Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.7

Absolutely stunning out of the gates, with a deep, creamy nose of mid-season cherry, dark cherry, black cherry, raspberry spice cake, leather and a faint birthday-cake sweetness, all framed by beautifully integrated wood and a very clear limestone signature. The palate is a nuclear detonation of tiny-berry fruit, with extraordinary clarity, juiciness, freshness and energy, plus velvety, beautifully articulated tannins and outrageous inner-mouth aromas. There is an almost holographic intensity to the wine, as if every liquid molecule explodes with fruit and mineral detail. The sweetness and freshness are in remarkable balance, the finish is long and limestone-driven, and this has enormous upside potential toward 9.7 or even 9.8 as it continues to open.

After about 75 minutes this moved higher. The finish is epic, nearly two minutes long, with beautifully hierarchical layers of dark cherry fruit, limestone and serious, perfectly articulated tannin. Tremendous clarity, intensity and structure, with the fruit still absolutely detonating through the finish. Remarkable wine with easily another decade ahead of it. 9.6 to 9.7. — 15 days ago

"Odedi"

9.2

It is time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday.

Reddish in color with medium plus intensity and a wide reddish rim.

Strong nose of red fruits with light cedar, earth, tobacco leaf, black pepper, herbs and black tea.

Medium plus in body with medium plus acidity.

Dry on the palate with cherries, plums, light oak, spices, chocolates, licorice, tobacco leaf, herbs and peppercorn.

Tangy finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a delicious Merlot from Napa Valley. Fruity and rich. Complex and entertaining.

Good right out of the bottle, and better after 90 minutes of airtime.

This Single Vineyard Merlot is elegant and nicely balanced. Will continue to age nicely in the next 10 years.

I had different vintages of this wine and it is very consistent.

Easy drinking and good by itself as a sipping wine.

100% Merlot grapes were aged in French oak barrels. A tiny production of only 300 bottles.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$100. — 9 months ago

"Odedi"

9.2

Pale lemon in color.

Medium bodied with medium plus acidity and tiny bubbles.

Dry on the palate and elegant.

Showing limes, grapefruits, yeast, spices, brioche, minerals, light earth, sea salt and herbs.

Tangy long finish with limes and light almonds.

This is a delicious Non Vintage Champagne. Showing a great mouthfeel with nice complexity.

Wine Enthusiasts 92 points. Robert Parker 91 points. Wine Spectator 91 points.

Good right out of the bottle and better with some air time.

Nicely balanced and rich. Good by itself or with food.

A blend of 40% Pinot Meunier, 30% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay.

12% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$60. — 2 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.3

From 100% Wente clones that get max hang time, large and tiny berries packed together, pale lemon with subtle aromas of citrus and stone fruits. On the palate flavors of apple, lemon and lime flavors, crisp acidity, long finish ending with rich mineral character. Perfect now! — 2 years ago

"Odedi"

8.9

Kukeri Wines Rosé Nouveau 2021, Sonoma Coast, California

Deep salmon in color with an orange hue.

On the nose raspberries, strawberries, limes, earth, bitter herbs and green apples.

Medium bodied with medium plus acidity. Crisp and refreshing.

Dry on the palate with limes, cranberries, sour cherries, earth, bitter vegetables, green apples, black pepper and spices.

Tangy finish with bitter herbs.

This is a nice Rosé from Sonoma Coast in California. A good quality wine, earthy and good with food.

Showing nice complexity with a soft mouthfeel.

Feels like a Rosé from Southern France.

100% Pinot Noir grapes from a Single Vineyard were aged in French oak barrels for 2 months. A tiny production of only 3 barrels.

13.1% alcohol by volume.

89 points.

$28. — 5 years ago

"Odedi"

9.1

It's time for my #FridayCabernetfix. Here is a tasty one from Mount Veeder.

Deep ruby in color with a reddish rim.

Fruity nose of black plums, black currants, dark coffee, oak, spices, pencil lead, vanilla, tobacco, licorice, earth, light herbs and peppercorn.

Medium plus in body and smooth, with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with black currants, plums, cooked cherries, cedar, coffee, vanilla, spices, cola, licorice, mint, black pepper, bitter herbs, vegetables and earth.

Tangy finish with fine grained tannins, cranberries and peppercorn.

This young Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley is starting to drink nicely now, although it needs a few years in the bottle to mature properly.

Showing nice complexity, elegant and spicy, with lots of earth notes.

Good right out of the bottle, and better after an hour of airtime.

Smooth, elegant and tangy. Feels like a young Bordeaux, and will age nicely in the next 10 years.

