Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.4

Killer nose, rich and gras, with tropical fruit and elegance. Juicy and clean on the palate, with terrific texture and mouthfeel. Very pure, very fine, very elegant, and long. — 6 days ago

Doug Powers

9.4

OK, I’ve posted on these “older” Baron Louis CdR from Montfaucon before, not certain the exact year that Rodolphe (Rudi) des Pins sought DOC for this cuvée as Lirac (2014??), but my understanding is that the earlier vintages were also (mostly? all?) Lirac grapes (dating back to 1998, at least, since you KNOW I likely still have a bottle of that 1998)!! Anyway, label says 40% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 15% Cinsault, 10% Carignan, 10% Mourvedre, 10% Counoise.

At age 18, this would give a heck of a lot of older Gigondas/CdP a run for their money, lovely color, still quite youthful and structured, quite a long finish, my congrats to Rudi (who is my brother’s close friend, but I consider Rudi a friend as well, plus I’ve been in the historic, 1,000-year-old Chateau de Montfaucon on the Lirac side of the Rhone River across from the vineyards of CdP).

A poor man’s CdP, it’s that complex and age-worthy!! — 8 months ago

with Jim

Jay Kline

9.3

This expression of F & R Miniere’s “Brut Zero” has a 2016 base vintage with just over 20% of the 2015 vintage. This is my second time enjoying this cuvée and I like it even more now than I did three years ago.

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The wine pours a straw color with a persistent mousse. On the nose, the wine is developing with bright, tart and ripe tropical, stone and orchard fruits: passion fruit, lime, green apples, lemon curd, ginger, brioche, nuts, and lovely minerals. On the palate, the wine is bone dry with high acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and full of limestone minerals. I really adore these wines from Frederic and Rodolphe Miniere…now I just need to find better access. Drink now through 2036. Disgorged 08/2021. — a year ago

Paul T, Missing My Beautiful Wife 24/7

9.4

This was even better on day 2 Notes from K&L, 88-acre estate, Château de Montfaucon sits just across the Rhône River from the esteemed vineyards of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. It is owned and operated by Rodolphe de Pins, a UC Davis graduate and former member of the winemaking staff at Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe. Over the years, Château de Montfaucon has developed a HUGE following among both our staff and customers.The vines for the Mme la Comtesse vineyard were planted in the 1870s (that's not a typo). These old gnarly vines with their highly restricted yields produce some of the richest most concentrated Clairette in the entire Rhône Valley. Planted on a mix of sand, clay and pudding stones, this wine is the essence of sleek minerality. A touch of barrel fermentation adds volume and structure. The flavors resonate with ripe stone fruit flavors and white flowers, a touch of fennel pollen rounds out the finish. This reminds us of Château de Beaucastel's Châteauneuf Vieilles Vignes Blanc which sells for well over $100 a bottle. This is just as limited and just as cool for under $50. — 3 years ago

Douglas Braun

9.1

Plenty of earth , black fruits , leather , violets ,light oak background real pretty with depth of fruit seems more like a 1er Cru -love it — 6 years ago

Muralee Murugesu

9.6

For a 20 year old St Estephe this Cos d’Estournel is sublime. Perfectly aged but shows a lot of youth throughout the hour opening with red fruit mixed in with leather and chalk. A good 35 sec finish. A classic Bordeaux that rocks! Kept from my Phd days ( Rodolphe this is the last one buddy) is surprisingly vibrant. happy birthday 🥳 Philippa. — 7 years ago

