Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

I haven’t had a Bordeaux in a while. Especially, with a Ribcap. So, why not an 82? The vintage Robert Parker made his career as the only critic who called it correctly.

Very good 80’s Bordeaux were my first true wine love. Their style & 12-13% ABV will always be my cherished infatuation. Wished it had never changed.

Bought this Calon Segur on the secondary market several yrs ago. Tricky cork. Used my Durand. All good. Fill line perfect, no bottle neck tannin burn but plenty of velvety sediment.

If any of you ever wondered why there is a heart on the label. Here is the interesting reason…

It symbolizes the estate's deep-rooted history and the affection of its former owner, the Marquis de Ségur. Despite owning prestigious estates like Château Lafite and Château Latour, he famously declared, "I make wine at Lafite and Latour, but my heart is at Calon." His sentiment is immortalized by the heart emblem on the label.

Opened it and let it breathe from the bottle for 45 minutes. Tasted it and decanting it in stages. Then, stopped 1/2 way through and poured the bottom half of the bottle from the bottle.

82 is such a grand, classic vintage. For the most part, I drink Calon Segur’s too early, even at 20 yrs of age. I don’t want to say it is a long in tooth as its neighbor, Montrose, but it is close. This 82 is drinking perfectly w/ 41 yrs in bottle and will hold another 5 yrs. Such soft, perfectly darkish spices with elegantly ripe fruits.

This 82 glides over the palate. There is only beautiful elegance, nothing bites back. The fruits are older (not old or past their prime), ripe fruits of; blackberries, dark cherries, both plums but lean plum vs black, dark cherries, crazy, outstanding, hoovering raspberries with notes of blueberries & shades of freshly picked rhubarb. Some black cherry cola, anise to understated black licorice, dark chocolate pudding, caramel, layered, gentle baking spices-nutmeg, clove, cinnamon & vanillin, touch of sun tea, old leather, dryish to fresh tobacco w/ash, charcoal, elegant graphite, dry limestone powder, dry river pebbles, black, rich earth w/ dry leaves, magical, dark spices, grey volcanics, dry stems, just a hint of dry herbs, dry top soil, fresh & withering dark, red flowers, red roses, grand acidity with perfect; balance, tension, structure and a grand, gentle finish that goes on & on and eventually lands on an amazing soft buffet of earthiness.

This is a wine that is technically a 94, but w/ evolution & style a 97. Amazing bottle that you don’t want to end.

$500 a bottle today through the app. Somewhere around $10 upon release. — 6 months ago

Robert Dufort

9.6

Purchased12+ years ago, drank it last week with family and friends. Steak and risotto dinner. Initial tasting at bottle opening gave me concerns, was
afraid it had peaked long before, whiff of vinegar, no fruit. Decanted, tasted again after 30 minutes, had begun to open up. Started drinking after another 30 minutes and wow, what a difference! Have never experienced that great a change in a wine. So superb. The sommelier just smiled. Fruit rose up, very fine tannins,so smooth, loved it. Wish I had another bottle. Drink now. — 3 years ago

Alder Yarrow

Wine Blogger Vinography

9.5

There are a few producers in the world about which I can say unequivocally that I adore every wine they make. Domaine Marcel Deiss is one of them. @domainemarceldeiss. I managed to get ahold of some older vintage wines recently and I’m trying very hard not to drink them too fast, but they’re just so darn good. Decided to open this one over dinner with friends last night and it was glorious. Crystallized honey, parchment, dried orange peels, and herbs, all welded to a core of crushed stone. Fantastic. This is a most unusual (though not for Deiss) field blend of Riesling, Pinot Gris, Pinot Beurot, Muscat, and Pinot Noir. — 4 years ago

Jerry Raphael

9.0

I believe the time has come for this wine with a lot of brown color throughout but not flawed at all and showed meat, licorice and berries in the nose and taste. Nice long finish. Visited the winery in 1998 and had an excellent tour and private tasting.

I have one bottle left of Beaucastel and its a 1978 which was the first year I started buying them. Parker said hold the 1978 and hold it and then over the hill but who knows. In the next year or two when I can have friends over will open it and see. Bought 3 Beaucastel a year till 2001, the prices got too high and another buying consortium fell apart. — 5 years ago

with Barbara

Jon Ebsworth

9.3

This was singing - three bottles opened over dinner with friends who all loved it — 7 years ago

Jay Kline

9.1

Quite possibly one of the most singular expressions of Zinfandel I have ever tasted and unquestionably going to be misunderstood by most who drink it. This is not a Zinfandel drinker’s Zinfandel. It’s too acidic; too mineral driven; too light on its feet. And yet, I was absolutely charmed by it! Particularly when I paired it with pomegranate marinated rack of lamb. At 7 years old, it’s just now entering its drinking window. I would expect this to be enjoyable for at least another 7 years and perhaps longer. — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

No detailed notes as we were at dinner with friends. Three Somm’s present for dinner and all thought this was wine of the night. I was one of them.

I believe their 15 is even better than their fantastic 2010.

If you are not familiar with this producer & terroir, I highly recommend you do. It remains under most consumers radar. I should probably stay silent on it as it will only drive up demand and price. But, good wine is meant to be shared with people who know how to appreciate it. This is around $55 on pre-arrival and $70ish if not bought on pre-arrival.

Olivier Lamy left the family Domaine to learn from other producers before returning to his family Domaine. He made Méo-Camuzet for few years just before his return.

The body was thick and slightly waxy. Nice green apple, pineapple, lime, honeysuckle, fruit blossoms with excellent round acidity, texture, elegant and well polished finish.

Recommend you slightly over chill it and decant it for an hour if you drink it this young. After it hour, it really blossoms.

