mulberry fruit, tar, grilled porcini, espresso bean, pork blood, curing salt, hoisin, smoked meat, leather, hot iron, metal, apricot confit, grapefruit oil, talcum, roasted herbs de Provence, whole cluster spice like pepper and almost mustard seed, Absolutely wild in its length, complexity, and elixir-like headiness. Some people hate, but this is arguably one of the most unique terroirs for Syrah on earth. — 6 years ago

Darren Gale

9.3

2008. Fabulous! A bit of spice to go with the deep fruit hints. Buy this if you find it. — 7 years ago

Douglas Braun

9.0

This is a 2013 Mondeuse lotta fun funkiness coming out wild fruit and spice — 7 years ago

Conrad Green

9.6

Soft and plush. Wild strawberry and wet stone. Some faint floral notes. Focused, delicate and precise. Haunting fruit. Still fresh.. a wonderful bottle. — 8 months ago

with Bex

Randy Fuller

9.4

This wine is a lovely golden color. The nose carries plenty of lemon, citrus minerality, and a touch of oak spice. The palate has a good bit of acidity, lemon, stone fruit, and vanilla. It finishes long, full of citrus and a bit of apricot. This wine is made for seafood, but will also fit well with chicken or lemony pasta dishes. — a year ago

Jacob Onufrychuk

9.0

Chianti isn’t typically my cup of tea but seems to be a very good representation of the grape and the style. Anise, balsamic vinegar, leather, damp earth, cedar, and fruit, primarily cherry, on the nose. Lots of acidity and cherry on the palate with a touch of salt, with the acidity being the biggest trait to me over the fruit.

Maybe this is winning me over…? I might be starting to find the charm in Chianti! — 3 years ago

ace

9.0

Fruit forward with a hint of spice. Very nice Zinfandel for having with dinner. — 5 years ago

Ron Siegel

9.4

A very rare bird almost impossible to find where the production on their 9 plots only amounts to a total of 9000 btls. I discovered their wines when I attended a Bizot tasting & lunch at Marea in Feb 2020 where I found their whole cluster wines had this beautiful purity of fruit & transparency. This btl was no different offering up an amazing nose of red cherry & berry fruits, lush & pure on the palate with baking spices, floral & mineral notes. A wine that is so good now you can drink young but will reward time in the cellar. — 5 years ago

Jeff Hasmann

9.3

Iconic spring season champagne. There are many reasons everyone loves this stuff - Grand Cru fruit, 36 months on lees, Billecart’s unique vinification process - but the best reason is that it is just so darn delicious. Tonight, the bouquet was intense and very much like a Chablis Grand Cru. Upon pouring into the glass, one notices the fine, elegant mousse rising from the bottom. Then the first sip - strawberries and pear with undertones of nuanced brioche and yeast. The style here is elegant and finessed. Beautiful juice! Tonight’s bottle disgorged in May, 2018. 50/30/20 chard/PN/PM, 9g/l dosage, 40% reserve wine. You will be hard pressed to find a better bottle of champagne in the $75-$90 price range. Well done! NV on May 8, 2020 — 6 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.3

Nice, aged Cabernet. Debated opening this one. This started more on the plum and raisin side and a little muted. 15 minutes later? Fig and mushroom with basil and oregano, but not a whole lot of fruit. 30 minutes after that? Dirty black cherry, plums, seemed to find itself after a 31 year sleep. Rather substantial weight in the middle. Finishes with a gritty note. Tannins are definitely dropping here and this one is showing all it has. Good time to drink now! — 7 years ago

with Dan, Shay and 1 other

Freddy R. Troya

9.4

Saint-Joseph V.2018
Northern Rhône Valley, France 🇫🇷

Overview
Made entirely from 100% Syrah, this wine hails from one of the most celebrated AOCs of the Northern Rhône. The 2018 vintage was a powerful, structured year, known for ripe fruit and depth, making it one of the standout recent harvests in the appellation.

Aromas & Flavors
Nose: blackcurrant, blackberry, plum, and spices (notably black pepper, nutmeg) with floral hints of honeysuckle.
Palate: savory notes of smoked meats, olives, herbs, licorice, chocolate, and a touch of oak, layered beautifully with rich black fruit.

