Jay Kline

9.3

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of two days. Equally enjoyable on both nights however, the nose was most powerful on Day 1. “Ampodium” (formerly Classique) is 100% Syrah sourced from a dozen or so vineyards and made in a largely traditional style; plenty of whole cluster and a very judicious use of new French oak. The 2010 “Ampodium”pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and signs of light sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of ripe, some desiccated and some tart, black and blue fruits: blackberries, blueberry pie, fields of lavender, black pepper, bacon fat, iodine, and granite earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin (mostly integrated) and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and laden with rocky minerals. Totally in balance and at peak. Lovely. Drink now through 2035. — 9 days ago

Kirsten Spalding

9.2

Easy to drink and smooth. Baking spices are the star here— cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom (slightly). Cranberry is second. I want to drink this on some rocky European coast in the fall— like small, cute rocks. Not a Californian craggy coast. And there is a cute town there, too. Pair this while petting a Saluki. — 2 years ago

with DLS

Shannon

9.0

I love it!! Not too acidic. — 4 years ago

Tommy

9.1

Rocky with lush, concentrated black fruit flavor. — a month ago

Jeremy.Buss

9.0

Good Zin that seemed a bit sweeter than remembered. Paired well with our BBQ ribs. — 10 months ago

John Tan

9.3

Sanshugong.

12% alc. Margalagua is a charismatic parcel of the Taganan vineyard comprising 100- to 300-year-old vines on a uniquely iron-rich seam of rocky volcanic soil. This treacherously steep vineyard site is planted with a mix of mostly indigenous red grapes, such as Negramoll and Listán Negro, with a small amount of Listán Blanco. This parcel is about elegance and depth rather than power: due to the silky character of the wines, it is vinified differently with a much longer (30- to 45-day) maceration and 100% stem-inclusion, yielding a darker, bolder, richer wine.
[Vintage 2018:] “This vineyard has been vinified and bottled separately since 2012 because it has a very strong personality, not surprisingly, because it's one of the most fascinating and exceptional vineyards I've ever seen in my life. . . This is a translucent bright ruby color, and it's aromatic, floral, spicy and mineral, expressive and super fresh, because of the year and because they have new cooler vineyards. It has lots of notes of violets and lilies. The flavors are pungent, precise, clean, symmetric and very elegant, with refined tannins and a tasty, somewhat salty finish. This is the best wine they have produced to date. Truly word-class.” WA 98 (Luis Gutiérrez) — 3 years ago

Kyle Kniss

9.2

Jammy with structure — 7 months ago

Jay Kline

9.0

Unscrewed and used to cook with while I poured a glass for myself; enjoyed over the course of three days. Consistent throughout though the nose showed a but more complexity on Day 2 and Day 3. The 2023 Soave Classico pours a pale straw color with medium viscosity, and no signs of particles or gas. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of Bosc pear, honeydew melon, Juicy Fruit®️, white and yellow flowers, rocky earth and minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium acidity. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+ and zippy. For me, this is such a wonderfully versatile wine. It’s available at Whole Foods for under $15 and a perfect wine to enjoy and not feel bad to deglaze a pan while I’m making sauce for malloreddus. Yum! Drink now and over the next handful of years, if you must. — 9 months ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.4

Wow this is singing! What a nose. Gorgeous lemon inflected minerality. Hints of attractive spicey oak and stunning rocky minerality. Tree bark and herbs. So good. What a screaming mimi of a nose. Palate is rich and ripe but also nervy and tense. Amazing purity buttressed by that awesome Meursault richness. Lovely texture. Awesome mouthfeel and a lovely lemon drop lime zest finish. Wonderful. — 4 years ago

Jeremy.Buss

9.2

So long since I’ve had a Rockpile wine and loved this!! Black and green pepper along with dark berries (raspberry and blackberry). An excellent jam flavor that just fits so well with bbq ribs. — 4 years ago