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

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

The Crown Gap has never been my favorite from them. Still solid. Also, needs 3-4 more years in bottle to integrate. 91+ with that kind of age.

The Truffle Mac & Cheese was a big hit with the crowd, I’m allergic to mushrooms.

At Pebble Beach Food & Wine 2025

The ticket to this event has a pretty big price tag. But when you consider what a Napa etc. tasting or two and lunch would cost you, you are pretty much there and there is so much more than that. It ends up having great value. It’s wine, spirits and food candy land. — a year ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

This was one of the treats of the festival. It was in perfect shape and somewhere around its precipice.

The comment made by the women representing it was, she stopped pouring it to many as they simply didn’t appreciate and or understood what they were just poured. If you understand how this is made and the extra process to make good examples, you develop #respect

Not a wine for everyone, but amazing with this kind of age and older.

@Pebble Beach Food and Wine, From The Cellar event. — a year ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Welcome to Pebble Beach Food & Wine 2025.

2012 in Bordeaux is a great memory as Sofia & I had a great 5 year anniversary trip to Italy where we were married, ending in Bordeaux. Picking Mouton Merlot for a day, lunch with the Baroness, having steak and sipping 82 Mouton. Pinch me is what I said to Sofia.

Saint Julien is the elegant region on the Left Bank. While 2012 was an ok to good vintage it will always be packed with great memories.

Branaire-Ducru in grand vintages is still a great value. Always elegant with this kind of bottle age and more.

Hour decant starting notes.

Tonight smooth, ripe, round, juicy; brambly blackberries/black raspberries, dark cherries, cherries, black plum, some strawberries, raspberries with blueberry tones. Dry tobacco with ash, leather, spice box with some heat, lightly grilled meats, volcanics, moist clay, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, light vanillin, mid berry cola, dark chocolate bar, forest floor with leaves, sandalwood, steeped black tea, bay leaf, dry thyme, mocha powder, dry caramel, crush, dry rock/limestone, dry river stone, bright red flowers mixed with dark withering flowers, nice round acidity and a balanced, smartly tensioned, elegant finish that lasts 90 seconds & lands on herbs & earth. — a year ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Pebble Beach Food & Wine 2024 back after the Covid lapse.

Decent Cabernet Franc from Chappellet. Would have gotta better score but it lacked some punch. A little lean. — 2 years ago

Tracy Hall

9.4

The aromas are tropical lemon blossoms and being on a pebble beach. Lemon custard and the hint of pineapple (including that feeling on your tongue that pineapple gives you - in a very light good way) round finish. Vintages 2014/2015. Disgorged 1/6/2018. TBL — 5 years ago

Lindsay Murray

9.5

Pebble Beach Dinner — 8 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.6

I have mentioned my admiration for this producer when Charles Hendricks was their Winemaker through 2013. 2013 is a great Napa vintage for a swan song. My last Regusci post was their Patriarch and is my second favorite Regusci vineyard. Angelo’s, I mentioned was my favorite and this didn’t disappoint.

Not many well stored Angelo’s or Patriarch Regusci’s made by Charles left on the secondary market. This one was well stored with next to no wine running down the cork.

The nose is inviting. Ripe, ruby fruits of, blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, black plum, strawberries, raspberries & cherries. Dark chocolate to pudding, anise, malted milk balls, mid berry to red cola, beautiful, nicely layered baking spices-clove, nutmeg, cinnamon stick & vanilla, moist sage, black olive, dry stem & top soils, baking powder, tree bark with red & dark florals for days.

The tannins are still M+ but rounded & velvety. Ripe, ruby fruits of, blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, black plum, strawberries, raspberries & cherries. Dark chocolate cake to pudding, anise, malted milk balls, mid berry to red cola, dark, fruit liqueur notes beautiful, nicely layered baking spices-clove, nutmeg, cinnamon stick & vanilla, moist sage, black olive, dry stem & top soils, limestone, dry crushed rocks, baking powder, tree bark, dark, pronounced spice w/ heat, dryish tobacco w/ ash, leather, lead pencil with red & dark florals for days and liquid violets, beautiful acidity with tall structure/tension, great length & balance and elegance that lasts minutes and long sets on dry earth & spice.

Outstanding.Tasted many Napa Cabernets last weekend at Pebble Beach Food & Wine. Holds its own in all of them except the Harlan tasting; 94, 04, 07, 13, 16 & 20. Even Grace Family. — 2 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Their Russian River is always pleasant. Needs 3-4 more years in bottle to integrate. 92+ with that kind of age.

The Truffle Mac & Cheese was a big hit with the crowd, I’m allergic to mushrooms.

At Pebble Beach Food & Wine 2025.

