My first experience with the wines of the late Philippe Engel and what better occasion than our humble take on La Paulée. I’ve heard that bottle variation can be a thing with these wines so we held our collective breath when opening. However, our concerns were unfounded as this bottle was not only sound, but beautiful.
Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a couple hours. The 2001 Clos Vougeot pours a pale ruby color with a translucent core; medium viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with perfumed notes of ripe and slightly dried strawberry, raspberry, dried flowers, licorice, sous bois, truffle, dried herbs, and a mix of cool and gentle 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 and the texture is silky. A profoundly soulful wine and one that will live long in my memory. Drink now through 2041. — 2 months ago
Almost effervescent with acidity, bright, with tart cherries, the funk and slight brine of olives, and a pleasant mid-mouth weight. — 3 months ago
Stunning. Dauvissat perfection. 2012 Clos is perfect tonight, with more fruit definition than Preuses as expected from the site. It’s textural, chiseled and powerful with Chablisen oyster shell minerality layered in a tidal wave of spiced orchard fruit and white flowers. It’s incredibly silky on the palate showing killer volume and density with racy citrusy acids and a sea spray-like salinity to round it out. When Dauvissat is on it’s hard to beat. And this is still young. — 4 months ago
Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a few hours. Black plastic cork; the standard for Dard et Ribo. The 2015 “Les Rouges des Baties” pours a deep, dull ruby/purple with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and some sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of wild black brambles, oil cured olive, roasted meat, purple flowers, black pepper, a mix of organic and inorganic earth and dried herbs. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. An utterly beautiful expression of Crozes-Hermitage and this worked really well with goose from South Dakota. I’m smitten. Drink now through 2035. — 5 months ago
Same notes as previous bottles, but add corn husk, medium weight, chalk and amazing acid. — 7 days ago
Solid at $30. — 3 months ago
Musk, Holly berries and bramble, pine needles, iron, velvet, driftwood, hints of coffee and bold red meat. There’s berries in there, red, lush, ripe and dark, but it’s so well integrated into the perfume (and it is perfume) that it’s impossible to separate them. Like a thin spread of preserves and dank basement. Palate has that lean nature of Syrah, between medium and light bodied, tannins present, but molded well into the palate, not ostentatious. Lush, silky dark red and black fruits roll forth, along with some charcoal, graphite, blood, and iron. — 4 months ago


50-year old vines close to Fleurie and Chiroubles (more pink granite soil). Dark garnet color, black tea and strawberry. Fresh with light tannins, but not much structure or acidity. Great for immediate drinking. — 3 months ago
2021 vintage. Decanted and tasted after 30 minutes at approximately 55 degrees. Medium body. Powerful core of acidic/citric concentration swaddled by delicate lanolin and oak. Textbook essential Chablis yet clinical and complicated. Spectacular. 2.25.26. — 4 months ago
Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections
A reminder that categories matter less than producers. Beautifully mature and completely alive, showing notes of cheese rind, oyster shell, sea breeze, lemon oil, and savory Chablis minerality. The youthful voltage of Petit Chablis has softened into something broader and more complex, but the freshness remains remarkable. Textured, versatile, and endlessly food-friendly, with a wonderful combination of mature savory character and classic limestone tension. Drinking beautifully and a perfect companion to charcuterie, pâté, and richer appetizers. A fascinating wine and a terrific lesson in what happens when supposedly "simple" Chablis is made by a master. — 23 days ago