Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

Been awhile since I pulled out an Insigna.

The 03 Pichon Lalande is the better wine and steak pairing. However, Napa Cabernet is the choice to finish steak and enjoy on its own after. You never want to do Napa before Bordeaux IMHO. It’s much harder to adjust from sweeter to something more earthy.

Enjoyed the 05 as my score reflects. I don’t remember it being as sweet as it was in previous tastings. Still quite good. It just tipped my sweet scale a little too much.

The body is, rich, lush & round. It’s achieved good evolution after 13 years in bottle and will continue to improve over the next 6-8 years and last another 15 years. As I mentioned, the fruit was ripe & sweet. Blackberries, black plum, black raspberries, plums, hints of blueberries and strawberries haunting the backend. Rich, dark earth, Rutherford dusty tannins and dry soils, purple cola, touch of fresh tobacco & graphite, light baking spices of; cinnamon, dash of clove, nutmeg and vanillin, anise to black licorice, saddle-wood, used leather, dry stems, some dry, crushed rocks/limestone with red, dark, purple and blue florals. The acidity round and nicely executed. The finish was similar wire to wire. It’s, lush, rich, elegant, touch too sweet, polished, well balanced & knitted with a soft, persistent, dark spice on the long set. Very enjoyable second bottle.

Photos of; Joseph Phelps Winery & sloping estate vines, inside lounge are with views of the back side, tasting terrace and front lobby/salon area upon entering past check in. — 5 years ago

with Christina and James

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

A longtime friend visited us today at our rental property. We have an annual Christmas tradition of me giving him a bottle of Pinot and a coffee cake (homage to my mother’s Christmas coffee cake) and he shares his allocation of Sea Smoke. He gave us this bottle awhile back and a 2015 Southing today. In honor of our tradition, we are enjoying this 2010 tonight.

The nose reveals; mulberries, boysenberries, plum, dark cherries, blueberries, fresh & dry cranberries, poached strawberries, raspberries hovering on the edge of the glass, steeped fruit teas, touch smoke & soft grilled meats, subtle, sweet, tarry notes, dark, rich soils, dark chocolate, limestone, crush, dry rocks, understated caramel/mocha notes, bay leaf, soft sage, dry stems, dark, fruit licorice, light, dark spice, clove, nutmeg, hints of vanillin, barrel char with fresh & withering, slightly candied, dark, red, blue & purple flowers.

The body is round, full, lush and velvety. It glides beautifully over the palate. The 2010 is around its peak with 5-8 years of good drinking ahead. She is an elegant beauty. The tension, structure, length and balance are in a great place for many but, I think even better in 2-3 years. Mulberries, boysenberries, plum, dark cherries, blackberries, blueberries, fresh & dry cranberries, poached strawberries, raspberries haunting the secondary fruits, steeped fruit teas, touch smoke & soft grilled meats, subtle, sweet, tarry notes, dark, rich soils, dark chocolate, limestone, crush, dry rocks, understated caramel/mocha notes, bay leaf, soft sage, menthol, dry stems, dark, fruit licorice, perfect, dark spice with just the right amount of palate heat, clove, cinnamon stick, nutmeg, hints of vanillin, barrel char with fresh & withering, slightly candied, dark, red, blue & purple flowers. The acidity is nearly perfect & holds back the slightly higher ABV. The long finish is a darling, elegant, sexy, beauty with great balance & polish polish for days that slides into a spicy, round & drier, tarry, tannin presence that persists minutes.

Photos of; two of their single vineyard Pinot’s, branded barrel and Winemaker- Victor Gallegos. — 6 years ago

Seth Cockfield

9.9

Earth and wild red berries. Mystical and haunting. — 6 years ago

Conrad Green

9.6

Beautiful soft red fruit (raspberry and deep blue gnarly stuff) with haunting sexy finish. This is really good- so approachable and complete. — 7 years ago

with BOT, Matt and 1 other

Conrad Green

9.5

A beautiful, haunting nose. Fresh and vivid nose with hints of gooseberry, honeysuckle, lime. Some almost tropical notes but a deep steely minerality knocking everything along. Really good — 9 years ago

with Major-General

Jake Malmberg

9.5

Pleasantly tertiary with a whisper of primary cherry fruit and a touch of tannin. Menthol/peppermint and rosemary scented with a bit of pipe tobacco. Really impressed that this cold vintage still has such nicely framed fruit. — 9 years ago

