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. — 4 years ago

Paul Barnes

9.0

Little bit of fizz to let you know it's alive — 7 years ago

Justin Hansohn

9.2

Truly the name of the wine says it all. Drank the whole thing in an hour of paddling around a lake in a swan on a beautiful day in Copenhagen. It's not worth giving a description of the wine as I continuously find that in the concept of set and setting sometimes wines are just the magic wand in the middle of a beautiful storm. If you make this your wine, make it a great moment, it's worth it. — 8 years ago

with Taylor

Rarig Ross

9.3

Balanced if I can say that for a late harvest dessert wine... (It was). The acid supported it's dance between alcohol and sugar. Beautiful nose. Sweet citrus and floral. What I call a 'honeymoon' wine. Perfect, goes quick. — 9 years ago

Gary Westby

Champagne & Sherry buyer K&L Wines

9.5

Steak and claret night was on tonight! Cinnamon cooked up a storm, and the cool curranty fruit of this 14 year old Bordeaux was the perfect companion to the rich, dry aged ribeye. — 9 years ago

with Cleora

Shannon Hammond

9.0

You can't beat it for the price. I bought it to keep in the house for a snow storm. Pretty good. — 9 years ago

John Zelenka

10

Would get again. Very good wine; nice balance; very flavorful and complex — 4 years ago

Pinotman /// Andreas

9.1

Actually a great wine. Last time I tasted this I gave this a 8.9 now it is 9. 1. Plenty of tannins cherry. Bright and pretty. Quite intense. — 4 years ago

Michael H

9.1

Storm bros.... both great — 5 years ago

Lou Sab

9.2

Simply Delicious. — 6 years ago

Al

9.2

Nice peat! — 6 years ago

with Brenda and Lois

Tom Balzer

9.1

Great little Pinot. Bought on WTSO, around $15 — 7 years ago

Kevin

8.9

Surprisingly strong coffee notes — 8 years ago

Ned Gray Creed

9.2

A bit more backbone and mouthfeel on this one. Bright plump nose as well. — 8 years ago

Ned Gray Creed

9.6

Bad ass. Like episode one storm troopers bad ass. It is mesmerizing the quality. Baffled. How does he do it? — 8 years ago

Katie Kean

9.0

A little sweet — 9 years ago

Bob Halifax

9.7

Not much I can say except "Wow!" Like Sweet Tarts? This is a Riesling for you. — 9 years ago

Angela Gaffney

9.6

#sundayfunday sippin' on this while cooking up a storm with my boo — 9 years ago

Joseph Gannon

9.2

fresh, clean chenin, great value — 4 years ago

Joseph Gannon

9.3

great wine for the price, peppery — 4 years ago

with Brooke

Sean Conk

9.4

Awesome blend — 5 years ago

Christopher Losa

Owner/Wine Director Bar Bambino

9.0

a more burgundian take oh PN from Folk Machine with excellent results. light and agile with an undertone of dried fruit. — 6 years ago

Ian Hartsough

9.1

Decant for at least 30 mins
— 6 years ago

with Maddy

Kevin Elkins

9.0

Solid imperial stout — 7 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

Crimson in colour with youthful purple tinged. Lovely spicy peppery nose with a hint of ginger. Medium bodied with cherry/berry fruits. From the Adelaide Hills but could be Northern Rhone. This is a well crafted wine from a great vintage made by a talented pair of winemakers in a good area for cool climate Shiraz- the perfect storm! And a pleasure to drink. — 8 years ago

Brandon Boesch

9.0

Really nice Rhone blend. — 8 years ago

Stephen Rosemire

9.4

High toned, little earth. Jam. See Storm presquile for analog . — 9 years ago

Matt Wickham

9.3

So good. Tons of texture and nuance supporting bright fruits. — 9 years ago

Marc Piro

9.5

Very delicious! Strikingly similar to a 10 year old burgundy. Slightly waxy, but packed with raspberry fruit and acid! — 9 years ago

Aimee Duell

9.7

Perfect for a torrential snow storm! — 10 years ago