Pooneet K

9.0

Very solid pecorino, especially on day 2. Crisp, refreshing, quite linear and direct but still very nice. Good value too. — 8 months ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.6

Clear and medium ruby with a medium wide garnet / ruby rim , quite transparent and young looking , though lighter in colour than the Cantermerle 1989 had a couple of days ago . Really quite open and engaging direct from the bottle , constantly changing in the glass . Lovely red fruit dominated nose , cranberry , red currant , red plum , also floral with definition and clarity , discreet truffle , cassis, grafite and spicy cedar notes also . On the palate again very transparent and charming . Lots of those red currant , red plum and cranberry notes , truffle , touch of cassis and sous bois , fantastic intensity and brightness of fruit combined with refreshing acidity and suave , very fine tannins. Quite weightless on the palate , but very long and detailed on the grafite spicy tobacco stained finish. Really excellent balance . Though incredibly enjoyable now it is still pretty young, very fruit driven with some secondary development, this will improve over the next 5 or even 10 years and plateau for a further 10 or so. — 3 years ago

Peter Coulthard

9.7

Direct from SA. Delightful. Takes me back to the tasting rooms. Oaky, pepper, tobacco nose, deep blackcurrant, blackberries, peppery undertones and warmth, oaky in the mouth, lovely finish for something as light as a Pinotage. Really rate it. — 6 years ago

Vino Kaela

9.4

A 9.4 with potential to upgrade with more age! The 2010 at 10 years is still a young developing wine. The fruit is still plentiful with cherry, raspberry, red plum, the tertiary elements are barely starting to integrate and show. The oak was also pretty muted but there. Personally I think this vintage is a little shutdown at the moment but give it 5+ more years and I think it will start showing like the 2005! This wine has a lot of power and potential. I tasted this in a vertical with the 2005 and 2007 all bottles came direct from the Barge Cellars. — 6 years ago

with Chris

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

Michael Herzig

9.4

A caveat - this is direct from the Chateau. I bought a different vintage from a local store and it is quite different. This is just a direct hit for me. Great spine, smooth finish, and great terroir. Even with shipping, this is good value and I just ordered a case of the 2013, 10 years on but direct from chateau. I have a soft spot for Cos having visited with a highly recommended tour with Anais there. We’re fans — 3 years ago

Seth Masterson

9.2

To me good wine stands out from average wine when I can sense three things from it: time, place and intention.
This rustic garnacha clearly carries these three indices.
The top layer of smell is rustic- farm, soil. Sticking my nose in the glass I'm greeted with a maraschino liquor soaked cherry wood barrel.
The palate tells me it's been maturing and mellowing for three quarters of a decade - this is mature but eagerly waiting to be opened. There aren't layers to this- it's straight forward, direct, open and expressive. Elegant in it's simplicity but certainly not posh. Dry, but very much alive, like the garrigues that was once rooted where this vineyard now stands. This is central Spain. — 4 years ago

Blair Campomizzi

9.0

Solid wine. Direct and focused with cherry, plum and toasted vanilla on the edges. — 6 years ago

with Arthur and Marilea

Mark Flesher

9.4

Not bad from cork pop, but definitely better after 90 min of air. Nose is youthful oak and slightly ripe blackberry, sandalwood. Palate all ripe blackberry and attenuated pepper spice with a hint of sandalwood. Some iodine when moving to the mid-palate. Initially I was getting a a fairly strange Oreo cookie kind of note. The finish is a little direct and still a bit on the youthful side but this is gaining. The best years of this are ahead of it for sure. Going to be a force in 2023 and plan to hold my 3L of this for much much longer. — 6 years ago

Evan Bienstock

9.7

On this very troubling night in NYC, let’s drink 85 Burgundy. And this was stunning. Direct from Claudine. I hope you are all safe and healthy in these crazy times. These are the times to dig deep in your cellar. Why else lay bottles down other than for times like this...? — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.0

Whenever I have a really older bottle of wine, I think, what was I doing in this case 1989?

About this time of year, I was walking into Candlestick Park for the Bay Bridge World Series while this wine was fermenting. I was walking through the parking lot when the 89 earthquake hit. It was like Godzilla was a Gopher tunneling under my feet. The stadium erupted with a resounding cheer. Earthquake during the World Series...yeah! It wasn’t until an hour later that hard reality set in.

This Chateau Lynch-Moussas is a recent direct purchase from the Negotiant. 89 was a pretty good Bordeaux year. So, why not see how a 5th Growth producer wine evolved over 30 years. It’s a treat to enjoy wine with this much age.

While Lynch-Mousses has improved vastly in more recent vintages, back in the day, they made some nice wines but, not great. This wine shows beauty & elegance but, it lacks fundamental elements of high quality. However, its fruit and structure have held up nicely over the years.