The ticket to this event has a pretty big price tag. But when you consider what a Napa etc. tasting or two and lunch would cost you, you are pretty much there and there is so much more than that. It ends up having great value. It’s wine, spirits and food candy land. — a year ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

The last of the 2002 in mags brought from the property. Delicious. I would have thought these would have been saved for their member parties. So, a nice surprise.

From The Cellar event at Pebble Beach Food & Wine. — a year ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.0

The dished luncheon at Pebble Beach Food & Wine featuring Robert Hall wines.

Kanpachi - RH Sauvignon Blanc
Vindaloo Braised Pork Cheeks - RH Artisan Merlot
NY Strip - RH Artisan Merlot
Coconut Layer Cake - RH Grenache Blanc Sparkling — 2 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Winemaker poured me this treat at the Grand Opening of Pebble Beach Food & Wine. Out of mag and delicious. Still shinning after 35 years plus. — 2 years ago

Alex Lallos

Owner No Limit Fine Wines, Private Wine Consultant

9.4

You want? I have a couple cases of half bottles in pristine condition. Stored at a private cellar In pebble beach since release. $25 ea! Absolutely fantastic. Light ruby color. Notes of cinnamon, nutmeg and spice with red cherry, sandalwood and tobacco. Ready to drink or cellar for many more years. Decant for sediment though ***Don’t forget to sign up for my emails at Alex@nolimitfinewines.com for up to date offers on rare and limited wines at the best prices USA... ask anyone, I don’t disappoint!** — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Welcome trade to Pebble Beach Food & Wine.

This was good but the SLV showed much better. Love the espresso notes. Good pair with the Gator Sausage.  — 3 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

If you like dark, sweet tarriness, dry herb buffet, round meaty, not overdone tannins, you will love this 2013 Tor Howell Mountain.

This 2013 Tor has just started its drinking window. It is really good but better things lie ahead in 5-8 years.

Dark, meaty, heavy, round tannins. Black currants, blackberries, black raspberries, black plum skin, plum, raspberries, sweet dark chocolate baking bar, mocha, caramel, black tea, dry herbs for days, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon stick, vanillin, dry top soil, limestone, volcanic minerals, dry river stone, dry clay, twig with raindrops, iron pan, touch of iodine, dark, withering flowers, lavender & violets, very nice round acidity and a well textured, tensioned, structured, balanced but still shows braun, elegant, polished finish that lasts for days and falls on clays, earth & spice.

Photos of my Pebble Beach Food & Wine tasting with Tor & Andy Beckstoffer. — a year ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

One of my go to producers of Tempranillo. Still a bit early on their 2016, but showed shades of their excellent 2010 I had about 8-9 months ago.

Pebble Beach Food & Wine 2025. — a year ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

Out of mag and shipped from the property was in fine shape. Really good.

@Pebble Beach Food & Wine. — a year ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

This is their 2002 Vintage Brut but the top of the bottle reads 250 ANS? Maybe, an anniversary bottling. I do seek out Veuve Clicquot as much of what I’ve tried from them hasn’t to my liking. There are simply producers I enjoy more at or under their price points. But, this was quite good & the best offering I've had from them. Enjoyed it. Better than all the vintages of Grande Dame I've had. Having said that, it is not on the same par as the 02 Rare and 02 Billecart.

It was showing the right spot to starting drinking it. More reductive than oxidative. Lively, fresh acidity. Citrus blend, some of both apples, a little white stone fruit, nice brioche, soft playful yeastiness, excellent fine chalkiness, alluvial limestone, spring flowers and well done, balanced, structured, tensioned, elegant and not overly polished finish that lasted 90 seconds.

Pour at the Saturday Pebble Beach Food & Wine walk around “From the Cellar” dinner — 2 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.7

Day 2 of WineBoyz Wineapalooza. We move to Pebble Beach the next day, where a spectacular lineup has been assembled. Tasted blind. Medium gold color. High-pitched nose. Notes of citrus, pineapple, tan spice, some honey and some sea breeze and sea shell. Rich and powerful in the mouth. Got better and better as we went back to it multiple times during the day. Guessed 90 Raveneau Clos. — 4 years ago

Shawn R

9.8

It’s those times when everything just comes together...wine, conversation, food and most important friends! Those times are what seem to create special memories. This evening was one of the special times. @Martin G Rivard and our brides had a fantastic evening at The Breakers in West Palm Beach, thank you. 04 from a Magnum that was in full stride. Martin and I both said the wine has another 20 years easy. Chinese Five Spice, dust and wet moss on the nose. Dissecting this wine we couldn’t find a hard edge. No signs of age. Acid gives this wine tension and power. Soy, crushed pepper, wild cherry and underbrush fill your mouth. A finish that goes on for a good 45sec. 05 was a stellar vintage, yet this 04 holds its own. — 8 years ago

with Martin