Lyle Fass 
Elie Bancel
Cornas Syrah 2022
The last remaining unicorn in Cornas. The great Elie Bancel. He is finally coming to America. The new Sozet. What an amazing wine. Nose is superb but a bit reticent upon opening. Meaty, red berry, blackberry, some olives but what stands out is the absolute harmony of the aromas. Just elite. Gorgeous granitic background and some flowers as well. This is a 9.8 nose and it’s not barely aired out. This is old man Cornas at its best. My god how aristocratic this nose is. That palate is like if Noel Verset and Louis Sozet had a love child. Juicy and wow the granite. More Beliando on the palate now with some air. Big, granitic tannins and some major structure. Gorgeous sleek fruit and some wildness as is par for the course for old man Cornas. This needs air but my goodness this is wonderful wine. Authentic as they come and full of character and soul. So juicy and intense with stunning energy and slate like granitic tannins. Toothsome. Nose now getting more floral with violets and some lilacs. This smells like history. Terrific inner mouth aromas and balanced between olive and meat. Juicy and so deep. This is more structured than Sozet and reminds me of a Bordeaux, structurally speaking. It’s got a finish that doesn’t quit but will expand mightily once it’s given air. This seems like it will greatly improve with an unlimited amount of air. Seems almost like an “oxygen-proof” wine. I will be back. Oh man the tannins and fruit are separating and wow this is getting insane. Now the nose is crazy. Super granite and much more Beliando than Sozet. So stoney and aristocratic. So elegant now. Wow has this gained finesse and the olives are like an oily deep olive slick that is so pure. Really insane wine. What a texture and energy. Really not like Sozet at all now on palate as the mineral is so much granite. Unreal. Still more to come.
Day 2 - Nose is all black fruits, granite shavings, burnt charcoal, and some dark blueberries. The stoniness is unreal. Palate is rich and ripe with stellar concentration and purity. Nice hit of opulence and so elegant and generous now. Huge concentration and depth. Unreal. — 2 days ago
Domaine Jean-Jacques Girard
Les Serpentières Savigny-lès-Beaune 1er Cru Pinot Noir 2023
I love what Girard does with this cuvée. Gorgeous nose of sour cherries, wet moss, flowers and mid season perfectly ripe cherries. Little earthy, feral vibe as well on the nose. So Savigny. Palate feels so alive and has terrific fruit and texture. Sweet, silky, gritty and feral all at the same time and has that stunning balance that is a signature of the 23’s from Girard. The best vintage here since 19. So fresh and sappy with great acids and remarkably sweet and velvety tannins. Let’s see what air does but man this is good on the pop and pour. Long, chewy finish. The energy here is top notch. Love the mid palate opulence here. — 17 hours ago
Domaine des Pierres Seches
Gauthier Revirand Saint-Joseph Syrah 2021
Just a sick sick wine. Nose is the most intense olive. Black, green, tapenade. Just wow. Some blackberry fruit and inane mintiness. Such deepness. So much depth and umami. So many unique aromas that I can’t quite identify. What a palate. Ripe, linear and so juicy. Balanced and pure with flavors of blackberry and olive. Really juicy and fresh. One of the richer 21’s. Having said that the energy is undeniable. This needs air but man the bones are there. So juicy and sleek today. Like an oil slick on the palate but so energetic. Long finish. 9.5 to 9.6 overnight. Really nice granite today. — 3 days ago
Domaine P. Dubreuil-Fontaine Père & Fils
Corton-Bressandes Grand Cru Pinot Noir 2021
Just a gorgeous nose. Sweet, ripe but never treacly cherries. Mid season. Birthday cake. Cranberry skin. Poised and detailed. Wow this is a 9.6 nose. So nimble yet expressive. Huge finesse and refinement and that classic 21 achy beauty. My goodness this is so elegant. Barely any tannin and needs some time to develop but this is very fine. Palate is complex and so fine. Juicy and so clean. Unreal pitter patter of a finish. — 5 days ago
Elie Bancel
Cornas Syrah 2023
Super young and grapey nose to start with but also more generous than the 2022 with olive (green and black), violets, lilacs, meatiness, granite and really high tones. Mint and blackberry fruit with gorgeous red berry tones intermingled. Seems riper than 2022. Wow that nose is a 9.7-9.8. Wow, holy crap this is amazing. The palate is a masterpiece. Still has those Bancel Bordeaux like tannins and such a granitic footprint but more generous and round on the palate. Fruit is blackberry and red berry with some blueberry as well. So juicy and has great width. Huge concentration and structure but all the pieces are there. Seems more complete than 22 out of the gates but they both have something so unique. Just exquisite purity and freshness and so classic. Wow. Wow. The fruit is unconscious as are the olive, granite and meatiness. This is genius. So complete. Deeper than Sozet. Like Sozet crossed with 20% Beliando. Just brilliant. Now after some hours nose has intense cinnamon, mushroom, a real earthy feral living aroma thing. Beyond a sense of place. Smells like an ecosystem. So unique. That palate is just crazy. Unreal juiciness and silkiness. That rich opulence but only a component and never dominates. Just integrated. That black olive tapenade slick. But that granite is still there but softer. It’s so good. Really no other Cornas like jt. Such an amazing appellation.
Day 2 - Nose is bright and red fruited with that herbal, earthy ecosystem smell that smells like a scene in nature. Wow so juicy and generous and a loose texture and such purity. Much more forward than 22. Generous. Good tannins but sweet and voluminous. Excellent length. — 2 days ago
Vieux Château Saint André
Montagne-St. Émilion Red Bordeaux Blend 2022
Nose is minty and spicey. Palate is deep and rich with terrific mineral spine and wonderful structure. Ripe but substantial tannin. Nose has notes of ripe plum, peanuts and a saline element. Really good energy and depth. Not the most elegant wine but this has tremendous material and its own grace and charm. This needs air but I really like it. — 4 days ago
La Psigula Azienda Vitivinicola
Bramaterra Red Blend 2020
Always so beautiful. Like Volnay through the prism of Nebbiolo. Dried roses, cherry, dead leaves, spice, chestnut and wild mint. Gorgeous. Palate is so supple and juicy. Clean and pure. Big but ripe tannins and gorgeous cherry fruit. Long, resonant finish. Very elegant. Just a wonderful wine. Really nimble and precise. Such sweet fruit. — 7 days ago
Lyle Fass
Founder Fass Selections
Killer nose that is deep and resonant. Unreal dark red cherries that border on black. Such purity. Just stunning. Nose is airy and so deep. Sick. Better aromas than 19 Narbantons. Blueberry, flowers, so lush, so deep. Just wonderful. 9.6 nose. Palate has insane energy and just absurd fruit. Sapid, energetic and so concentrated. Wow this is so good. The depth is off the charts and the tannins cut like a saber but remain velvety and sweet. What a wine. Stunning depth and freshness and red/blue/black fruits. My god the tannins on 23 Girards are stunning. This is a remarkable year for Girard. Unreal wine. — 17 hours ago