Sean Sassenrath

9.2

Love whisper my angel. Perfect dry rose for salads & fish. Would recommend to anyone looking for rose that's not sweet and dry on the tongue — 9 years ago

Stephen Mandy

9.5

Remarkably fresh vibrant and classic. Rich fruit with notes of cedar and cassis. Haunting finish - will go many more years! — 10 years ago

Yoon Ha

Master Sommelier/Wine Director Benu

9.1

Honey, stone fruits and citrus draped over a firm structure that gives just a whisper of sweetness. — 10 years ago

Samantha Whitlam

9.2

Just a whisper of sweetness but otherwise dry. Ripping acidity and light on the palate. Peaches candied limes and beautiful. — 11 years ago

Davis Smith

Sommelier Acquerello

9.3

Italy can do Summer of Riesling too. Acacia aged, super delicious and just a whisper of RS. — 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

Anthony Lombardi

9.0

We had Monmousseau’s sparkling Chenin last night, so tonight we are having one their still versions. The 2016 Clos Le Vigneau. This is a ripe, juicy take@on Chenin with bright acidity pinning it alll together. One of my favorite records from the incomparable @joannanewsom to accompany this tonight. Haunting & beautiful across 3 LP’s. — 7 years ago

Eric

9.8

Extraordinarily lively for a bottle so aged. Plenty of fruit left and haunting notes on the finish — 8 years ago

Conrad Green

9.9

Unbelievable. Bricking in the edges with a soft rose, red fruit and a blurry, haunting, delicate nose. This is genuinely spectacular. Long, pretty, complex and profound. Wine doesn't get much better than this. Genuinely beautiful — 9 years ago

with Matt and Paul

Flavio Menezes

9.5

Haunting beauty! Wonder why I did not buy a case of this... a full orchard of violets, the elegance of a Rousseau Clos de la Roche. — 9 years ago

Sam Decker

9.5

Haunting and gorgeous — 10 years ago

Sam O'Brien

9.0

Fascinating wine, haunting aroma. Bright snappy acidity makes this oh so refreshing! — 10 years ago

Isaac Pirolo

9.5

Incredible. Lavender and stone. Haunting. As if Pinot Noir was made in Cote-Rotie. — 11 years ago

Tina Termsomket

9.6

Carried this back 8 years ago when i visited Bodega the first time. This wine is traditional classic old school Rioja- earthy and fully developed primary nose, soft acid n tannin, haunting finish... 🍷💃 — 11 years ago

with Jon

Will Fink

8.9

Rose petal, tart cherry smooth tannin. Absolutely delicious & well-integrated - on day 2. Needed time to open up, but it's a wonderful balance of rustic & elegant, with lots of what was once red fruit. The acid is still haunting. I adore this wine. It may not be top of its class, but it excels at being what it is. — 6 years ago

Neil Valenzuela

9.4

Amazing pairing! Chicago style pizza and Saratoga Syrah. Deep purple color. Aromas of smoked meat, boysenberry and blackberry. Haunting blackberry, boysenberry, huckleberry and limestone finish.
5% Viognier to this big boy.
91 points Wine Enthusiasts — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

Our first bottling from this small production family winery in Calistoga.

My first impressions of this wine, it’s a classic older Calistoga Cabernet. It’s nicely resolved but, not at the end of its life as some have predicted. It is a shade past its prime but, drinking nicely with the exception it’s a touch hot, even after all this time in bottle and when temp’s were not pushing alcohol levels like they can now. However, heat aside, I enjoy wines just the other side of their prime and beyond. Brings out additional complexity-characteristics and are infinitely more interesting.