Good by itself or with food. Will pair nicely with BBQ Meats. I paired it with a Brie cheese and crackers.

100% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes were aged for 30 months in French oak barrels (50% new). A tiny production of only 125 cases.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$95. — 5 years ago

"Odedi"

9.4

#AgedWineTuesday

Dark ruby in color with a reddish rim.

Beautiful nose and very complex.

Full-bodied and elegant with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate and fruit forward with nice complexity.

Showing blackberries, black currants, plums, cooked cherries, dark chocolates, toast, cedar, light vanilla, spices, coffee, licorice, light earth, black tea and black pepper.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.

This 18 year old Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley is drinking beautifully now. Elegant and rich. Complex and fruit forward.

Drinking at its peak, and will continue to do so in the next 5 to 7 years. The high alcohol is well integrated by now.

Needed 2 hours to open up properly, and it's worth the wait, so be patient.

This Single Vineyard Cabernet is a wonderful sipping wine, that will also pair nicely with food.

100% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes were aged in all new French oak barrels for 24 months. A tiny production of 1,000 bottles.

14.8% alcohol by volume.

94 points.

$100. — 21 days ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Sourced from over 70 tiny parcels of old-vine, head-pruned Tempranillo blended with a small percentage of Graciano, aged 15 months in French oak. Deep Ruby with aromas of dark berry fruits, sweet spice and herb notes. On the palate flavors of blackberry and ripe plum with notes of vanilla, spice, tobacco and floral herbs. Fine firm tannins, long finish ending with fruit, oak and earthy character. Very nice! — 6 months ago

Jayna Fontenot

9.0

Delicate old gold, frothy mousse, tiny bubbles. Nose gives me crisp apple, honey, toast. Fresh, not overstated, yummy. — 9 months ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.8

Wow. The nose is neutral. OMG that palate is decadent and severely structured and the most velvety tannins that are squeezing out unreal tiny fruit intensity. This is the most epic Pinot in Oregon. This is a french Grand Cru wine being made in Oregon. Unreal structure, high acid, Inner mouth aromas. Judgement deferred. 9.6 based on past notes. I will follow this over the next few days. After 7 hours nose is more decadent but still not yielding what it can. This will be better tomorrow. Lovely spice but I know what this wine can be. The texture on the palate though is really coming through. Juicy and supple but still clipped finish. But long. 9.6 to 9.7. but I can’t wait for tomorrow. It’s so juicy and so layered. Impressive. Palate is so supple and dense on day 2. Unreal tannins, depth, sweetness and power. 9.7 to 9.8. — 2 years ago

Andrea Watt

9.1

Tiny crisp bubbles and good flavors, Green apple, pear, brioche, and lemon. — 4 years ago

Willie Carter

9.3

Oh my, what an absolute joy. This right here sings the song I want to hear. A pale old gold color in the glass. Perfectly precise perlage with a plethora of tiny, fine bubbles and showcasing innate creaminess. The nose is slightly intense opening with aromas of hazelnut, chalk, and lemon zest. Warm buttered brioche takes over for a moment full of bliss then a bit of smoke. Juicy peaches and pears commingle with fresh herbs and spices.

100% Chardonnay from the five Grand Cru villages of Avize, Chouilly, Cramant, Oger, and Mesnil-sur-Oger. The tête de cuvée of Champagne Taittinger and it shows. It’s a very noble, prestigious champagne that matches complexity with downright deliciousness. The juxtaposition between luxury and comfort is evident here. Like coming out of a bath and slipping on your finest robe. The racy acidity and exquisitely dry nature of the wine belies the dosage of 9 g/l.

Very creamy in the mouth and though it starts off a bit demanding, it soon becomes so inviting after some time. Every sip demands the proper time and contemplation. Chalky and rich, positively bursting with citrus fruits. Apples and toast everywhere along with gun flint and more smoke. Medium long finish with traces of spice. A powerful, graceful champagne that’s full of finesse. This can go for decades longer but if you open it now sit with it for a while. Give it the proper time. You might fall in love just a little. — 5 years ago

Daniel M

9.0

First day of summer holidays, it's pouring, it's cold, it's humid... But there's good wine so we are good.
Nose of violet, red and black currants, a bit of hay too. It's very welcoming as always. The palate is well balanced with red and black forest fruits, a nice width, a velvety mouthfeel until a mid palate with a tiny bit of drying tannins that power up a long fruity and delicious finish. Very biased here, but I love it — 5 years ago

"Odedi"

9.3

#AgedWineTuesday

Very pretty color of peach with a salmon hue.

