Matt Austin

Owner/Winemaker, Grosgrain Vineyards, Walla Walla, WA

9.0

Coming down the curve, but enjoyed by all. Still somewhat tannic, which will outlive the fruit — 3 years ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.6

1998 vintage. Open approximately three hours before tasting. Light-medium body. Subtle complexities and that silken, milk chocolate creaminess that just glides along forever. Hints of sweetness and tobacco on the finish. One of those beautiful Bordeaux that you could seemingly drink all afternoon without palate fatigue. Has entered the optimal drinking zone but feel it’s got a few more tricks up the sleeve before hitting the top of the bell curve in the next decade. Always a treat. — 3 years ago

Gregory Fulchiero

9.1

Developed, tart but nice contrast with toffee notes. Great to see this curve. — 4 years ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.3

2005 vintage. Just crested the top of the bell curve. Pretty integrated. It’ll go for another two decades easy. — 5 years ago

Fredrik Finn

9.2

My last bottle of 2012 Robert Chevillon Nuits Saint George
caught at a stage on its maturing curve, where the red fruit turns to dried fruit, rose petal is being backed by autumn leaves followed by sous bois and a dash of earthy spice. Lovely indeed! — 7 years ago

Jonathan Wall

9.2

An evolution worth waiting out, as I initially thought it was over the hill. Starts musty, then mushrooms, ... after a few hours its youth comes back. Color still vibrant. Fruit mature and leaning toward fig, chocolate, and earth. ... the good part of the downside of a bell curve. — 7 years ago

Anthony De Blasi

9.0

Nicely aged, round mouthfeel but starting its downward curve. Drink now — 7 years ago

TheSkip

9.2

Ahead of the curve especially given the price. Quite enjoyed this. — 8 years ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.3

2009 vintage. Great coalescence of choco covered plum, raspberry and cherry in both the nose and flavors. Some smoke, slightest hint of spearmint, some earth. Knitted together nicely with that light/medium milk chocolate body. Rocking right now and should be at/near top of the bell curve for the next five years. A great value Margaux. — 8 years ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.5

1989 vintage. WOTD! Funky, old grandparents nose for a spell, then blew off. Still a bit of the feminine (blueberries, raspberries, cocoa powder) characteristics evident. Better than the last bottle tasted (4.4.23 a 9.4) but not as good as another fairly recently (12.9.22 a 9.6). Still pretty damned delicious and still at the top of the bell curve for another half-decade or so. Hit. It. Now. Ain’t getting better. 5.5.23. — 3 years ago

Gregory Fulchiero

9.2

Outstanding wine. Beautiful aging curve. One of the bargains in BDX. — 3 years ago

Scott Kahn

9.0

This wine lack the normal softness of Haut Brion, and required some time in the glass to reach its peak presentation. While definitely on the downward slope of the maturity curve there was enough life in the wine to create surprise! — 4 years ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.5

1990 vintage. Oo-de-lally! Miles to go before this one is done. Top of the bell curve. Drinking beautifully and better grip than the ‘89 tasted recently. — 5 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

There is nothing like taking a $31 bottle of Napa Cabernet and turning it into liquid gold. All you have to do is buy a good producer’s decent vintage or better and hold it in bottle for nearly 10 years or longer. Bottle age can’t be accomplished in a decanter, no matter how long you decant it. It simply will not round out the wine, make the tannins well resolved, integrate all the flavors that equate to a nice complex wine.

I was saddened to see a quality Napa Valley Pioneer recently sell its winery. I am sure somewhere Joe Heitz is beside himself. However, nothing stands for forever. We’ll see what the new owners do with it. Certainly, the last free quality free tasting in Napa Valley is gone forever. To be continued...

The nose reveals; dark currants, ripe, ruby, slightly candied fruits of; blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, black plum, blueberries and cherry kirsch. Sweet tarry notes, black, rich, turned soil, anise, steep fruit tea, limestone minerals, dry crushed rock, underbrush, soft leather, hints of dry herbs, moist clay with candied, bright, dark, red, blue florals and violets for days.

The body is full, very round and gorgeous across the palate. The tannins are about 80% resolved but, still showing some teeth. The structure, tension, length and balance have hit the top of the bell curve and will hold there awhile longer. There is nothing in this wine that bites back or is astringent. Dark currants, ripe, ruby, slightly candied fruits of; blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, black plum, blueberries, raspberries on the high palate and long set with cherry kirsch. Sweet tarry notes, black, rich, turned soil, anise, steep fruit tea, caramel, some milk chocolate, limestone minerals, dry crushed rocks, dry top soil, underbrush, soft leather, touch of graphite, hints of dry herbs, moist clay with amazing candied, bright, dark, red, blue florals and violets for days. The acidity is like a palate waterfall. The long finish is; delicious, gorgeous, ruby, well balanced, elegant with polish that persists nicely for minutes.

Photos of; Heitz vineyard, tasting bar/room on Hwy 29, sitting area outside the tasting room and Heitz winery and Estate vines. — 7 years ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.3

2005 vintage. Fantastic leather, dark plum, cedar, tobacco and sawdust nose. Medium body. Superdry finish that just goes on and on and on. Close to the top of its’ particular bell curve. — 7 years ago

Matt Austin

Owner/Winemaker, Grosgrain Vineyards, Walla Walla, WA

9.0

Not my favorite Geyserville, and seems a bit further a long the curve than it should be. Still enjoyed by all. — 8 years ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.5

2012 vintage. Decanted and tasted after 2 hours and after 3 hours. Seemingly simple nose. Light-medium body. Come together-right now-from start to finish. Cocoa powder, cedar, blueberries, tobacco and graphite all figure prominently throughout. Well-knit and pretty damned close to the top of the bell curve along with the backstage pass in the optimal drinking "zone." Not the biggest Pauillac or vintage but firing on all cylinders. Seems like it'll hold tight in this spot with the wheels crimped to curb and the parking brake on for 7-10 years. Grab you some before it decides to drive away. — 3 years ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.5

2005 vintage. Almost tastes like it could have been released last week. Super youthful with dark berry and plum blasts. Decent structure but not oppressive. Catching this one just below the top of the bell curve. Hopefully, you’ve got more than one bottle kicking around on a piece of ground in your hometown. Other-worldly now but methinx it’s about to get even better. Last tasted in mid-June and same score but this bottle was slightly better. Seek this out-now. — 4 years ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.4

2003 vintage. Decanted for approx 3 hours. The usual LB nose. A little pickled mushroom/forest floor flavor profile off the bat, then settled into dark plum and cocoa powder shortly thereafter. Light-medium body and slightly “bigger” than expected at this point. Lots of stuffing still. It’s in the sweet spot/top of the bell curve currently…seems like it could sustain that momentum for at least another 4-5 years. — 4 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