Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.7

Big time raspberry spice cake. Decadent aromas with gorgeous limestone and complicating aromas of pulverized rock dust. Big jelly donut vibes. Palate is just stunning. Young and a bit inverted but huge chewy depth, raspberry intensity, black cherry intensity and gorgeous, virile tannins. Juicy and so explosive with tiny berry fruit intensity that is a knockout. So complex and juicy and obviously young but in 3-4 hours this will get to 9.8. I know it will. Amazing acidity and it’s insane how much it’s changed since barrel last summer. My god it’s so juicy and decadent. The fruit clarity is off the charts. Unreal purity and density and so so so god damn juicy. — 18 days ago

John Howard

Harvest production at Hirsch and Cobb Wineries

9.2

Killer. Tiny bit of va. Reminds us a lot of Cobb stuff. — 7 months ago

Robert Stackowiak

9.4

Great balance. Subtle apple on the palate. Tiny bubbles as you would expect in a premium champagne. December 2024. — 9 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

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

Neon pink in color with a peach hue.

Fruity nose and dry on the palate with mild complexity.

Light to medium in body with medium plus acidity.

Showing dark cherries, raspberries, strawberries, limes, green apples and light spices.

Tangy finish with limes and light almonds.

This is a tasty Rosé from Sonoma County. Crisp and refreshing. Easy drinking and a good food wine.

100% Pinot Noir grapes. A tiny production of only 720 bottles.

13.1% alcohol by volume.

89 points.

$28. — 2 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Jack and Jamie Davies revived the historic vineyards and cellars in 1965. Today, their son Hugh, continues their mission. 100% Chardonnay pale straw color with aromas of stone fruits, floral and citrus notes. A terrific crisp sparkler with crisp apple, peach and lemon flavors, fine mousse with tiny bubbles. Tangy acidity on a long finish ending with a yeasty creamy character. Nice! — 6 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. — 10 months ago

Jay Kline

9.4

From magnum, the 1996 Grande Année pours a brilliant pale gold color with a persistent mousse. Initially, the wine showed more oxidative notes but it freshened up considerably with air (in fact, a tiny amount was leftover for the next morning and it remained brilliant, racy even!). On the nose, notes of almond, citrus, honey, chalky minerals and brioche. On the palate, wine is developing with absolutely brilliant acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and zippy. The 1996 vintage is simply amazing. Here we are, 28 years past vintage and this bright and full of life! Granted, it’s a magnum, but still. Drink now with patience or enjoy through 2046+. — 2 years ago

Vanessa

9.5

Prior notes continue to apply…

When we visited Billecart-Salmon in October of 2021, we received a tour of the stunning estate. Along the way, our guide, Jerome, paused near a traditional “Clos” (a single vineyard, enclosed by a wall) on the property. 

We could see a beautiful stone wall, surrounding a tiny 1 hectare parcel of “Clos Saint-Hilaire,” named after the Patron Saint & local church in Mareuil-sur-Aÿ, where Billecart-Salmon is located. 

Although we didn’t go into the Clos, we learned about how special this parcel is to the family; how it’s exclusively planted to Pinot Noir with vines dating back to 1964; how work in the vineyard is performed by hand and horse-drawn plows; how this parcel is farmed according to an age-old savoir-faire, adhering to principles of sustainable viticulture.

The wine is pale gold with a prominent bouquet of yellow apple, Anjou pear, raspberry, lemon curd, white peach, white blossom, desiccated white rose, wet stones, biscuit, brioche, almond paste, marzipan, crusty croissant, pie crust, toast, creamy texture and persistent, fine-beaded mousse and long elegant finish.

This is a 2005 “Blanc de Noirs” Champagne, comprised of 100% Pinot Noir, all coming from Le Clos Saint Hilaire, vinified entirely in oak casks to lend texture and body, and aged over 13 years sur lie prior to its recent release.  Due to the vineyard’s small size, production is very limited, and wine only produced in the best vintages.

Cheers to beautiful wines expressing a singularity of time and place!

Billecart-Salmon Le Clos Saint-Hilaire (2005).  — 2 months ago

with Deked1

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. — a year ago