Strong nose of apples, citrus, peaches, yeast, light bread and minerals.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity and tiny bubbles.

Dry on the palate with raspberries, over ripen strawberries, apples, limes, yeast, sea salt, brioche, spices, minerals, light earth and cardamom.

Long spicy finish with limes and grapefruits.

This 14 year old Rosé Champagne is drinking beautifully already, and will continue to age nicely in the next 10 years. Elegant, spicy and rich. Fruity and nicely balanced, complex and engaging.

Wine Spectator 96 points. Wine Advocate 95 points.

Good right out of the bottle, and better when not too cold.

A great sipping wine that paired beautifully with my Tuna Avocado Tartare.

A blend of 67% Pinot Noir and 33% Chardonnay, with 5% red wine. Disgorged in 2020.

12% alcohol by volume.

93 points.

$200. — 5 months ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.6

I have not had in 6 years. Nose is gorgeous and brambly with huge sous bois, tiny whiff of oak, stunning spice and stoned along with some nice florals. Palate is a bit closed but super silky and not “tannin closed” like it was 6 years ago. Unreal fruit clarity and length. Air will help but great guts so far. Really classed up overnight. 9.5 to 9.6. So elegant and deep. Insanely clear fruit. — 7 months ago

Jay Kline

9.7

Presented double-blind. The wine appears straw in color with medium viscosity and, apparently, there lots of tiny bubbles so there are signs of gas, LOL. On the nose, the wine is developing with heady notes of ripe orchard fruit, red forest berries, marzipan, lemon curd, fresh brioche. On the palate, the wine is dry with high acidity. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish lasts for an eternity. The texture is ever so creamy. Wow…well, I was drinking something special. Had to be Champagne. Maybe vintage? Maybe a tête de cuvée? The style was similar to Krug. Called Champagne from a producer like Krug. OMG…the 1996 Vintage Brut?! Sheesh…someone was feeling generous! Admitted, I don’t often get to drink vintage Krug (for many hundreds of reasons!) so my experience is obviously limited. However, there’s clearly no question in this being true to house style and, now that I know the vintage, this is showing why 1996 is so special. As others have noted, this is fresher than the 1995 I had some months ago (though, that was very special too) and had greater acid. I would like to think this provides a crystal ball for the 2008 vintage that is sure to follow a similar trajectory. Drinking very fine indeed, right now and should continue to do so through 2046…depending on how you like to drink your Champagne. — 2 years ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.2

Gorgeously floral nose. Unreal mid season cherries with such lift and clarity. Wow. So clean. Gorgeous spices as well. Palate is juicy and clean. Sappy, pure and clean. Just a great and classic bottle of Liaison. Wispy tannins. Excited to see how this develops. After 24 hours nose is so deep and has great roses and violets. High toned mid season cherry. Really pretty. Terrific spice and only a tiny VA that just adds and does subtract. Palate is juicy and lean. Clean and classic. So linear and clear. Such great mid season cherry fruit. Nimble and not as powerful as recent vintages. — 3 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.3

12 months of sur lie aging in barrel, bottle aged an additional 24 months prior to disgorging, wine was finished with no dosage.Pale lemon with aromas of stone fruits, blossom and yeasty notes, fine creamy mousse and tiny rapid bubble flow, full-bodied, ripe apple and pear on the palate, citrus and some spice, nice acidity, well balanced ending with toasty mineral notes. Nice! — 5 years ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.4

Awesome, expressive nose of big ripe cherries, mulling spices, cinnamon, cardamon, clove and bitter citrus. Such an aromatic nose. Tiny berry fruit intensity and just awesome depth. Palate is spicey, sweet and super fresh. Wonderful spice and oak accents. Terrific length. Supple texture and lovely sweet fruit and oak. Very fresh and complex. Air is this estate’s friend so I’ll be back. 9.3 for now.

9.3 to 9.4 overnight. - Big, ripe cherry nose. Spice and less oak than yesterday. Elegant, juicy and complex. Very elegant and pure. Zero oak today after significant wood yesterday. lovely freshness and length. World class. — 5 years ago

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9.5

The 2003 Le Clos Saint-Hilaire is a tiny release of just 1,000 bottles. A Champagne of substance and power, the Clos Saint-Hilaire shows the exoticness of the warm vintage and yet has a good deal of supporting energy. I can't wait to see how it ages. The breadth and texture of Pinot come through so well. Dosage is 3.5 grams per liter. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, August 2021)
— 5 years ago