Vijay Parikh

9.2

With 2:45 in a decanter the wine is firm, well integrated tannins, with aromas of leather, dried rose, cinnamon. On the mouth there is enough acid and a certain length making this an acceptable wine. I enjoyed this with the quiche appetizer followed by rack of lamb and some cheese though the wine overpowered the soft cheese — 6 years ago

Colin Nuckolls

9.3

Power and a certain amount of grace and finesse. Amazing for an ‘89. Many years ahead of this gem! — 8 years ago

Rajiv Ayyangar

10

This is a knockout wine, a stunner, a pitch-perfect expression of love for wine in general, and Loire Cab Franc in particular. It's wild in all the right places, and impressively refined where it counts.
Medium ruby color. Arresting and straight-up delicious nose that has a certain choreography to it. Specifically it reminds me of Jiří Kylián - finding freedom within a melange of classicism and visceral impetus. Exuberance in wine is rare enough, but exuberance with such focus and intention?
The classicist bent was my first impression - a correct nose of stewed bell peppers and coffee grounds (pyrazines), earthy dog fur with slight clove (brett), and a savory blackberry-cherry fruit compote.
Tasted blind, you would guess Loire, but you might wonder at the shifting nature, at how occasionally the bretty flavors rear up in a flourish, only to be overshadowed a second later by a warm, pure fruit. There is something haunting about the fruit here - it seems to contain memories of many different wines. The wildness is complex - dried leaves, dog fur, toasted mushroom, spiced clove, moist earth. The pyrazinic aromas have uncommon depth and character - stewed bell pepper, coffee, and nascent tobacco.
On the palate, the wine dances with an elegant 12.6% alcohol frame, vibrant acidity, and satiny tannins - the medium on which the finish is printed. There is a moment, mid-palate, where the individual components come together seamlessly - a strong argument for structural-aromatic integration in the Clark Smithian sense. On the finish, the flavors subtly unravel, then persist like a vocal ensemble with synchronized vibrato.
Get this. — 9 years ago

Henrik Poulsen

9.1

12.9% alc.
Has that old aged Napa/Bordeaux nose that haunts me in my dreams.
On the palate it is a bit less impressive lacking that certain "energy" that would bring it into the old Napa magic category for me. — 9 years ago

Frank Kuo

9.2

Color of dark purple with brown hue on the rim. Nose of sweet bomb, such as ripe grape and plum. It mixes with herbs and tobacco note. Taste of sweetness like dates, concentrates apricot, dressed with soy sauce flavor. It is a crowd pleaser for sure. Aftertaste of herbs, low tannins, silky and mouthful.
Having a 2nd bottle on 10/15/16, I am pretty certain the notes I described hold. For people who have sweet teeth, this shall be under your radar.
— 9 years ago

Matthew Beckman

9.4

Ahhhhhhhhh, now I get the affinity for Northern Rhone. With a little time this ballooned into an incredible companion to grilled venison. — 10 years ago

Tiffany Sams Cox

9.4

2014 | I really crush on Booker wines though I'm certain that I approach them with bias...go ahead and calibrate my score by a one point deduction if you want grave reality for your own wine purchasing decisions. That said, I love the luscious marzipan richness with fresh almond and quince in this roussanne viognier marsanne and PETIT MANSENG white blend. The mid palate takes me to these melons from Weiser Farms - Baroque looking little things, almost perfectly round with an electric citron green flesh and a goldleaf skin with emerald longitudinal stripes - Ogen Melons yum. — 10 years ago

Paul Cheyne

9.4

Still a baby in certain aspects. Acid is at the forefront and definitely built for the long haul. Hope to try this again in 8-10 years. — 11 years ago

Marc On

Writer Originalverkorkt, Lobenbergs Gute Weine

8.9

Big & bold. Black fruit, coffee, vanilla, wood underlaid with a certain kind of sweetness. — 11 years ago

Kevin Cuturi

9.2

Very interesting wine. Colour - ruby. Aroma - oaky. Tastes like a Spanish Ribera. Rich wine, yet retaining a certain level of finesse. Would buy again. — 11 years ago

