Tom Casagrande

9.1

Very spritely nose shows lots of confectionery cherry and crushed granite. In the mouth it’s got, well, “spritely” acids to propel its high-toned cherry fruit along. Not that concentrated, but it’s got an interesting finish that shows a little tannin and a slight bitter note to keep it real. This is very food-flexible. — a month ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.5

Hugely reduced out of the gates. Wow huge sulfur. Palate is red fruited, silky and so supple. Needs mega mega air. Wow what a nose now with air. Olive explosion. feral, meaty, charcuterie and so classic. Palate is so fresh, energetic and silky. So so supple. Amazing purity. Nose still not quite there but it’s going to get there. So silky and such refined tannins. Substantial but refined. Amazing presence. — 10 months ago

Masako Harada

9.2

いろんな香りと味。ボディがしっかり。少し白濁してて、濃い。 — 2 years ago

Ellen Clifford

9.3

Confidently red and blue fruit forward—fresh and macerated, ballasted by earth. The palate is stunningly smooth—those tannins are well-integrated, and the fruit leads the way, but it welcomes some lavender and violet notes. Tart and ripe, even giving a hint of…ouzo? Yeah, licorice! And a whiff of smoke. It has a kick, a spice, and a…can a girth be slender? This wine is broad and, at the same time, dialed in. The finish lingers, a long purple-y road. — 3 months ago

John Osgood

9.0

Easy drinking and quite delicious — 9 months ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.5

Stupid good. Creamy and ripe. Fresh. So pure. — a year ago

President Obama

9.4

Less sweet than the Sans Pagne. Fine bubbles. $25 @ Domestique. — 3 years ago

Jay Kline

9.1

Popped and poured; something I don’t recommend. This was super lean on Day 1 and hard to even identify as Syrah. However, by Day 3 it’s a different story. The 2021 pours a deep ruby with near opaque core; medium viscosity with significant staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is youthful with notes of red, black and blue fruits, bacon fat, lavender pastilles, and gentle warm spices. On the palate, medium tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is also medium. This is definitely on the leaner side and having had enough of the 2021’s from both the Northern and Southern Rhone, the vintage certainly reminds me a touch of 2014. This needs some time and I suspect patience will be rewarded down the road, just like the 2014’s have proven. Regardless, this is a lighter and more classic vintage. Best after 2028 and through 2040. — 7 months ago

Jay Kline

9.1

This bottle of 2020 Courbis Saint-Joseph was opened in advance but unsure of how long prior; likely before service or even the day before. The wine pours a violet color with a translucent core. Medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, deep, dark candied black fruits with purple flowers, coffee, milk chocolate and baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium(+) tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes on the nose with a bit of black pepper on the finish…which is long. While this isn’t a showstopper, it is good and serves as a reminder that these wines from Domaine Courbis shouldn’t be slept on. Great value. Drink now with some patience and should drink well through 2030. — a year ago

Erik Longabardi

9.2

Fabulous, with a touch of botrytis?! — 2 years ago