David Dorn

9.2

Bug wine and first Tempranillo outside of Spain I’ve had- really good stuff! — 2 months ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Yesterday, Stage 7 of this years Tour de France was an exciting Time Trial through a famous section of the Côte-d’Or. The riders started in the village of Nuits-Saint-Georges and finished just up the road in Gevrey-Chambertin. Naturally, I felt compelled to open this beauty from Thibault Liger-Belair. “La Charmotte” is a tiny, 0.40ha (basically a single acre) vineyard right on the border of the 1er crus of Argilats and Bousselots that was planted in 1962.

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of six hours. The 2019 “La Charmotte” pours a deep, slightly hazy ruby, thanks to some fine sediment. But otherwise a transparent core with medium viscosity and no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with gorgeous, perfectly ripened strawberries and raspberries, cranberries, exotic spices, a radical assortment of red flowers, porchini and soft baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+ and super satisfying.

A touch of Vosne-Romanée with the skeleton of Nuits-Saint-Georges, this is a serious village wine with impeccable texture. For all the super nerds out there, Thibault uses 40% whole cluster for this wine, aged 18 months in French oak barrels, less than half of which are new. Drink now through 2034 easy.
— 2 years ago

Jay Kim

9.1

Robinson Road w/ HughLin - May 29, 2021 — 5 years ago

Daniel Leonard

9.1

This wine opens with dark cherry, cola, spices and some oak. Structured tannins with a lingering finish. Good now, I’m sure it will be good a little down the road — 6 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

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.3

2021 vintage. Medium-heavy body. The experience is sped up and comes rushing in terrifying quickly with this effort. NOT a chill red Burg. California stylistically. Riper. Fuller. Ruchots is located across the road from Grand Cru vineyards of Clos-De-Tart and Bonnes-Mares. This did not suck. 10.8.25. — 9 months ago

Joe Weinberger

9.1

Needs time but should be an epic wine down the road. — 5 years ago

Patrick Peters

9.2

This bottle is killer! 2015 — 5 years ago

Katherine Potter

10

Check ok for kp — 5 years ago

Jim McCusker

9.1

Easily one of the better incarnations of this wine, the 2015 Sky is drinking really well. I think (but am not 100% certain) that by this vintage Greg Brewer had moved from Melville to John Hilliard’s operation just down the road on Route 246. Has many of the same characteristics you’d expect from a St Rita Hills pinot - beautiful bright strawberry-laced fruit, a bit of earth and spice, all wrapped together in a wine with a seamless mouthfeel. Very sad that life circumstances compelled John and his wife to shut HB down, but this wine is a terrific reflection of what they achieved in a very short space of time. Cheers! — 6 years ago

with Vanessa

Bob McDonald

9.2

Mid Gold in colour - crystal clear. Kerosene/mineral notes with some chalky aromas. Pristine citrusy flavours coming into the stone fruit spectrum. Medium minus acid but medium plus intensity. (12.5% ABV). A well made Eden Valley Riesling drinking at its peak. — 7 years ago

Sean Stephenson

9.9

Light and smooth — 7 years ago

Anna Ratliff

9.1

Wine class — 8 years ago

Jeroen Koenen

9.3

Lovely wine, just a tad far down the evolutionary road (guessed 1998).
Based on this bottle, I’d say drink up. — 2 years ago

Nicolas Greinacher

9.6

Deep ruby with early hints of garnet, the 2009 Château Léoville Poyferré needs a minimum of two hours in the decanter to fully reveal itself. Once it does, it offers an alluring perfume of violets, blackberry, black plum, blackcurrant, menthol, tobacco, cedar wood, cloves and nutty chocolate. Alongside balancing acidity and well defined black fruit flavors, the palate is currently dominated by ripe and polished tannins. The potential is obvious and I suspect the 2009 will turn into a stunning wine a few years down the road. Drink from 2026 until 2050. — 4 years ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.6

Absolutely stunning. Quite the contrast to the Colombiere, as this is much more serious and structured and the Aux Cras terroir shines through. New oak is more prevalent, of course, but it’s so integrated already and doesn’t get in the way. The nose is incredibly intense and aromas of dark fruit, sweet spice and a wet rock minerality waft from the glass. While this wine is let’s say, more masculine and less sexy than the Colombiere, there is still a seductive Vosne-like perfume that’s so undeniably CLB and lures you in. The palate is powerful and is full of energy, while at the same time remaining focused and seamlessly delineated. To no surprise length is superior to the Colombiere. Totally irresistible now, but boy this will be a knockout down the road. — 5 years ago

Dave Chambers

8.9

Opened the 2013 Queenston Road Pinot Noir to go with Chinese food. Yummy! — 6 years ago

with Heather

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

It has been a little while since we have had Olivier’s 2014. It’s our last bottle of three and the honey notes have definitely deepened.

The nose shows; sweet & sour lemons, green & golden apple, lime zest-candy, ripe pineapple, green melon, apricots, white peach, gentle, warm, white spice, beautiful chalkiness, caramel, vanillin, honey, candle wax notes, sea spray-fossils, understated limestone & volcanic minerals, fruit blossoms, yellow flowers/lilies, spring flowers, jasmine with mixed flower greens.

The body is full, thick & slightly waxy. Nice viscosity. sweet & sour lemons, green & golden apple, lime zest-candy, overripe pineapple, green melon, apricots, white peach, grapefruit w/ a touch of sugar, gentle, warm, white spice, beautiful, powdery, chalkiness, caramel, vanillin, honey, candle wax notes, light butter & cream quality, fresh herbaceousiness, sea spray-fossils, understated limestone & grainy, grey, volcanic minerals, light sulphur/flintiness, fruit blossoms, yellow flowers/lilies, spring flowers, jasmine with mixed flower greens. The acidity is round/phat...really well done. The nice finish glides gently with elegance, good balance, just hits the low end of rich & lush and depositing soft, powdery minerals as it long sets.

Photos of; Domaine Hubert Lamy, the road sign that lets you know your in St. Aubin, Winemaker-Olivier Lamy and their Domaine branding. — 6 years ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Still a baby. Tasted alongside the 2009 Rafanelli Cab and while both were killer, the Rafanelli seems to have the edge right now. This was still pretty wound up and seemed to have more to show down the road. Cassis, pencil shavings, earth. Tannic. Drink now with some patience or a decant. Will be best after 2025. — 7 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.4

Tasted blind. Red scarlet mixed in with dark tawny color. Bright fruit meets you from the start. This is still very young, chewy and has some strong tannins. This is evolving at a glacial place. Probably will be a wine for my kids to enjoy. 94 but will surely score higher down the road. — 8 years ago