Alexandre Pagliano

9.0

Mande by Rodolphe Peters and Etienne de Montille, in California. 100% Chardonnay. Cool stuff, like champagne blanc de blancs. Highly recommended. — 16 days ago

with Jose, veronique and 1 other

Alexandre Pagliano

9.2

Crisp, citrusy and with great acidity and freshness. This is one of the best and finest blanc de blancs from an independent grower we know: Rodolphe Peters does truly great champagne. — 9 months ago

with Jose, veronique and 1 other

Doug Powers

9.1

[40% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 15% Cinsault, 10% Carignan, 10% Mourvèdre, 10% Counoise] So, quick backstory on this one, the proprietor of Montfaucon and my brother spent a year together at UCD in whatever degrees they each got, but it was Viticulture and Enology, about 35 years ago, which about 20 years ago led to their producer/importer relationship. Anyway, Rodolphe (Rudi) always labeled this as a Côtes du Rhône, but most of the fruit was actually grown within the confines of Lirac. Eventually Rudi decided to join the Lirac grape growers association, and separated this cuvée into Lirac “Baron Louis” and Lirac and Côtes du Rhône. So, bottom line, this 50-90 year-old-vine cuvée (apparently 12 months in small oak barrels, but I’d guess NOT new) Lirac (CdR in this case) has always drank like a mini-CdP, and this 2009 is mature, or close, but still shows great acidity and balance (14% ABV), medium-long finish, very, very fine Côtes du Rhône!! K&L in SF (direct import) and I believe Kobrand on East Coast import these wines!! Finally, for full disclosure, Rudi is a friend, I have NFI, but I do have a lot of his wines in my cellar. Anyway, not sure what vintage was “relabeled” Lirac instead of CdR, but at least starting by 2014 the “Baron Louis” you might see at retail will be “Lirac”!! — 10 months ago

with Jim

Robert Stackowiak

9.0

A Pinot with some complexity and body. Classic Burgundy style. September 2024. — 2 years ago

Vijay Parikh

9.2

Slow oxed for two hours the wine both aromaticslly and on the mouth is somewhat monochromatic. Nevertheless it combines good balance and elegance and went well with dinner — 5 years ago

Ryan Frank

9.0

2018 vintage - hey @Delectable Wine would be nice if you added this to my history! — 6 years ago

Peter Sultan

9.1

Borgueils for me are like cru Beaujolais- joyous, vibrant & low tannins. Wines to make you smile. This has red & black currants, like Ribena, which for any Brits out there, is one of those delicious flavor profiles I just adore. Less on the pencil shavings here & more of the Ribena. — 7 years ago

Stephen Osgood

9.0

Crazy how Burgundian this is...:tastes like Dujac tbh. Cherry cola, tad of earthy funk. Great project from Etienne de Montille, Rodolphe Peters, Justin Willett (Tyler) — 6 months ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.1

2022 vintage. Last tasted 4.13.25 (9.3). PNP. Sultry and mysterious nose + selfsame flavors. Has promise and great value. Unable to save a sample to taste after an hour or so but seemingly had the groundwork in place to approximate the 9.3 score from seven months ago. 11.29.25. — 7 months ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.3

2022 vintage. This is rocking currently. Rhubarb, cola nut, dark cherry all prominent throughout the show. Medium body. nose and flavors in a good place. Needs integration but still delicious now. 8-12 years on tho, watch out. Will likely be top of the S-L-B pops then. 04.13.25. — a year ago

Jeremy Shanker

Sommelier at RN74

9.3

Magnum. Made with the help of Rodolphe Peters. Amazing Domestic sparkling. — 2 years ago

Jeremy Shanker

Sommelier at RN74

9.3

ER2. Rodolphe Peters knocked it out of the park with this. Rich, vinous style. Gevrey with bubbles — 4 years ago

Paul T, Missing My Beautiful Wife 24/7

9.3

Nice blend for the price.

Barrel-fermented and aged in mostly older oak, the 2018 Lirac Blanc Comtesse Madeleine is a blend of 40% Marsanne, 35% Clairette, 20% Grenache Blanc, and 5% Picpoul.

An 88-acre estate, Château de Montfaucon sits just across the Rhône River from the esteemed vineyards of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. It is owned and operated by Rodolphe de Pins, a UC Davis graduate and former member of the winemaking staff at Domaine du Vieux Telegraphe. — 6 years ago

Meri AnDana

9.2

Enjoyable white. Dana especially liked it. — 7 years ago