Ca' De' Santi
Coop. Agricola de Porrera
La Coma De Ca L'Anton Grau Priorat Red Blend 2005
Hotel Majestic. La Gran Nit del Priorat.
28.02.20 — 5 years ago
Domaine Robert Groffier
Les Sentiers Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Pinot Noir 2014
Un beau chambolle. Bouche soyeuse assez claire. Un nez de fruits rouges invitant avec une acidité présente qui integre tout. En finesse, ca pinotte bien. Tres charmeur. — 6 years ago
R. López de Heredia
Viña Tondonia Reserva Rioja Tempranillo Blend 2006
Visited this winery two years ago.
We were treated incredibly nicely by the owners who were thrilled we had traveled from CA to taste their wine.
Every time I drink one of their wines I want to return. — 6 years ago
Serafin Père et Fils
Les Corbeaux Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Pinot Noir 2010
Ca' de Calle
Reserva Mendoza Red Blend 2011
We had this on 7/20-21/16. This nice blend of Malbec, Cab Sauv and Petit Verdot had nice tastes of graphite, blackberry and current. A nice smooth finish with a little spice for this full bodied wine. — 9 years ago
Ca' de Calle
Gran Reserva Mendoza Red Blend 2012
Delicious — 9 years ago
Frank Family Vineyards
Carneros Blanc de Blanc Champagne Blend 2013
A great CA sparkler. Pale lemon with aromas of stone fruits, citrus and biscuit notes. On the palate apples and lemon juice with toasty nutty notes and bread dough. Long finish ending with mineral and yeasty character. Very nice. Limited quantities! Had this twice, bought a few bottles, ages well. — 5 years ago
Tablas Creek Vineyard
Esprit Blanc de Tablas Roussanne Blend 2013
Opens up like a good red. Premier CA white Rhone blend. — 6 years ago
Château de Beaucastel
Coudoulet de Beaucastel Côtes du Rhône Red Rhône Blend
From Schneider’s $30 in ca 2012 Drank on 7/24/19. Menthol eucalyptus. Grit is in the nose not in taste. Lean. Pine cones mulch black topsoil blackberry. Only fine sediment. — 6 years ago
Lorenzo Begali
Monte Ca' Bianca Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Corvina Blend 2010
Nariz: mermelada de ciruela y cerezas, cuero nuevo, regaliz.
Boca: Taninos M+, Acidez M/M+, Alcohol Alto (16%). Seco pero untuoso, redondo, buen balance.
(Italian Wine Merchants NYC) — 8 years ago
Château de Santenay
Clos Vougeot Pinot Noir 2014
1/20/2017: Degustation CA Grand Crus — 9 years ago
Château Verdignan
Haut-Médoc Red Bordeaux Blend 2003
I have mentally thought about doing this post for quite awhile. Opening this 2003 Verdignan brought on the appropriate moment. I am a believer in paying respects and it’s the basis of this post.
We learn to drink certain wines from the regions we live near or from the people we learn & enjoy wine with as we walk the road to understanding what we really enjoy. I started as an exclusive CA Chardonnay drinker for many years before moving on to nearly every varietal and regions offer. Next was Napa Cabernets which, led me to my true love, red Bordeaux. It was a bit of curve getting there but, once I had them with proper aging, I was hooked for life.
While my curiosity got me to Bordeaux wines, there one person that helped shape my Bordeaux palate and I agreed with more than anyone else’s, including every well known wine critics at that time and even today after spending 10 weeks learning from several Master Sommeliers on my way to passing the Court of Master Sommeliers exam and becoming a Sommelier myself. This person is Clyde Beffa Jr., Owner of K&L Wine Merchants.
Clyde has been traveling to Bordeaux for over 40 years and sometimes multiple times in a year. His palate and experience are second to none. Especially, when it comes to Bordeaux.
