Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.5

Stunning and utterly singular. The nose is intensely mineral and almost impossible to categorize, with desiccated leaves, yellow fruit, green banana, plantain, wheat field, stones and crushed rock. The palate is opulent but incisive, with tremendous concentration, density and chew, almost carrying the structural energy of a red wine while remaining remarkably alive and fresh. The fruit is difficult to identify in any conventional way, which is part of the fascination, and the inner-mouth aromatics are thrilling. The finish is long, mineral and deeply resonant, with this uncanny honeycomb character, not honey itself, but almost the greatest ice-cream cone imaginable without the ice cream. Juicy, powerful, complex and beautiful in a way that feels unique in the world of wine. There is simply nothing else quite like Château Simone. — 14 days ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.2

2022 vintage. Nice enuff in the front and mid-palates with plenty of fruit, spice and richness. Dwindles on the finish and, like nearly all 2022's from Napa, missing that kapow/blammo at the end. 8.19.26. Missed the 2021 and haven't seen the 2023 but feel like they'll come through with the goods. 8.19.26. — a month ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

8.9

While this showed nice dark mid berry fruits and very beautiful bright florals on the nose, it just didn’t check all the other boxes I want a red burgundy. Just an ok experience. — 2 months ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.3

2019 vintage. Last tasted 10.30.24 (9.3). Popped for the staff as part of the usual Saturday Slurp. Previous visit was ridiculously delicious but undisciplined. All over the map and that was much of the charm...that rusticity and authenticity...but at Woodstock with 500K in attendance and the LSD-spiked punchbowl that ambushed The Who still found them nailing their set. Kinda similar to that. Yeah. So tonight's viz finds this bad boy relatively behaved with frontal palate richness and savory chocolate note along with a plushiness that was previously hinted at but unfulfilled. Gaminess gonzo for the most part as this seems to have settled into middle-age. Say it ain't so! Was crazy excellent in the punk rock era. Still excellent in the arena rock era. We'll see what happens in the crooner/standards era. 6.27.26. — 3 months ago

Jake Hajer

9.2

Clean fruit. Mixed peppercorn. Tasty old world Syrah. — 5 months ago

Ryan Douglas Wells

9.0

Almost effervescent with acidity, bright, with tart cherries, the funk and slight brine of olives, and a pleasant mid-mouth weight. — 6 months ago

Eric Vishria

9.4

Just reliably delicious. In a perfect place. Not the most complex wine ever but you can’t not love it. — 4 days ago

James Burge

9.4

1999 offer us - SINGING — 10 hours ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Opened three days earlier. The 2023 pours a deep ruby/purple color with an opaque core; medium+ viscosity with significant staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with powerful notes of ripe brambles, lavender pastilles, bacon fat, black pepper, and fine baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. A delightful pairing with Bison ribeye. Young but showing its potential. Drink now through 2043. — a month ago

Mattias Söderberg

8.9

Fantastic Montrachet with a buttery yet fresh citrusy pallet! Love it — 2 months ago

Jeremy Shanker

Sommelier at RN74

9.3

Forever favorite — 3 months ago

Ming L

9.0

Aromas of kirsch, dried cherry, old wood, leather, and warm spice lead into a broad, supple palate. The fruit is ripe and generous, with earthy undertones and hints of black olive and dried herbs. Structure comes more from fine tannins than visible acidity, giving a smooth, gently weighted flow rather than lift. The finish is savory and persistent, marked by a candied touch.

A nice traditional CdP, but it does not show the fruit purity and freshness that’s one of the hallmark of the great 16’ vintage. — 5 months ago

Michael Dierberg

9.4

Great wine. Will improve but not a bad time to open. Aromatics started with a distinctive smoky or reductive note that I couldn’t quite place but dissipated and morphed. Good structure. — 5 months ago

with JiaMin

Tom Garland

9.4

Insignia Masterclass

1998 Insignia
2001 Insignia
2004 Insignia
2008 Insignia
2013 Insignia
2023 Insignia

With:
David Pearson, President
Ryan Knoth, winemaker

@Joseph Phelps Vineyards, Napa — 13 days ago

with Brenda

DAL 9000

9.3

Bouquet of dusty mild sour cherries. A burst in the middle of old world dustiness and dark cherries but mild and dry — 19 days ago

Alvaro Bustillos

9.0

Geras en santi — 2 months ago

Alvaro Bustillos

9.0

Ugrch @ metropolina amarillo tx — 2 months ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.8

Beautiful, whip-smart Northern Rhône Syrah with blackberry, violets, granite and, after air, a gorgeous olive note running through both the nose and palate. The texture is sleek and refined, with excellent freshness, fine tannins and a long, elegant finish. Not quite as complete or tightly composed as the monumental 2019, but still an exceptional Gonon and a brilliant expression of the vintage. — 2 months ago

Joe Fischer

8.9

Ruby with aromas of dark cherry, blackberry, licorice, and tobacco. Very cherry on the bud with a long smooth finish. — 4 months ago

Alvaro Bustillos

9.6

Cata winegeeks cdjr @ardeo magnum — 5 months ago