Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.4

Such a serious Scheuerbe. Gorgeous nose. Wild herbs, sweet lime, sage, blackcurrants. High toned and so wild. Aromas in neon lights. Palate is slamming. Concentrated, elegant and densely structured but oh so nimble and super pure. Unreal class and finesse. So stunning and what a finish. Savory and alive. Cannot wait to see what air does. — 3 months ago

Ron R

9.7

Black as the night in the glass. A clone of the 19 vintage, only more sexy and voluptuous. Round, curvaceous and supple on the palate. Presents cocoa and a hint of barrel toast. So opulent and pure. Tannins are awesome and the acidity is bright. More brilliance from Jason Moore…
@Rick K — 8 months ago

with Anne-marie

Scott E. Becker

9.0

[Tasted on May 25, 2022 at Moto in Nashville with Rachel]

Red and dark berries, rose petal, tar and sage with earth and a hint of smoke. — 4 years ago

Kate

9.8

Bought at Target. Very drinkable — 5 years ago

Jacob smith

8.9

Not my favorite wine. Soild — 6 years ago

P A

9.2

Simply one of the best Cabernet Sauvignons from the Okanagan, perfect balance, big full rich mouth feel with lasting smooth legs from a noteworthy 2016 vintage. 14.5% alc/vol. Cheers 🍷🇨🇦 — 7 years ago

Hampus Bejnö

9.2

Fruktigt o gôtt — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

A 1/4 century in bottle…mmmm. I have had every 90’s vintage of Phelps Napa, except a 90 I think. Many of those multiple times at 15 yrs plus. This 99 is as good as any of the ones I’ve had. 98, not a great vintage but the 98 consistent with the rest and 99 better than many would expect.

Siting it, it has a dark core with little or no brickish edges. The fruit still very lively.

The nose shows; slightly candied to ripe & some slightly plummy fruits; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, both plums, baked strawberries, pomegranate & raspberries. Cinnamon stick, nutmeg, clove, vanilla, anise to black licorice, sweet tarriness, dry tobacco, used leather, dry stems, dry crushed rocks with dry top soil, graphite, cocoa powder, dark cola, steeped berry tea, moist clay, dark & red bright florals framed I liquid violets with a touch of lavender.

This is still around its peak. M-M+ velvety, round tannins. It’s round w/ elegance defined. Nothing that bits back. Palate confirms the nose. Slightly candied to ripe fruits; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, both plums, baked strawberries, pomegranate & raspberries. Cinnamon stick, nutmeg, clove, vanilla, anise to black licorice, sweet tarriness, dry tobacco, used leather, dry stems, dry crushed rocks with dry top soil, limestone, dark Asian spices with some palate heat, dry herbs w/ a sage lead, graphite, used charcoal ash, cocoa powder, caramel, dark cola, steeped berry tea, moist clay, dark & red bright florals framed in liquid violets with a touch of lavender, very round, beautiful acidity, well; made, knitted, structured, tensioned w/ excellent length and elegance-balanced finish that lasts minutes & lands on moist clays and ripe, evolved fruit.

Perfect w/ the Prime Ribcap. — 3 months ago

Brad Jensen

9.6

Absolutely gorgeous and unique. For a 23yo wine the complexity on the nose and palate is still bumpin, and the tannins are silky and smooth, with a little grab here and there just to let you know it’s past. Nose of rich dark berries, old driftwood (from Collin) with a medium body that’s fruit forward, somewhat smoky, and beautifully balanced with hints of dried herbs, and sage. Absolutely amazing. — 3 years ago

Kyle Zeman

9.5

Dali vintage. Still super alive and young, what fun wine to drink alongside Dali’s Wines of Gala book. Most of the fruit is gone, lots of terroir shining through — grape seeds and clay. Some sage / menthol. Literally no oxidative notes — 5 years ago

Bob Eisenbach

9.1

Blackberry explosion and a bit of heat. — 5 years ago

Shay A

9.5

Last week was a combo of 4th Friday and Open That Bottle Night on back to back nights. Needless to say, the lineup between both days was full of heavy hitters, so I’m only posting standout bottles.

One of my bottles. One of my favorite wineries and easily one of the top 5 winery visits I’ve ever done. To me, this is “classic” Continuum in that is has just a impeccable balance of both fruit and herbal/savory notes both aromatically and on the palate. I let this slow ox for a couple hours, checking in ever so often, and found this hit stride after about two hours of air. Lovely bouquet of potpourri, lavender, graphite, sage, currant, ripe blackberries, black cherries and mocha. On the palate, its profile is soft yet all encompassing. Mulberries, cassis, tobacco leaves, herbs de Provence, licorice, dark cocoa, baking spices and a touch savory toward the finish. Enjoyable now and not getting better. My thanks to @Bill Bender for this. — 6 years ago

with joe, Weston and 1 other

Sam Shepard

9.3

Dried herbs (thyme, sage) and red currants — 7 years ago

Beom Ki Lee

9.0

Sage, eucalyptus, black olives, and start blackberries. Extremely fruity and full body, typical for a good bottle of syrah. Hint of sour cherries, tobacco, and acai berries too.
Great bottle for its price range. — 7 years ago

with C

Joel Lara

9.2

Really tasty. Full bodied with medium acidity and medium/high tannins. Plums with hints of blueberry are joined by interesting herbal notes of thyme and sage. Also has a nice earthiness that veers into a touch of just-ground coffee beans accompanying the fruit and herbal flavors on the finish. Really good, and went well with meatball, ricotta, and mushroom pizza. — 5 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

Happy New Year! 🍷

Perfect pairing w/ my Dutch oven braised short-ribs & horseradish mashed potatoes.

Dark currants, brambly blackberries, dark cherries, brilliant cherries, strawberries, iron pan, dry shale, dry herbs-sage lead, dry crushed rocks, limestone, volcanics, roasted chestnuts (a signature of this producer), some black coffee, tarriness, dry top soil, dark spices, some red to mid berry cola, red, dark flowers, violets, excellent, round acidity, balance for days, nice structure/tension with elegance that lands squarely on dry earthiness. — 8 months ago

Rob Brobst III

9.6

A vibrant, focused and deliciously complex red, offering raspberry, cherry, cinnamon, mocha and subtle sage notes rolling through the long and expressive finish. Deft. Wine Spectator #3 Wine of the Year — 4 years ago

Tanya Koob

10

Very oaky — 5 years ago

Loren Grossman

Vintner Wilde Farm Wines

9.4

In a great place. Black and red fruit, cassis, graphite, sage. Fine, coating tannins. Drink or hold. — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

Pontet Canet tasting and dinner with Alfred Tesseron.

2016 is such a beautifully, ripe and elegant vintage. The 16 stands tall from the other vintages we tasted.

The body is rich, bold and thick. Beautiful dark fruits of ripe, ruby; blackberries, plum, dark cherries, strawberries and amazing blue fruits shine as it sit on the palate. There is more balance in the 16...fruits and earth. Saddle-wood, tobacco, leather, dry soil, dry & moist clay, dry stone, rich dark earth, lead pencil, bright, fresh, red, blue, dark flowers with violets. Very nice acidity with a beautiful finish.

Don’t even touch a bottle for 15 plus years. This nice now but, you will only be cheating yourself out of a very special wine 15 plus years from now.

Photos of; Clyde and Alfred at the bar, their Amphora style cement tanks they ferment part of each vintage now, road signs of the good neighbors they keep and Chateau Pontet Canet. — 7 years ago