Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.5

Unreal nose. The chestnut barrels really doing their thing here. This also just reeks of terroir. Reeks. Unreal wet earth, mushrooms, marsh, spices galore and damson roses. Unreal cherry clarity. Just stunning out of the gates. Palate is ultra juicy and clean, silky and smooth right out of the gates which is highly unusual for this Cru as it needs hours, often days of air. A wine that tastes and smells like Autumn. So fresh, energetic but also has the plumpness of 18. Can’t wait to see where this goes. — 4 days ago

KP

9.0

Enjoyed in Maui. Herbal and oaky nose. Low tannins. High acidity. Smooth but short finish. — 3 months ago

romo

9.2

Barolo profundo! Two-later cake of ink on top and herbs on bottom. — 2 years ago

Martijn

9.0

Big bold Barbera. Many of the colleague tasters placed it in Australia.
Nice effort! — 2 months ago

Kland Aida

9.5

Bold, typical but high quality Barolo. High in tannin. Leather and earthy notes. — 2 months ago

Ceccherini Cristiano

9.3

Drinkng already magnificently.
So in balance, soft amazing tannin.
Long and no brainer. — 4 months ago

Will Stanley

9.4

My first time trying one of the wines from Cantina del Pino, an estate with greater ties to Barbaresco’s roots than most. The Vacca family were long a part of the Produttori but in 1997 branched out (yes, a pun: it was they who in the 1920s planted the now iconic pine tree on the highest point of the Ovello lieu-dit), and now produce two single vineyard Barbaresco bottlings (this, and an Albesani), as well as a generic Barbaresco and Langhe, Barbera and Dolcetto wines.

Tragically, winemaker Renato Vacca died in March last year after a yearlong battle with cancer. The 2016 vintage, just bottled, is supposed to be superb.

For now, though, the Ovello from the less lauded 2012 vintage. This is a knockout wine, still young, and with great promise. The nose is very exotic, quite heady & oaky even after a two hour decant, but opened up as the evening progressed, to give gorgeous aromas of macerated cherry, blackberry preserve, cinnamon, cedar and old leather. It screams Nebbiolo, and it’s the first Nebb I’ve had in a year or so.

The palate is very concentrated, with ripe and intense flavours of cranberry, dried cherry, cured meat and tobacco leaf. There is great tension and energy through the mouth, which only this village - or its neighbour - can achieve. The finish is long and impressive. A seductive, ageworthy wine.

94+ — 4 years ago

Anthony De Blasi

9.5

Sour candy and coca cola. Very soft tannins. This Arborina is in a great spot and truly singing! — 2 months ago

Matthew Cohen

9.7

Needs an hour decant. Prior to that discombobulated.

Immensely age worthy.

Nose: exquisite. Virgin pink roses. White flowers. The musk of beauty. So precise.

Hint of orange peel as it opens.

Palate: this ephemeral embryo of a cherry. Hint of cocoa. Silky. Just perfect.

Fass selections — 4 months ago

Ceccherini Cristiano

9.2

Stainless steel version
Pure varietal
When you pour it the colour is bright, luminous
I reckon nebbiolo has the most sensual appearance ever..you can tell i am getting excited
Fruit here is sourced from Roero so the expression is slightly darker on the nose.
Tannin is smooth
Excellent stuff, truly elegant — 5 months ago