Dick Schinkel

9.1

Very nice chablis with a very nice minerality, but combined with a certain oiliness as in a beautiful Puligny-Montrachet — 12 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

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. — 6 years ago

Sarah O'Kelley

9.5

Love this wine - has a certain wildness to it tamed by some oak. Tart red fruit, dried earth & rocks — 9 years ago

Marc Melser

9.0

We had the 2008 vintage on 5/13/16. A certain earthy scent in the nose. A dark fruit/strawberry and earth on the palate. Some spice on the finish. The tannins softened with a little time. Very good wine. A light red color for a medium bodied wine. — 10 years ago

Carson

9.2

Now this one, this one has something to say, and baby, I'm listening. The subtle nose of rich cherry and untamed spice is released, amplified upon the palette. This wine only gets better as it breathes. Blindly leaving behind my affinity for the IGT, my early forays into the DOC have proven rewarding. @Kyle Harvey i don't use this as often as @Scott Petrus but this is a true #qprsuperstar — 10 years ago

Mark Jacobson

9.3

Superb Bordeaux blend at a fine price point from this excellent Franschoek producer — 11 years ago

with Judy

Vinny Eng

9.2

Souhat & @LCFWino, you have instilled in me a newfound love and affinity for Marsanne. — 11 years ago

with John, Jasmine and 1 other

Rosie Annetta Johnson

9.5

Sweet. Perfect for certain dishes. Dessert wine. — 12 years ago

Alanna Lucas (Nantucket Wine & Spirits)

9.2

Love this. Who said rosé has to be a certain ‘pink’ to be good?! This bottle will prove you wrong. Red Delicious Apple, sour cherry and strawberry. So good. — 6 years ago

Sylvain Rhainds

9.2

1997? Pas certain — 7 years ago

Henrik Poulsen

9.6

Inspired by a recent posting here I popped and shared this with friends that much like I have deviated from "The 100 pts. fascination".

Certainly a very impressive wine it is also a bit predictable what it takes these days to garner that perfect rating from a certain palate. — 8 years ago

with Leo and Kurt-Inge

Doctor No

9.0

Lovely, elegant, slightly sun-kissed red fruit, modest but present structure, middleweight mouthfeel. Well-fruited with a touch of spice and earth. Better than an average Bourgogne Rouge to be certain. — 9 years ago

Curtis Anders

9.1

Lots of oak and vanilla. Tannins are a bit firm but this is a really great pour now and certain to improve with time. — 9 years ago

with Courtney

Henrik Poulsen

9.0

Alc. ?? (I couldn't find it on the label).

This may not be a 100% representative bottle as it has been sitting on a wine rack in my living room for 12+ months.
Showing brownish edges and a bit muted fruit (again probably my bad for the poor storage) but with a certain energy and core that I would like to think derives from organic farming and respectful winemaking.

A very nice quaffable everyday drinker that is good-value for the money (about $18-20 if I remember correct).
— 10 years ago

Doctor No

9.2

A Bordeaux for the Loire-lover: in this cooler and less-than-stellar vintage, the Margaux perfume is there and there is a certain leanness and Chinon-like green pepper note but the fruit is all cassis. It lacks in depth and richness but it has a flyweight's tenacity. — 10 years ago

Fabien Lainé

Blogger VinDeling.com

8.9

Still young, rich, intense, marked by the oak, cocoa notes and a certain concentration, a rich wine, strong tannins, see you in a few years — 11 years ago

Mike Steffel

9.1

Always a winner. — 11 years ago

Dmitri

9.4

Rays of sunshine. Candle wax, strawberry hard candy. High- acidity, light body, finishes with a thin string of light berry sweetness. Top 2 rose, up there with Lopez which it shares a certain waxy quality. — 11 years ago

Bryan Calandrelli

Regional Editor New York Cork Report

9.6

Certain wines taste effortless and at peace with the universe...this is one of them. — 12 years ago

Alejandro Lopez

9.5

This 2005 represents the 5th Edition of this blend where Sangiovese (44%), Pinot Noir (27%), Nebbiolo (14%), Barbera (10%) and Shiraz (5%) mix things up to craft an interesting wine with really smooth tannins and a certain herbaceous character. Let it breath at first to showcase potential. — 12 years ago