Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.7

What a nose, some VA, lipstick like intensity, mid season cherry, keynes vignes from 2016. Wow so spicey and earthy. Wow what a generous palate and meatiness and such lift and very sweet fruits. But wonderful minerals on the finish. So much aromatic nuance with alpine scents, herbals. Wonderful finesse, so delicate and lacey, like a Gevrey Cherbaudes/Goulots, wild mint on the nose, sassafras, what a nose, Wow, energy and complexity. So juicy and deep. Such fine tannin structure. Black tea tannins. Nose is so harmonious and so Koosah. After 8 hours all these wines aromas congeal to such a sense of place. Palate is just so supple and sweet with such decadence. Oh wow. my score is up to a 9.7. Such sweetness backed up by structure. And so much energy and depth. Man the freshness, acid and depth is just unreal. Stunning aromatic depth. Asian spices and perfume. Super pure and decadent with great cut and energy. Awesome acidity and sweetness. Still a 9.7 but developed a lot more overnight. — a month ago

Seth Masterson

9.2

Oh that nose! Roses and roots and fruits
Crunchy texture, light but at the same time a lot of body. Perfect acidity. Delicious finish
This has to be one of the best Gamays produced on this side of the Atlantic. — 5 months ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.4

1996 vintage. Redonkulous, mid-neck fill and pristine cork (have had 17-20 similarly stored/performing bottles of different producers, varietals, regions from this particular cellar). Decanted with a mix of small chunk and coffee ground sed. Tasted immediately and over the course of two hours. That aged, silvery sheen in the color with a noticeable meniscus. Quiescent nose in the early going and showing. Took approx 30 mins of repeated decanted agitations to coax out a mix of herbs, orange zest/peel and slight beefiness. All this plus some American milk chocolate coalescing in flavor land. Light body. Still going strong after two hours. Likely another 7-10 years of drinking pleasure left from an above average vintage. 12.30.23. — 9 months ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.7

The Chambolle of the portfolio. Red apple fruits, early season cherry, some barely there VA, and stunning lipstick like intensity. Loads of wet earth and red fruits. So elegant and slippery with unreal intensity but remains delicate throughout. Sweet fruit and finesse. So so elegant and long. Just raring to go. Nose has also that funky earth thing going on. Nose keeps opening up. Scary elegant. Ethereal and complete. Now with 8 hours of air the nose is singing. Elegant red cherries and cranberry along with stunning Burgundian funk. Palate is supple sweet fruit and great acids and freshness. Unreal aromas after a day. So floral and lifted. Just stunning. That funk is still there and really adds so much. The palate is so supple and silky. 9.6 to 9.7. — a month ago

Jay Kline

9.5

Opened the evening prior at 7pm and double-decanted; the bottle was left at room temp with the cork pressed lightly back into the neck until service. The 2000 pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core and a slightly water rim; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and some sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous and showing some real power with a compelling combination of ripe and desiccated fruit: dark brambles, cassis, leather, dill, olives, spiced meat, tobacco and soft baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and whoa is it ever delicious. This has to be one of the wines of the vintage. Drink now through 2040. — 3 months ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.5

1994 vintage. Incredible color for a nearly three decade, Napa cab offering. Decanted and tasted after 5 mins and 2 hrs. Threw an absolutely ridiculous ton of sed...1963 vintage ports are both envious and jealous. Tight meniscus...looked like a 5 year old wine. Drank with the combined passion of age and youth. Shocking amounts of richness and integrated fruit. That pleasant surprise mated with the anticipated, back door tannins. Acidity still on point. Neck and neck with the 1994 Chateau Montelena estate Napa cab as the best 1994 Napa cab enjoyed this year. This has miles to go before it sleeps. 10.19.23. — a year ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.6

Gorgeous nose of iodine, sweet wood, dark forest, herbs, woodland berries, green apple, salt and more. Palate is so tangy with meyer lemon, lime flesh and so much minerality. Like licking a stone on the finish and also has terrific sucrosity. Sweet tree bark on the nose now and also morning dew and flowers. Terrific inner mouth aromas and great concentration and sapidity. Long, mineral finish and this will open and I am here for the ride. Gets deeper with structure as it airs. Amazing finish. Potentially the best vineyard for Chardonnay in all of the Willamette Valley. After 11 hours open this is singing. Nose has wet moss, mint, hickory, saline and alpine scents. Palate is ripe, chewy, rich and energetic. — a month ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.2

1995 vintage. Light-medium body. Opened but not decanted. High neck fill. Solid cork. Relatively light sed. Tasted after one hour. Dusty with velveteen notes up front and a gradual thinning of intensity on the finish. As per the LR style, no explosive characteristics, only a seamless quality evident. This will hold in place for 7-8 years. 8.16.24. — 2 months ago

Pinotman /// Andreas

9.4

Excellent really. Sweet Pinot Fruit. Cherry 🍒 mostly. Just 13.5%. Very refined. Like a Burgundy at a much better price point. Planted in 1996 to Pommard, Wadenswil and 114. Dry farmed! Needs at least 2 hours of air. Teanotes, … fresh! In my book one of the top 10 Pinots in the US. — 5 months ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.5

Super mineral nose with discreet framing oak. Lemon flesh. Some rainer cherries. Saline and iodine. Subtle yet focused and incredibly complex nose. Such nice earth and mineral tones. Smells like Burgundy of yesteryear. Palate is so lean, salty and concentrated with a lingering hint of complex sweetness from the wood on the incredibly persistent finish. So juicy and leaning on the palate and just laser focused. So long. This has much more to give and has closed down a bit since I tasted it last. But a stunner. I’ll be back as it airs.

After 4 hours this is a wonder and has opened beautifully. Clear barely ripe granny smith apple, stunning mineral breadth and some white flowers. Palate is so juicy and saline. Luscious. It’s loosened up quite a bit. Long, structured finish. Super juicy. Fantastic. — 2 years ago