Photos of, the Domaine property, Saint-Aubin Vineyard, amazing Saint-Aubin Chardonnay grapes and Domaine building sign — 7 years ago

Peter van den Besselaar

9.3

Vintage 1989 | When and with who you taste can influence your appreciation tremendously. After a blind tasting with terrific wines I poured this wine (blind) in the glasses with sourdough bread and goose rillette. Combination made in heaven. The well known tension between sweet and acids completed it. A treat. With wine friends @Liselotte Brouwers @Berry Marinussen Maarten Drop. — a year ago

Jeremy Pollard

9.4

First taste of the 1er after having collected a few different vintages over the years, along with consuming plenty of their bargain priced Hoddles Creek Estate pinot noir. It’s a cracker. Drinking gorgeously now, having had a few years to integrate. Was having too much fun wolfing down tasty pizza with friends to make detailed notes, but it was certainly a pleasure to drink. — 3 years ago

with Sam

Jay Kline

9.4

This bottle of 2010 Pecchenino “Le Coste” was pulled from my cellar on a “school night” and brought to a fun little gathering of service friends after their shift. Opened, splash decanted and consumed over three hours; served side-by-side with the 2010 Roberto Voerzio “Brunate”. The Pecchenino “Le Coste” was locked down pretty hard for the first 30 minutes but shifted dramatically before the hour mark. At that point, it was singing with bright, red and dark fruits, roses, tar and wrapped up in the most elegant package. Compared to the Voerzio, this was lithe and open-knit. A lovely, traditional expression of Barolo that, while endowed with the classic structure of 2010, is just beginning to offer up more of its charm. It’s probably worth noting that Pecchenino actually resides in the Dogliani commune, just across the boarder from Monforte d’Alba. Dogliani is where some of the highest expressions of Dolcetto are produced under the Dogliani Superiore DOCG classification. Pecchenino’s Dolcettos are lovely examples and super reasonable…but I digress. Back to this wine, “Le Coste” is a small-ish MGA in the Barolo commune that sits directly south of the town of Barolo and said to share some similarities with the Cannubi MGA just to the north. While I don’t have enough experience drinking wines made with the fruit from "Le Coste", I can certainly draw some parallels. Anyway, on this night, the "Le Coste" by Pecchenino wiped the floor with the "Brunate" from Voerzio, which couldn’t seem to really get out of the gate and even after 3 hours in a decanter. The Voerzio is gonna need forever to come back around. Drink now with at least 30min of air. Otherwise, this will continue to drink well through 2030+. — 3 years ago

Pinotman /// Andreas

9.8

This comes across as ridiculous must drink now Pinot. Raspberry driven as the 2009. Definitely cut from the same cloth. The powerful tannins will carry this for 10’years but boy is this good right now. Cherry, Za’atar, lemon zest, orange juice, unlike any other Pinot on the Market. I am a fan but it is a wine for folks who know and appreciate E&M. — 5 years ago

Daniel M

8.9

I like to drink a Kwak once in a while because it brings back good memories of times my friends and I were very much into Belgian beers 👌🏻 — 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

Jan de Weerd

9.8

Another amaaazing wine here in Down Under. The Basket Press only available to the ‘in’ members of Rockford winery. Rich flavors expressing from beginning to end in layers of dark, ripe fruits but firmly anchored by well rounded, soft tannins that carried the experience to a long lingering, pleasant finish. We had lunch with our friend who happened to ‘in’ 😊 with Rockford hence our opportunity to taste this wine and share it with other friends who had been admiring Rockford wines for 40 years. — 3 years ago

with Gareth, Andrea and 1 other

Ellen Clifford

9.4

Palmer turned my head in general at a recent tasting—if you can get your hands on the 1996 vintage my gosh…but for exceptional Champagne at (if not everyday) more frequently do-able prices lean in. Toasty white bread with these citrus notes that…can I be honest? It reminds me when as a teen vegetarian in St Louis I’d do late night runs to Steak and Shake where my friends got burgers but I’d order toast and butter with a lime freeze. Those toasty but piquant and refreshing notes. Expect like that on a platter with even more nuance. Obvi it doesnt taste like that precisely but its toast and citrus vibes don’t let go and cream and apple butter are backup singers. Do drink Palmer. — 3 years ago

Peter Sultan

9.2

Tasted blind with friends who thought more in the Alsatian dry Riesling or Pinot Blanc spectrum. I can taste why: has a thick mouthfeel & density of that area, & the Sauvignon Blanc Is a bit of a Zelig as it warms up. Very, very good. — 4 years ago

with Owen

Alan Weinberg

9.1

I’m not a big Sauternes lover. I’d rather drink an Eiswein or TBA. This was nice; my buddy, who drinks it often, said it was a great bottle. — 5 years ago

Anthony Lombardi

9.3

I just was discussing this wine with a friend who was asking what it was like. My answer was if you combined Vermentino with Rhône white grapes. It has all the herbal/floral character of the Rhône’s, but much higher acid & tension. Cogno handles this beautifully and it is a true pleasure to drink. — 6 years ago

Kath Rt

9.1

love the flavor...that kind of wine that you will drink if you are cooking, eating, with friends, or just chillin’...love it! .... dry and acidity (balanced)... — 7 years ago

M. Christopher Roebuck

9.1

Excellent. Approachable Nebbiolo, 2013--just enough age to make it enjoyable. Getting ready for our upcoming Italy trip! Looking for recommendations. Visiting Barolo et al and Puglia this time around.

Friends: where should we go? Who should we meet? What should we drink?

@Antonio Galloni @Bill Bender @P A @Kimberly Anderson @"Odedi" @Eric Shanks @Dr. Owen Bargreen @Ralph DiBiasi @David From The 504 @James Forsyth @David L @Mike R @Shay A @Stuart Scheff @David T — 7 years ago