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

9.2

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 — 7 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

Eric Godin

9.3

We had to wait a bit to burn off some ethyl acetate(nail polish remover) but it did in fact leave which was a relief.
Nose: stewed almost carmelized pear with vanilla and cinnamon and a touch of gingerbready ginger.
Pallatte: thick, sweet, intense. A flood of rich caramel pear and apple pie with... Wait is that cocoa on the finish? Enchanting! — 9 years ago

Marlena Mier

9.2

Such a steal for $11! Big and juicy blue and black fruits. Vanilla oak on the nose and blueberry pie on the mouth with a hint of mint makes for an interesting find! — 9 years ago

Kevin Ortzman

9.1

Very rhone like with huckleberry pie/black pepper palate — 10 years ago

with Rick

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

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 — 7 years ago

Derek Campbell

9.3

Juicy blueberry pie with spice. Fantastic body. — 8 years ago

Isaac Pirolo

9.0

The Caymus of the Central Coast. Inky with massively extracted red and black fruit, and in a mode not unlike pie filling. Not to be denied, it's loaded with vanilla, baking spice, fig, and a few drops of root beer extract. The aura of charcoal and new leather weave throughout, all with an edge of tilled earth. Translating this from taste and smell to sight and sound, this is walking into a brand new casino. — 9 years ago

Paco Suro

8.9

#spanishwines are terrific values. This beauty I think ran $14 from our friends at. #winelibrary — 10 years ago

Lori Cramer

9.2

Smells sooo good. Very tasty, sweet, cinnamony. — 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

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. — 8 years ago

with Brandi

Jeanette Hrnyak

9.0

I gotta say I wasn't expecting much, but it was rather nice. Would definitely try again! — 9 years ago

Vino Kaela

9.1

Golden color with great clarity. Hints of pungent botrytis mix with spicy vanilla and stone fruit. A luscious palate is fairly thick with texture and the funkiness is complimented by flavors of sweet nectarine, apricot and pie crust . Touches of brulee, caramel and orange peel hit the finish. Lacks a touch of acidity, but thoroughly enjoyable for a 15+ year Basac from half bottle. A Sauternes value! — 9 years ago

"Odedi"

9.1

For my 888th review, I chose this wonderful Napa Valley Petite Sirah.

Dark deep purple /almost black, with a purplish rim.

An explosion of ripe black fruits on the nose with blackberries, prunes, dried figs, raisins, plums, raspberries, oak, vanilla, licorice, spices, leather, dirt and black pepper.

Full bodied and bold, with medium plus acidity and long purple legs.

Bone dry and fruity on the palate, with blackberries, figs, raisins, chocolates, prunes, cherry pie, black currants, earth, leather, spices and peppercorn.

Long finish with huge, green tannins and bitter spices.

This Napa Petite Syrah is still young and needs 3 more years in the bottle, but it is very enjoyable now, if you can tolerate the big tannings, or if you have it with BBQ Meats.

I enjoyed it by itself, by the pool. Not fully balanced, yet it has enough acidity and tannings to last it for a long while. This 2012 vintage is very ripe and very enjoyable.

14.1% alcohol by volume. — 10 years ago