WTN: Nice, light, claret style 2000 Cru Bourgeoise

2000 Chateau Verdignan Haut Medoc Cru Bourgeoise A K&L staff pick.

I understand 2000 was a ripe, big wine year? At only 12.5% abv, this little wine was not showing big New World-style fruit at all. Instead, we had a lovely Claret with darkish ruby coloring (very pretty) definitely some herbal and mineral elements, and a palate dominated by red fruits. Oak seems restrained (at a $20 price point, I would guess there is not a lot of new oak, and the website says something like 20-30% depending on vintage). Very lovely Tuesday evening sipper. 90 points, reflecting what it is. I would buy again.

Also tried the forgettable Pelegrinni lineup (the Zinfandel was actually nice), a very nice Elu White Bordeaux Blend from St. Supery, and an OK but far overpriced Red Elu (and oaky).

Verdignan was a very dependable and inexpensive claret in the 90s in the style which you describe so well. It comes from the same village as Sociando-Mallet and is planted with 50% Merlot, 5% CabFranc and 45% CabSauv; that Merlot proportion is quite high for Médoc.

I haven't tried vintages from the present decade; sounds as if I should.