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_ — 4 months ago

Jeremy Autry

9.1

Delicate and refined. Not what I am use to with wines from Jumilla. However, age has likely mellowed this one out. Slightly past it’s prime perhaps, but reminds me of a nice Barolo. — 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

Lori Cramer

9.2

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

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 — 8 years ago

Alisa P

8.9

Cherry/blackberry, fruit forward with medium-heavy body and some minerality, a little spice — 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

romo

9.1

Called Mourvèdre. Green leaves and olives. Side pucker, light on the wood. — 9 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

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. — 8 years ago

with Dan, Clare and 1 other

Andrew Lohse

9.0

Apple pie, tropical fruit — 8 years ago

Kimberly Anderson

9.3

Now I get what the Odette hype is about. Wow! Heavy dark chocolate when we pulled the cork. Morphed into Aromas of lilac and lavender. Cherries, plum and spice. Lush and plush. Amazing with rhubarb pie a la mode. 2012 Vintage — 8 years ago

with Chad

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

Vanessa

9.2

Medium purple hue, ruby rim variation. Medium / heavy tearing. Medium extraction. Moderate aromas of candied blackberry, strawberry rhubarb pie, eucalyptus, mint, cedar, oak, and allspice. Soft and velvety on the palate, more oak-forward with loads of baking spices: cardamom, cinnamon, nutmeg, and fresh black fruit and molasses. Medium tannins. A beauty from Walla Walla Valley with predominately Cabernet Sauvignon, but also Petit Verdot and Merlot. Vintage 2013. #thesonoffig #figgins #figginswine #wallawallaholla #washingtonstatewine #cabernetsauvignon #newworldcab — 7 years ago

with Deked1

"Odedi"

9.5

To celebrate 15,000 followers on Instagram, here's a beautiful Cabernet Sauvignon.

Dark ruby in color with a short purple rim.

Extremely fruity on the nose with blackberries, blueberries, raisins, figs, vanilla, cedar, toast, graphites, earth, spices, peppercorn, leather, smoke, chocolates, mocha, coke and coffee.

Full bodied, smooth and bold, with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry and extremely fruity on the palate with blackberries, black currants, cherry pie, raisins, vanilla, cedar, leather, chocolates, tobacco, licorice, peppercorn, spices, earth, mocha and dark roast coffee.

Long finish with round tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a wonderful Napa Cabernet. Still young, but drinking very nicely now, with lots of fruits and nice complexity.

Good right out of the bottle and better as it opens up (2 hours). After 3 hours, big tannins come in.

This should lay down for another 10 years, to be appreciated even more. At this point it might be too fruity for some. Aging it for 7 to 10 years will do the trick.

I paired it with cheeses and light appetizers.

Drunk from a 1 liter bottle.

14.8% alcohol by volume.

95 points.

$80. — 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

Neal Ferry

9.2

tu es magnifique dans les robes — 8 years ago

with TwiLea

Jared Silvia

8.9

Deep Purple! Lovely full bodied red wine and a great value. The blackberry and blue berry notes pair with the vanilla and hints of cocoa. Think pie with cookie dough ice cream. The taste is smooth, spicy. — 9 years ago

with Brandi