The nose reveals a fair amount of; barnyard, mushrooms, ripe; blackberries dark currants, dark cherries, black raspberries & strawberries on the edges of the glass. Black plum skin, dark chocolate, raspberry cola, mocha, caramel, clove, nutmeg, burnt cinnamon, tarriness, graphite, leather, old tobacco, dark spice, dry herbs, dark, rich, black earth, stones, dry brush, steeped tea with withering red & dark florals.

The body is still full and round. The fruits are still ripe & slightly candied. The wine is still holding an interesting drinking window, it’s on the decline. While that sounds not good, I find them in this phase infinitely more interesting. Ripe; blackberries dark currants, dark cherries, black raspberries & some strawberries. Black plum with skin, dark chocolate, raspberry cola, mocha, caramel, clove, nutmeg, burnt cinnamon, vanillin, tarriness, graphite, leather, old tobacco, dark spice, dry herbs, dark, rich, forest floor, mushrooms, stones, touch of limestone minerals & crush rocks, dry brush, steeped tea with withering red & dark florals with violets. The acidity is round & excellent. The long finish is; rich, ripe, well balanced & intergraded with long drier but, very floral persistence.

Excellent with our steaks. Still has another 5-7 years of good drinking ahead with excellent storage. I also miss the 12-13% ABV of the 80’s Bordeaux’s.

Photos of; the entrance view of Chateau Lynch-Moussas, Count Jean-Baptiste Lynch of Ireland and Chateau founded in the 1800’s, the owner/operator since 1961 - Emile Casteja and their barrel room.
— 7 years ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.1

2014 vintage. Leaner and not as fleshy or voluptuous as the last bottle of this (tasted 12.7.21 and rated 9.4). A bit more direct which was still pretty decent. 4.6.23. — 3 years ago

Delectable Wine

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9.6

This bottle of 1982 Gruaud-Larose came direct from the château cellars. It is just pure joy on the nose with fabulous scents of black fruit, hung game (less so than previous bottles), clove and a faint aroma of a stately home. It manages to offer both ample fruit and life-affirming complexity. The palate has aged little since I last tasted it; there's more red fruit here, with freshly rolled tobacco, cedar and a touch more spiciness on the finish than previous tastings, with a sweet yet structured finish. This may well represent the finest bottle that I have encountered. (Neal Martin, Vinous, January 2023) — 3 years ago

Brendan Devine

9.2

Whoa! This was a surprise. Tart apple, Brie cheese. Slightly effervescent. In that ABv sweet spot as well. Drink with impunity. — 5 years ago

Ron R

9.5

So many peeps enjoyed the visual of our cellar, thought I’d give you the side shot.
Coming direct from the winery, this Bard is so consistent with prior vintages, and the presentation is rock solid. So much depth on the nose and palate. 2012 vintage is still primo, but this vintage is knocking at the door and wants to join the party. — 6 years ago

with Anne-marie

Andrew Lohse

9.2

Iron, blood, red cherry lozenge, black cherry, balsamic, slight savory / intense & direct freshness / Serious Sangiovese—goes toe to toe with many brunellos, in my opinion, and totally shines / on the skin for 30 days, site-specific. . . Not just the leftovers, but a true version of the real thing. and totally vivid at 5 years! — 6 years ago

Peter van den Besselaar

8.9

Vintage 2010 / It can be uncompromising harsh, Cabernet Franc. When young. It can be delightful elegant and charming. When aged. I love the grape with its successes in the region Loire. This one is even now dusty stubborn direct out of the bottle. But gains charm with every minute. Fine spicyness. — 6 years ago

James Webb

9.6

DOYARD - purchased direct from the winery - 1995 vintage disgorged 2007 - 12 years in bottle. Good pop of the bottle. Golden, amber hue. Nose is super complex, butterscotch, herbs (dill, anise), and and huge salinity, with some mandarin orange. Absolutely smacking. Palette is huge. Truly expansive body - acid so balanced. These Carmel and tangerine notes happen. The finish is long and tannic. This is a unicorn bottle. Excellent. — 7 years ago

Jay Kline

9.1

Direct from the winery. Popped and poured; consumed over several hours. The bouquet was tart red fruits and tobacco...plus, there was a rather fascinating aroma of braised beef...like an awesome stew with veggies and the whole bit. It was all very nice actually! On the palate, a combination of dark and red fruits; think slightly under-ripened blackberries and red currants. As time went on, it became more red fruited in profile. A little thin and a touch green which is indicative of the vintage. The tannins, which are still very much present, are fairly well integrated at this point. I’m a big fan of Seavey and their Caravina is deserving of being considered one of, if not the best, second wine in Napa. Drink now and enjoy! — 7 years ago

Guillaume Duchesne-Lessard

9.3

En direct de Chez Toqué — 7 years ago