Mouthfeel
Full-bodied, meaty, and concentrated with ripe tannins, round structure, and long finish. Balanced acidity ensures freshness while delivering intensity and elegance.

Winemaking & Style
Traditional Rhône winemaking highlights the terroir’s granite soils and classic Syrah character. The 2018 vintage is built for longevity, with the richness of fruit and structure to age gracefully for another decade.

Food Pairing
Ideal with duck confit, braised short ribs, lamb shank, venison stew, or wild mushroom risotto. Pairs just as well with aged cheeses like Comté or Manchego.

Verdict
A textbook Saint-Joseph: bold yet elegant, savory yet fruity, with the hallmark spice and depth that defines Northern Rhône Syrah. Aging potential of 10+ years, but already showing incredible balance and drinkability now. — a year ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.6

I adore 2021. Insane wine. Nose is feral, herbal and gamey and so expressive for a young Berceau. Red fruits galore with unreal clarity and depth. Granite aromas but expressed in a floral way as they are so expressive. Quite layered and so elite. A knockout nose and that’s just as the bottle is opened. Maybe 3-5% black fruits but barely black. Wow what a palate. Rich yet focused and with maybe 75% red and 25% black fruits but beguiling freshness and velvety, high quality tannins. Wow the nose after a fresh pour is 9.8. Palate has substantial grip, tannins and structure and is imposing but not like a warmer vintage expression of Le Berceau. It’s got velvety, molten tannins that are perfectly ripe and the fruit is mid season red berries and such incredibly realized red fruits with just insane clarity. Infused with herbs and crushed granite and the finish goes on forever. But needs air and my score will go higher.

Nose is now smokey and meaty. Wild flowers and mint. So complex and intense. Palate is so fresh and energetic with red cherry and classic flavors and loads of mineral intensity. Really elegant and stunning texture. So much energy. Wow. 9.5 to 9.6. — 3 years ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.6

Holy moly. This is psychotic. What a nose. Deep, penetrating, wild cherries, forest floor, so so perfumed. An earthy sweetness is just overwhelming. Amazing. So elegant and delicate. Yet so deep and vivid. Best young Probstey Pinot nose ever. Just ridiculous. Palate is sweet, dense and so clear. The clarity on this is bananas. Sweet, silky and super deep. Velvety tannins and so much energy. Terrific wood spice on the nose. Adds so much. Complexity on fleek. Almost painful concentration. Amazing cherries. A literal tiny berry fruit cherry explosion. Genius. Finish is all limestone, sweet cherries and velvet. A masterpiece. — 5 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

If you have not had this producer of Shiraz from Barossa, you are missing out on some special wines from very old vines. In the case of “The Relic” 100 year old vines. We walked the Standish Estate vines w/ Dan in April 2017. They yield a paltry 500 pounds of fruit per acre. Normally, very high quality wine are around 2,00-2,500 pounds of fruit per acre. So, his wines are from small concentrated berries.

You won’t find his wines in the US except on the secondary markets. He doesn’t have or need a US importer as he sells everything he makes through his mailing list. However, worth seeking out. Also, his wines need to age and you can find them this old. I have numerous times.

Dan started out in Barossa and then gathered much of winemaking knowledge working his way through Europe for several producers and a majority of them in France.

When he returned to Australia, he became the Winemaker at Torbreck before starting “The Standish Wine Company.”

I’ve posted several of his wines with detailed notes and will let them speak here. Cheers!

— 5 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.4

A real find from Argentina, fermented 50% in cement, aged for 12 months in used French oak. Light red with purple edges, aromas of fresh red berry fruits and notes of floral spice. On the palate cherry with a touch of raspberry flavors adding in fresh spices, soft integrated tannins giving a great balance. Lingering finish ending with fruit and mineral character. Nice delicate Pinot! — 7 years ago

Michael Meyer

9.3

So good with osso bucco and risotto, bringing out more of the savory elements like herbs, leather, peppery spices, and wild cherry fruit. In a very good place at 12 years... — 8 years ago