Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

I am seldom dumbfounded when it comes to wine. So, I appreciate it when that happens.

This 1990 La Grande Dame was amazing and so fresh. Full disclosure, I am not normally impressed by this producer and this cuvée. Unusual for a champagne of 35 yrs to be so fresh in my experience from inception. So much so, if poured blind many would call it N/V or a fairly recent vintage. The color was even palish straw. Mags were brought from their Champagne House.

Excellent with the dessert of the evening, “Lemon Meringue Pie Cookie.”

Enjoyed at the 2026 “From Cellar Event” Pebble Beach Food and Wine.

Creator is Sumaiya Bangee.
NEW YORK, NY
All in Hospitality and Thulathan
@_sumaiya_bangee_ — 2 months ago

Jake Hajer

9.4

Remarkable fruit. Anyone who rates this wine will be blown away by the the boysenberry berry pie of this wine. So intense that you should never drink this with food. — 4 years ago

Kristin the Wine Girl

9.0

Take some movie theatre buttered popcorn. Wring it out atop a blackberry crumble pie. That’s the nose. Fruit forwardly young. Definitely ageable. Blueberry and raspberry. Purchase to cellar for years to come. — 7 years ago

Stuart Rasley

9.4

Omg. Past it’s prime but so good nonetheless. — 7 years ago

with Rick and Lisa

Chris England

9.3

I’m a huge Paul Jaboulet fan & grabbed this @ £125 - great wine but overpriced 😉 I love the 2011 at the moment but this is delish to with loads of life left 😎

📍 Paul Jaboulet Aine La Chapelle Hermitage 2005

🏵 93-94 points

🍇 Syrah

🍷 Deep blackened ruby

👃 Peppered cherry mud pie, raspberry bakewell tart & cocoa sprinkles w/ a light earthy dry cured herbed meat herby smokey oak backbone & black berry fruits then a coffee kick

👄 Med bodied creamy smooth dark cherry & raspberry chocolate pie w/ a rich blackberry jam undertone, black olive & light dry minerals

🎯 Med+ touch dry dark cherry & raspberry chocy licky lips w/ a dark fruit berry, olive tapenade & mineral linger — 7 years ago

Shay A

9.3

Always a reliable restaurant pick. My first ‘15 from any of Chappellet’s wines, and I was astounded at how approachable this was at pop and pour! Wow. The aromatics were just sensational...blueberry and blackberry medley, baked pie, very small hint of smoked meat, and plum. Extremely lush on the palate from start to finish...black cherry cordial, mixed berry, and cocoa dusted dates. Phenomenal value! — 8 years ago

romo

9.1

Called Mourvèdre. Green leaves and olives. Side pucker, light on the wood. — 6 months ago

Steve Sánchez

9.7

Absolutely fantastic! Fruit has fallen and given way to savory notes on the nose. Thyme, oregano, baking spices , nutmeg, tomato bisque. Great acidity and fruit lingering. Almost a bramble note of rhubarb and cherry pie. Astonishingly well balanced and huge at 13.6% — 3 years ago

Charlie Tapp

8.9

Black fruit, vanilla and pie crust. — 7 years ago

Katharine Scott

9.0

Absolutely delicious. Very smooth, has some body to it but not too much, a little on the lighter side, and easy drinking. Overall loved it! — 7 years ago

Shay A

9.5

Finally getting around to posting Day 5 in Napa, our final day. 5 years in a row visiting...hope to make it 6 next year!

A wonderful wine, with room for score improvement over the next few years. Signature SLD to me. Mocha, dark cocoa, blackberry pie and a streak of ripe/rich red fruit down the middle. Dusty. Cinnamon and baking spice finish. Very good. — 7 years ago

Chris England

9.3

🎄 Advent Halfy Calendar Day 14 🎄

🎅 Santa says “Well this little explosive fruity beast 😈 sure made my cheeks & nose glow proper red 😊 Rudolf is jealous 🦌”

📝 I say I love Shafer 1 point 5 so Mrs E did good 😁

⏩ 🍾 Mrs E got Henri Giraud Brut Nature NV

📍 Shafer One Point Five 2014

💥 15.0% ABV

🏵 93-94 points

🍇 95% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Merlot, 1% Malbec & 1% Petit Verdot

🍷 Deep blackened opaque ruby

👃 Rich blackcurrant, raspberry, chocolate goo & violet/lavender w/ punchy blueberry, cinnamon liquorice, spiced blackberry, minty cedar & damson cream pie

👄 Med++ body of rich silky creamy oozy black berry fruits galore bathed in raspberry chocolate w/ a violet, vanilla, blueberry & liquorice punch

🎯 Long warming ripe dark fruit annihilation w/ a raspberry & blueberry chocolate liquorice kick — 8 years ago

Mike Daniel

9.4

Great balance once it opened up. Inky with a ruby rim in the glass.

After loosening up, the fruity with high alcohol, structure and layered flavors mingled in and rolled over each other beautifully. . Leaning toward glycerol of dark fruit, spices and earthiness. Brighter in the nose w/ raspberry and strawberry syrup. On the pallet more boysenberry and blackberry pie and slickness but nice oaky structure, so never too sweet. Big , dense, w/bold flavors are surprisingly balanced.

Lots of alcohol up front, but opens up and settles in beautifully with just 30 minutes decanted. Would be great over the next decade.

An excellent value at $45-$50, could’ve been $80. — 8 years ago

Jessica Williams

9.0

I like malbec? — 8 months ago

Jan A

9.7

Fire! The perfect combination of pinot noir and Bordeaux profiles! Love the spices on the nose and palate. — 10 months ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.5

The 2016 Figgins Red Wine is a stunning new bottling by superstar winemaker Chris Figgins. On the nose you can really smell the Petit Verdot undertones as this shows off gorgeous blackberry compote with blueberry pie, sagebrush and green pell pepper aromas that all build marvelously in the glass. The palate is gorgeous, showing a silky texture and wonderful sense of minerality. A bright beam of salinity runs through this beautiful wine, slowly unveiling bright black cherry and Turkish coffee flavors that collide with blueberry pie and Chinese black tea flavors. Polished and layered, this is seriously good in its youth but it will evolve well for decades to come. Drink 2020-2040- 95 — 7 years ago

Lori Cramer

9.2

Smells sooo good. Very tasty, sweet, cinnamony. — 7 years ago

Shay A

9.2

BBQ & Zin night!

This surprised me. The fruit here wasn’t as sweet as expected. Black peppercorn spice and tart black cherry pie. I think this is actually young and could go quite the distance. — 7 years ago

with Dan, Clare and 1 other

Andrew Lohse

9.0

Apple pie, tropical fruit — 8 years ago

Neal Ferry

9.2

tu es magnifique dans les robes — 8 years ago

with TwiLea