Will Stanley

9.1

The 2019 Poujeaux, tried here for the first time from half bottle, continues the trend of wines that I’ve enjoyed from this vintage – being austere, deep, full bodied and demanding considerable bottle age. With no decant, the wine is almost impenetrable on the nose, offering little other than gravel, singed tobacco, and espresso. Gradually, though, things open up in the glass and after an hour it’s fairly expressive. It remains dark, tannic and laden with coffee, chocolate and steeped black fruit, but doubtless there’s a promising wine somewhere here that’ll likely begin to emerge in five years or so – Poujeaux tends to have a long life, and I’d expect that to be the case here. — 5 months ago

jesus g

Hospitality Schramsberg Vineyards

10

This comparison was pretty awesome, had duck breast rubbed down with chinese five spice powder to accompany the wine. All very different. The Raen always takes me somewhere special, very unique in California. The Davies is a wine with gravitas and balance. And this one by domaine de la cote has laser beam precision and focus. The tension in the glass is very much alive with all three. Both aging, and enjoying now are recommended — 5 years ago

Tim Litchfield

9.6

Full bodied, smooth and bags of fruit. Awesome — 7 years ago

Caitlin Plunkett

8.9

Very good IPA brewed in London — 9 years ago

Jeff Lenamon

9.8

Valentine's Day starter! It's 5 O'Clock somewhere! — 10 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. — 5 years ago

Andrew

8.9

Very interesting. I’ve never seen a wine with quite this color; cloudy, pale purple and green, slightly terra cotta; smell and taste are somewhere between a red and a rosé; delicious dry quality with a punch of sour fruit, rhubarb, even watermelon on the finish. Very much looking forward to next bottle, but will try to drink sooner. Less than five years and I feel it’s lost some of its spunk. — 5 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Our main course wine with Kentucky Bourbon chicken skewers, Rosemary potatoes in smoked olive oil with snap peas & green beans straight out of garden.

The nose reveals, ripe; blackberries, dark cherries, blue fruit heaven, slightly stewed plums, creamy, black raspberries, strawberries on the high nose and glass edges. Sweet tarriness, anise to black licorice, dry stones, crushed, dry rocks, medium, dark spice, savory, grilled meats, underbrush, limestone & sandstone minerals, steeped tea with beautiful florals of dark red, blue and violets.

The body is round, lush and medium full. The tannins are rounded & well resolved with baby teeth. The structure, tension, length and balance are somewhere around the top of the bell curve with another five years of life ahead. It’s gorgeous as it slides over the palate. Ripe; blackberries, dark cherries, blue fruit heaven, slightly stewed plums, creamy, black raspberries, raspberries & strawberries. Mid red cola, sweet tarriness, anise to black licorice, dry stones, crushed, dry rocks, medium, dark spice with just a touch of heat, savory, smoked, grilled meats, dry tobacco, well worn, softened leather, underbrush, limestone & sandstone minerals, steeped tea with beautiful florals fields of dark, red, blue, violets and soft lavender. The acidity is like a warm, river palate dip. The ripe, juicy, elegant, well balanced finish is delicious and persists a few minutes with excellent florals on the long set.

Photos of; Aerial shot of Domaine De La Janasse, the Galet stones that are a signature of Rhône, Founder of Domaine De La Janasse - Aimé Sabon and their staff at harvest time. — 5 years ago

Erin Kurland

10

It's 4 o'clock somewhere. #workwine — 7 years ago

Steve Matthiasson

Owner/Winemaker Matthiasson Wines

9.3

2010. I'm realizing that there is a different wine category, "serious rose'." This five year old "rose" of Pinot noir falls somewhere between a red and a white wine in flavor profile and structure, and brings up all kinds of food pairing possibilities. Was delicious with salmon and spring veggies. (Thank you Trac for the gift.) — 10 years ago