The nose reveals, stewed & baked fruits of; blackberries, black plum, black cherry extract, black raspberries with some deep blue fruits. Loads of baking spices; clove, nutmeg, cinnamon and vanilla. Dark spice, dark chocolate, sweet tarriness, mocha, caramel, walnut shells, anise to black licorice, steeped, dark fruit teas, mint/eucalyptus, dry crushed rocks, leather, tobacco, graphite, used charcoal, dark liqueur and cola, dry herbs with dark, red, blue, purple, fresh & withering flowers accented with lavender.

The body is rich, lush, ruby, statin, velvety and thick. The tannins are rounded & softened but, still speaking loudly. The structure, tension, length and balance are in a very good place. This wine has legs to stand for another 5-10 years depending on how you enjoy them. Stewed, candied & baked fruits of; blackberries, black plum, black cherry extract, black raspberries deep blue fruits, purple fruit blend, haunting raspberries with poached strawberries as it sets. Loads of baking spices; clove, nutmeg, cinnamon and vanilla. Dark spice with good palate heat, dark chocolate, sweet tarriness, mocha, caramel, walnut shells, anise to black licorice, steeped, dark fruit teas, mint/eucalyptus, dry crushed rocks, dry top soil, slightly, moist clay, pronounced, fine volcanic minerals, leather, tobacco, graphite, used charcoal, dark liqueur and cola, dry herbs with dark, red, blue, purple, fresh & withering flowers accented with lavender. The acidity is round & exquisite. The long finish is; well balanced fruit & earth, very complexity, rich, delicious and persists endlessly.

Photos of; Stephanie Jones Bailey, Rick and Elaine Jones, Estate view, their Cabernet fruit close to harvest and vineyard staff managing fruit clusters & leafing.

Producer notes...they were founded in 1996. Jones Family Vineyards specializes in estate grown Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc. Thomas Rivers Brown makes their wines, two Cabernet wines...Jones Family Vineyards Estate Cabernet Sauvignon and The Sisters. TRB also makes an extremely limited production of aged Sauvignon Blanc that is cellared for over 3 years in barrel and bottle.

Jones Family has ten acres of south facing vineyards that lie 600 to 800 feet off the valley floor, resting above the fog line, an ideal altitude for growing Cabernet in the Napa Valley area.

@Paul T- Huntington Beach FYI. — 6 years ago

Seth Morgen Long

Broker • Arterberry Maresh / Winemaker • Morgen Long

9.5

Exceptional Nerello from Foti. Eye opening, quite haunting aromatics and delightfully silken texture. Rocky. Will be seeking more of this out in 2018. — 8 years ago

Conrad Green

9.4

The color of tokaji. Sadly a little past it’s vibrant zesty best, but still classy on the palate. Almost no fizz. A soft and rounded palate, sherry with nuts. A rather beautiful, poised old wine. Tawny with hints of coconut and delicate sweetness with a touch of Madeira. Not like a typical champagne but unique and haunting. Gaining complexity in the glass. Very still and soft with roses. Fascinating. — 8 years ago

with Walker and David

Tim Hansen

10

My favorite Barolo producer. Orange peel and chocolate. Haunting savory notes. Loads of fruit but never heavy. Incredible structure. Decades to go. 2009. — 9 years ago

Big Wave Dave

9.1

Big expressive haunting nose . Explosive. Tannic. Plumbs, sour cherry, and very austere. 2009 alcohol level coming through. This is a big wine but very much of its place. Very long. — 9 years ago

Emmy Zhang

Sales Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant

10

Emmy had this 10 years ago

Peter Wassam

9.8

Deep layers of aroma. Haunting nose. Juicy strawberries and the dosage is neatly incorporated, not even a hint of residge. A little peach and figs. Such a deep finish. Gorgeous in the backyard with some truffled cheese in some Pyrex like Jeezy. Beautiful mouthfeel. So warm and inviting. — 11 years ago

Tom Kobylarz

9.4

In perfect drinking condition, excellent. Forest floor, iron, the smell of a cracked cacao bar, savory spice and believe it or not a tad of blue cheese. Good palate intensity that is precise and controlled, medium to fine tannins caress the haunting dried fruit and savory long and fresh finish. #bluesheeseinmywinearoma #stestephe #lafonrochet — 12 years ago