J Choi

9.5

Great find! Wine from cult. Shopping by label. — 5 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.2

Inky black in colour. Dusty and savoury. Tastes European - made from the little known and ancient Saperavi grape which originated in the former Russian state of Georgia. Ballandean Estate at Stanthorpe , the Granite Belt, have been growing Saperavi successfully for some years now. Dusty cherry/plum flavours with much savouriness. Barb loved it. — 5 years ago

Rhonely Boy

9.5

Fantastic example of why I love wine.
16 years, Beautiful and amazing cherry from Syrah balanced by dark tannin notes of Cabernet. Bravo!

Could use a lil Mourvedre, but thats just me :)

Healthy amount of sediment on glass. — 6 years ago

Chris Gillespie

8.9

Great snag from Costco in Sacramento, much better and bigger blend. Heavy on Cab and Zin, creating a nice fruit and big robust notes, def decant this one. — 6 years ago

Jay Kline

9.2

I have never really taken the time to explore the wines of Germany. In fact, I have more experience drinking the wines further to the south, in Austria. I have no proper excuse other than to say that I have been distracted by other regions. Bottles like this are making that excuse harder to accept. This was flat out awesome. Koehler-Ruprecht is a very traditional producer that practices a very strict, non-interventionist approach. No irrigation. No fertilizer. No herbicides. No enzymes. Nothing added or subtracted from the wine save for minuscule amounts of sulphur post fermentation and prior to bottling. This Pinot Noir is gorgeous, in a slightly more rustic sense. The appearance is a touch cloudy but far from murky. There’s a fresh, beautiful, lifted perfume of crushed strawberries, cranberries and ferrous minerals. Some stone, flowers and dust too. The palate is bright and racy with predominately red fruits and minerals. Fine tannins. The acid provides a long finish that forces a smile. There is some real vigor in this! A truly compelling wine. If I don’t make a better effort to spend the time exploring the great wine producers in Germany, well then, shame on me. — 6 years ago

aisforalan

9.1

delicious. rose petals. mineral. granite. cranberry. nice acid. buy again. from flatiron. — 6 years ago

aisforalan

9.1

granite. cacao. raspberries. blue berries. nice tannins. low acid. low oak. but again. from flatiron. 20 under 20. — 7 years ago

Isaac Pirolo

9.3

2017 Bedrock Riesling from Cienega Valley AVA. Planted in 1963 and dry-farmed. Apparently it’s the second oldest riesling vineyard in California. “Own-rooted in decomposed granite and limestone lovingly tended by the magnificently mustached Pat Wirz,” according to Morgan Twain-Peterson MW. Loaded with flavor. Lime oil and granny smiths with a hint of honey, and lots of rocks. A steal at $25. — 7 years ago

Aravind A

9.2

Not so much evolution from the last btl. Need to be patient with the last btl. After 1 hr open, slow-ox, and vigorous swirling, a lovely nose slowly emerges: sweet, dark, dark, blackberry, soft charcoal and olive notes, and pure granitic minerality. On the palate: granite, fantastic acidity, sweet blackberry, grapefruit pith, perhaps a touch thinner than I would like, especially given the density the nose suggests, the finish is soft black pepper, mixed with chalky tannin. Still very much in the unfurling stage...maybe try to wait 5 more years for the next btl? — 5 years ago

David D

9.0

Good fruit, dried flowers, baking spice, wet granite, nice tannins. From Perry’s, Provincetown. — 5 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

First, cheers to Delectable working again after two weeks on the fritz.

This is our kickoff to the Memorial Day weekend. Hope everyone has a good one on tap with some of your favorite wines. So, happy Memorial Day weekend all!

Then, a garden update. We really enjoy watching it grow. You can see it daily.

The top pictures were taken May 1st. The bottom pictures are from today, May 21st. All that crazy growth in just 20 days. Amazing!!! 🍅 🌱🥬🥒🌽

As for the Ruinart, it is appreciable better using my new Riedel Vintage Sommelier Champange flute. Well worth the investment. These are a late birthday gift from our friends James & Christina. Thank you. The nose & palate much more vibrant. More on that as the weekend progresses. Cheers!🥂 — 6 years ago

Romain Fitoussi

9.0

Magnificent Gamay Saint-Romain from the Loire Valley: fresh, juicy, fruity as desired (strawberry, red cherries), aromas of flowers (peony, rose, violet), tangy point. the finish is astonishing in duration for a wine in this price range. magnificent ! If you are a Gamay Lover, go for this bottle — 6 years ago

Taylar Hart

9.5

Just great. So smooth and balanced. The cork suffered with the age but the wine itself benefited! — 6 years ago

Diana Eng

9.2

Smoky, charcoal, granite, meat, bacon, black pepper, nutmeg, cinnamon, violets, black olives, red cherries, blueberries, blackberries. Medium plus acid, medium body, medium plus finish, medium tannin. Silky tannins from age, good fruit and acidity still, elegant and high-toned. — 7 years ago

with EatSommThings

Ken Z

9.4

Drank 1/18/19 at the Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux event in Miami.  All wines from the 2016 Vintage.

Tasting pour, no formal notes taken.  Most of these wines are very tight, and will require 5-15 years to really come together.  Many will likely improve a few points with time. — 7 years ago

with JT

aisforalan

9.2

velvet elvis. canned cherries. barnyard funk. wet moss on granite rocks. from fausto. delicious. buy again. should be listed as a freisa. — 8 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

This won the Trophy for the best White Wine at the Toowoomba Wine Show last weekend and went on to win Champion Wine of the Show. Colour is very pale lemon. Notes of green Apple - skins and flesh, also Lime. The palate has quince and mandarin notes - quite unctuous and fleshy on the palate - low acid and medium plus intensity. Even though the winery is in the Granite Belt/Ballandean the fruit is from Chalmers Vineyard in Mildura in Victoria. The 2020 vintage in Ballandean was probably the most challenging on record with droughts, fires and record low yields. As a result, no Vermentino was harvested at Golden Grove Estate. — 5 years ago

David L

9.4

17’ Granite Cru Albarino From the winery- Brilliant straw. On the nose, high toned and mineral driven aromas of lemon peel, green apple, lemongrass and seashells. On the palate, impressive weight combined with laser-focused acidity. Incisive flavors of lemon, unripe peach, green apple, green mango are at the core, with focused & pervasive mineral notes.

Aged in oak barrels. A bit pricey for the varietal. Worth seeking out. @Mike R Yet another exceptional wine from Mike’s cellar. — 5 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

Tom Casagrande

9.3

This bears little resemblance to a Gamay from Beaujolais, starting with the startlingly saturated violet color. The nose is feral, with inky dark berries, laced with venison jerky, poured on to a slab of just-cracked granite. In the mouth, massive dry extract and intensity, but simultaneously vibrant. It’s got soft tannin and acids to spare, so it will age, but really special now. This is actually a fall-weight Bojo. The only thing about this wine that runs according to type is the blocky ‘15 tactile feel, which is not my fave. — 7 years ago

with Lyle