I owe him a lot. He taught me the importance of letting good Bordeaux’s age 20 years plus. What were the jewel value producers. Brought in Bordeaux wines direct from the Chateaus that had 10 years of bottle age and older. Bordeaux’s that critics did not like young but, he knew something special had taken place over time as he was tasting them much later in their lives and often. I bought and drank a lot of these wines. They also kept temptation at bay in me reaching for my too young and more expensive wines.
He is very kind and kind enough to allow me to travel with him & key staffers to the 2014 En Premier to taste what was a very difficult 2013 Bordeaux vintage. You can go to En Premier and then there is going with Clyde. You have all the key appointments, Chateau accommodations/dinners and taste somewhere around 1500 plus wines in 6 days. He is loved by the Bordelais and for good reason.
So, I dedicate this post to him. He is the one who told me to buy this little known 2003 Verdignan at the same “Affordable Bordeaux Tasting” I mentioned in my Chateau de Candale post on Friday. As of Friday, that was the wine of the tasting. Well…until I coravined this slowly over the weekend. This 2003 was under $25 and it is one of the very best Bordeaux’s I had in some time. As well, perhaps the best QPR in my over 20 years collecting wine. Clyde knew that day just how good it would become. He said, forget about this for 20 years. So, I am a little early here.
Clyde has recommended more great Bordeaux’s to me that most people don’t hear about, let alone try. He told me to buy the poorly reviewed 91 Pichon Lalande when he brought more into the store seven years ago Chateau direct. It was a very difficult vintage with spring frost, hail storm and a difficult growing season. He described as “Heaven in a Bottle” and It most certainly the case. To this day, Pichon Lalande is my favorite steak wine and the 91 is still my favorite vintage. I purchased a 3L from him recently that he brought in direct from the Chateau for my 60th next year. Can’t wait to open that with our good friends and celebrate.
As for the Verignan, the nose reveals; dark brooding & slightly bake fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, black plum, some poached strawberries & haunting blue fruits. Black tea, forest floor with leaves, anise, limestone, moist clay, dry crushed rocks, dry stones, beautiful, mid intensity dark spice, dry tobacco, graphite, mixed dark berry cola, understated, well layered baking spices; clove, nutmeg, cinnamon & vanilla, dry herbs, mint with candied; dark, red, blue and purple florals.
The body is full, rich, lush, satiny with plenty of well rounded, soften tannins. The tension, structure, length and balance are excellent and will continue to improve. This will last another 15 years and beyond with proper storage. This is a very classic Bordeaux well balance in fruit and earth. It is sheer elegance on the palate. It’s why I love Bordeaux more than Napa and I love Napa Valley Cabernet. Dark brooding & slightly bake, ripe fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, black plum, boysenberries, some poached strawberries & haunting blue fruits. Black tea, dark chocolate bar, touch of mocha powder, light caramel notes, Expresso notes, forest floor with leaves, anise, limestone, moist clay, dry crushed rocks, dry stones, beautiful, mid intensity dark Asian & Indian spices with just right amount of palate heat, dry tobacco, graphite, dry twigs with a little sap, mixed dark berry cola, understated, well layered baking spices; clove, nutmeg, cinnamon & vanilla, dry herbs/sage, mint with candied; dark, red, blue and purple florals. The acidity is round and nearly perfect. The long finish is, classic, elegant, well balance fruit and earthy Bordeaux that persists softly on the palate for minutes with just the right amount of spice.
This is a heady wine that you really think about as you slowly sip and it affects your whole body. Can’t wait to have another in five years.
Photos of; Chateau Vergignan in Medoc near St. Estephe, their vineyard that reveals where Bordeaux gets its earthiness, Owner Jean Miaihle who acquired the property in 1972 and a wide shot of their vines. — 5 years ago
Adam Gäfvert
Roligt och seriöst vingårdslägesvin från bulkiga Valpolicella. Regionen (som mot ev. fördomar) har svalt klimat påverkat av de närliggande alperna. Vinbär, körsbär, sötlakrits, pipa, örter med lite balsamiska toner. Drickmoget med bra skjuts ner i strupen. — 5 years ago