Adriana Fabbro

9.5

Wow, just wow.

Part of the blend comes from vines planted in 1923, another part from vines planted in the 50s—specially from a parcel comprised of all 7 varieties (supposedly more). Exquisitely light and balanced but with dozens of really interesting flavors — mandarin orange, pipe tobacco, sandalwood, flint, golden and red apple, marzipan, vanilla along with the usual melange of berries and chalk. It’s all about the poise, finesse and structure on this one though—like a gymnast nailing a dismount. Also, not bad with jalapeño poppers (or “muncher peppers” as they’re called on the Glue Pot’s English menu). — a year ago

Eric Urbani

8.9

Interesting blend from seven neighboring vineyards in Argentina, owned by a French wine maker. 52% Malbec, 21% Merlot, 15% Syrah, 7% Cab, 3% petit Verdot, 2% CF. A bit soft for my palate. — 3 years ago

JKT

9.0

Interesting blend of 8 from Oregon. Dark cherries and some earthiness with hints of leather and hay. Medium body and lively texture with good finish. Excellent food wine and AA value 7. 13ABV 30Tempranillo 25Syrah 18Cab 13Marechal Foch 7Landot Noir 3Zin 2Gamay Noir 2Pinot Noir. What a mix including hybrids. — 4 years ago

Nathan Renfro

9.6

2003 vintage. Wow this wine is singing! Gotta be right in its prime now. Soft silky tannins but still with just a bit of an edge. Blue fruit and cassis galore. So we’ll integrated and structured. Getting hints of tertiary flavors of leather and tobacco. Medium plus finish. Great luscious mouthfeel. — a year ago

"Odedi"

9.3

This is a delicious Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley. Showing nice complexity with a great, soft mouthfeel.

Dry on the palate and full-bodied. Smooth and elegant with medium acidity.

Showing black fruits with earth, chocolates, tobacco, spices, coffee, cedar, vanilla, licorice and black pepper.

This 7 year old is drinking very nicely now and will continue to age nicely in the next five to seven years.

This Single Vineyard needs a couple of hours to open up properly, so give it time.

Nicely balanced with a great mouthfeel. Spicy, soft and smooth. Fruit forward and rich.

Aged for 36 months in French oak barrels.

14.7% alcohol by volume.

93 points.

$95. — 3 years ago

Henry Fuseler

9.0

7/2020. Nice big cab. Full of flavor with a great finish. — 4 years ago

KRISTIE

9.3

Rooftop 7 with Amanda and Sandy. — 3 years ago

Mark Quezada

9.1

Oldest Gamay vines in the US. Wild raspberry, pink peppercorns, juicy cranberries. I can get down with this! All day, err day! — 3 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Vines planted on steep marly limestone slopes. Medium Ruby with aromas of red fruits and mineral notes. On the palate flavors of raspberry and cherry with herb citrus notes. Full ripe tannins, medium+ finish, balanced acidity, good structure, ending with zesty wet stone and pepper spice character. Should age for next 5-7 years. — 4 years ago

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