John Bratincevic

9.3

Clay and juicy cassis. Black olive. Tannins taste like an old varnished bureau. This is the wine that made me love wine again — especially French wine — and motivated me to start systematically tasting and making notes. Then of course my liquor store stopped carrying it. I was delighted to find a bottle while traveling. Still a wonderful value and delicious,though age would improve it. 92 or … 93! — 7 months ago

Aaron Tan

8.9

Again, not a wine that passed the drinkability test for me, but there are things that I liked about it, and some that I didn't. Right off the bat, it was way too heavy for me, both on the nose and palate. Heaps of oak aromas covering some sweet black fruits. The palate also came off as being quite sweet, almost syrupy, but here's where the balancing act comes in - just the right amount of acidity to keep it juicy. It's like biting into a very sweet, ripe, juicy plum with a peppering of cinnamon and vanilla. I enjoyed the tannins most, fine and directional, starting at the tip of the tongue, then swinging under before traveling down the inner walls of the gum. What a cool structure! And then there's the underlying minerality with air, which was pleasantly surprising. The finish took a turn for the worse - medium, rich, and oaky, yet bitter with hints of scorched earth character which I dislike. Also quite warm. Generally, more finessed than the 2011 Troplong Mondot, but less stacked and more stumbling blocks. Has potential. — 4 years ago

E & K G

9.2

Solid champagne that really brings let’s the strengths of Pinot Noir shine through. Great fruit, toasty notes with a crisp finish. Got lucky finding this on on sale for a tad over $40/btl. Too bad I was traveling and couldn’t load up on more! — 6 years ago

L.A. Warren

9.0

Purchased this little gem while traveling and I'm thoroughly enjoying it.

Bright with fresh berries on the pallet. The finish is slightly bitter.

I must admit that I'm in a hotel room during an early snow in Kansas, listening to Edith Piaf on my bluetooth speaker. Thus, the only glassware available is your typical thin plastic hotel cup.

But, I cannot complain. I truly cannot complain.

Cheers. — 7 years ago

Sion Dafydd Palmer

9.0

Delightful night at the fair🍭. Apple bobbing🍎, waltzers, traveling folk, candy floss. Wake up with candy floss caked to face, which is the overriding bonce tones. Long sweet apple 🍏, pepper. Bit srtinge but that’s ok 😋 😂 — 7 years ago

Brian Franke

9.0

Worth the extra year of storing. — 8 years ago

with Sara

Donna Fauerbach

9.3

This may be my new favorite rose especially considering that I will be traveling to this fine country next month (shhh). So smooth & delicious you must try it! — 8 years ago

Eric Hwang

8.9

My previous comments still apply. Takes a little time to open up, and a little hot initially, but otherwise still earthy and having a distinct black olive umami note and loads of acidity. Where were these wines when we were traveling through SW France. — 9 years ago

John Brunner

9.5

after 2 weeks traveling Italy— this is my favorite! — 2 years ago

with Billy and Jan

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.6

Just brilliant. Took 1.5 hours but boy did this unfold. A brilliant wine. 1/3 germany, 1/3 oregon, 1/3 burgundy. Just a world class traveling Pinot Noir. The aromatics were 9.7-9.8. Wait 5 more years if you have some. — 3 years ago

Nathan Renfro

9.3

One of my favorite value wines. Same notes as before. Unfortunately while traveling I forgot a corkscrew, so it’s a little corky 😂 Still a great wine though! — 4 years ago

Jan de Weerd

9.4

Rich, flavorful Cab with fantastic bold tannins well integrated with the dark red fruit of cranberry, blueberry, currant. Layers of complexity readily opened up and a grippy finish. We picked it up at cellar doors when we were traveling across SE SA a few years back and visited Coonawarra. Had to drink it today to celebrate their most severe but shortest 3 day lock down in this pandemic history. — 6 years ago

with Tammy

Roger Custer

8.9

This was a unique find when we were traveling to Fredericksburg. It was featured at a different winery, Wilderness Run, which is new with young vines. Lemeberger apparently is a German grape that grows well in Virginia. However it is a young wine and that comes out in the complexity, which was simple and without a longer finish. I'm excited to taste this again in 5, 10, 20 years. — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.6

This wine is made by Dan Standish who started his career by traveling all over the world learning the skill of winemaking. He returned to Australia to make wine at Torbreck. After making Torbreck, he starting his own project. This wine is produced from a vineyard with 100 year old vines with a yield of only a 1/2 ton on fruit per acre. In comparison to quality Napa producers, their yields are 2-3 tons per acre. Dan is absolutely one of the very best producers in Barossa.

On the nose, mulberries, olallieberries, blueberries, blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, plum, blackberries, black cherries, dark berry cola, vanilla, dark spice, black pepper, dry crushed rocks, limestone minerals, soft leather, saddle-wood, coffee grounds, black licorice, dark, rich soil, lavender and violets.

The body is full, rich, ruby, lush and very inky. The texture is elegantly sexy. The 06 is still youthful & fresh. It still needs more time but, it’s delicious tonight. The length, tension, structure and balance are just coming into it own. mulberries, Olallieberries, Boysenberries, blueberries, blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, plum, raisins, blackberries, black cherries, dark berry cola, vanilla, dark spice, black pepper, dry crushed rocks, limestone minerals, soft leather, saddle-wood, coffee grounds, black licorice, dark, rich soil, purple flowers, lavender and violets. The acidity is round and beautiful. The finish is long, thick, ruby, lush, elegant, well balanced with deep heat penetrating dark spices that rise off the palate and lasts several minutes. The 06 is still 5 years from it peak.

Photos of; The Standish Cellar Door, Owner/Winemaker Dan Standish, beautiful Barossa Vineyards and the old tasting room — 8 years ago

Randy Fuller

9.8

This sweet Bordeaux pushes all the right buttons for a wine style that wants to be known as “more than dessert.” The rich golden hue beckons, while the nose of candied fruit is draped in a cloak of minerality. The palate certainly wants to be more than an after-dinner afterthought. The viscous mouthfeel, bracing acidity and mineral-driven flavor profile form a trio unlikely to be caught traveling together in most sweet wines. These have been doing it for centuries. — 9 years ago

Jan de Weerd

9.1

Expressive Bordeaux blend from …. Valle de Guadeloupe! Brought it home when we were traveling there. They are making great wines in Baja California region but interestingly very difficult, if not impossible to get in the US. Paralelo 31 was recommended by several. They are part of a larger project. No dedicated tasting room. Lot of upfront dark earthy expressive fruit. A bit tart on the finish. — 2 years ago

Deborah M

9.0

Vacations that involve both cycling and wine are the absolute best. Already thinking of where to go in 2023.

Last night my neighbors shared this gem that they brought back from a recent Bordeaux wine and bike holiday. (Note to self to spend more time with the fun neighbors 😁).

The 2014 Château Destieux was super approachable after a short decant. Very ripe concentrated fruit, but not in a bad way. Complex with soft tannins. 14.5% ABV. Really a lovely bottle.

Rule #64 Remember to bring back a bottle (or bottles) while traveling. The subsequent stories about the adventure will pair perfectly with that wine. — 4 years ago

P

9.2

Great toasted woods, great lemony acidity, superb finish. Excellent wine to drink on a summer evening when traveling the Palatinate... — 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

Stephanie Arend

10

Bold yet sweet. Reminds me of traveling. Thumbs up — 9 years ago