JKT

9.1

Indeed still a lively lovely old Riesling from Haubs-Barzen library release via JR, as previously noted. Color not as dark as non library wines. Wasn’t expecting a Kab can age so long and so well. Perfect for hot pot Birthday dinner for Evan. Yum. — 3 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. — 5 years ago

Mark Garcia

9.3

Strong stuff! Only for sipping but good. However my pallet gets better flavor on some cheaper choices. — 7 years ago

John J

9.0

Toasty, caramel and viscous. Lovely! — 7 years ago

Richard Sohn

9.3

Fruity, floral. Notably sweet with minimal burn despite 50% abv. — 8 years ago

Dave Schneider

9.5

Oh my! I bought this mature beauty 6 and a half years ago from JR and then I let it mature even more! I didn’t realize what I had laid down and I opened on spaghetti and meatball night. This wine is SPECTACULAR. I’ve never had a Sangiovese that was so beautifully integrated with floral, oak and mint and so many other flavors I can’t pinpoint. I usually find Sangiovese angular, hard and acidic. This wine is simply gorgeous. TY JR. You blew me away! — 4 years ago

Zach Demers

9.0

So tasty. Just really enjoyable. Grape-y in a really fresh stony way. “Mineral drenched” as JR might say. Wonderfully balanced and drinkable, will go with most meals. If only more sub $15 wines were this good! — 5 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Pontet Canet tasting and dinner with Alfred Tesseron.

The fruits are ripe, ruby. Blackberries, black raspberries, black plum skin, raspberries & strawberries. Dark rich soils, dark spice, crushed dry rocks, black licorice, tobacco, soft leather, graphite, Great balance fruit and earth. The body is velvety and statin. The structure, length, tension and balance are just coming around. The texture is gorgeous. The acidity is round and excellent. The finish delicious and persists nicely.

Photos of; our dinner group, The K&L Bordeaux Buyer-Ralph Sands and Alfred talking about the wines, Clyde Beffa Jr. -Owner of K&L Wine Merchants and Chateau Pontet Canet. — 6 years ago

Dave Schneider

9.4

Wow. This one has been sitting in my fridge for a while and with the weather so warm I decided to open up a rose. I didn’t realize how much I would enjoy this and didn’t realize how truly special and rare this was until I opened my notes (thank you JR!). This is a stunning example of what the Germans can do with Pinot noir. Beautiful harmony throughout. Notes of rose pedal that will knock your socks off. Just 75 cases produced. — 6 years ago

Cecil Ramirez

9.1

2010 Herrera Selecion Rolando Jr, Napa. Opaque garnet color, full bodied, balanced tannins. Black cherry, cola, pepper, earth, vanilla notes. After some air, silky mouthfeel, long finish. Beautifully integrated, drinking well right now. — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

One of my favorite whites. First, because it’s so good but, also for its uniqueness. It’s a wild blend of; Garnacha Blanca, Macabeo, Marsanne, Pedro Ximénez, Pinot Noir & Viognier.

The color is pale gold.

On the nose; because of the bottle age, you get just a hint of petroleum. Ripe peach, pineapple, orange zest, some green & more golden apple, nectarines, lemon/lime, ginger, chalky volcanic minerals, smokiness and yellow florals.

The body is round, full and waxy. It’s simply delicious and unlike most whites many have experienced. Touch of petroleum, ripe peach, nectarines, dry apricots, marmalade, orange zest, overripe pineapple, golden apple with just a hint of green apple, beeswax, meyer lemon, some lime flesh, touch of ginger, a little smokiness, chalky volcanic minerals and beautiful yellow florals from the Viognier. The acidity is round and perfect. The long, lush, rich, well balanced is artful and lasts two minutes.

Treat yourself and get a couple bottles. You’ll be glad you did.

Photos of, Clos Mogador, their barrel room, René Barbier Jr. - a great guy who told us to jump in his SUV and drove us through their steep vineyards. Some tricky driving for the novice but not René and one of hillside vineyards.

Outstanding producer in Priorat. If you visit them, have lunch at Amics about two miles from Clos Mogador. Perhaps, the best lunch and value we’ve had at a non-starred Michelin restaurant that absolutely deserves one and maybe two. They also do a lot catering for Clos Erasmus and the other Bodegas in the area — 7 years ago

Daniel Steilen

9.1

Delicious — 8 years ago

JKT

9.0

Maria dinner 5/30/21 first time since move. This at ML’s request and opened at the end. Fresh and tasty as expected with the bite and balance of a trocken . — 4 years ago

JKT

9.2

Balance fineness and an almost velvety texture. Earthy plummy cherry notes with long finish. Yum. JR library special in 2016. One left? — 4 years ago

Lars Fischer

9.8

Nose full of mint and orange peel. Caramel on the palatinate. Incredible freshness. What a great wine!!!! — 5 years ago

with Corinna

Palmer Emmitt

Owner/Winemaker Judge Palmer

9.8

Tons of vanilla and cinnamon. Very creamy mouthfeel. A bit of a spicy kick in the teeth up front but then finishes loooooong and smoooooth. Wow. — 6 years ago

Isaac Pirolo

9.4

With friends in town during Thanksgiving, I hit up some wineries that I’ve been curious about. Super cool experience at Aonair. Grant Long, Jr has created something special there, and with David Yorgensen at the helm with the wines, it feels all dialed in. Their Grenache was a surprise to me. From El Dorado and there’s some initial funk, but it blows off and what’s left is a balanced, mineral driven, but kirsch laden, and yet still, a bright style wine that’s quite reminiscent of something from Chateauneuf du Pape. — 6 years ago

Los Shaws

9.0

88 points, Robert Parker Jr
$11 — 7 years ago

Wivino Mann

9.7

Auslese 5 Sterne 🤩 — 7 years ago

with Lars and Corinna

Jack Cranley, Backroads Wine Club & Cascadia Premium Wines

9.3

So good. Balance, slate, rich fruits. The pinnacle type of Riesling experience. — 8 years ago