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1870 Lafite (750ml)

$16,220.00

Michael Broadbent 5*

Bottle is Cruzes et Fils negociant. One of the all time greats and, at its best, a powerhouse, massively endowed with every concievable component. In fact, such a powerful and tannic wine that it was virtually undric=nkable for half a century. Nevertheless, bottlings varied, and, as always, provenance plays a part.. I have had the opportunity to taste, and drink 1870 Lafite on sixteen occasions starting, however, with an untypical pale and astringent bottle which nevertheless, as if it was conscious of letting the side down, emitted a sweet bouquet which lingered in the glass long after it had been emptied.

1937 Haut-Brion (750ml)

$1,620.00

Robert Parker 89

To everyone's surprise, the 1937 Haut-Brion out-performed the 1947, and the soft, fully mature 1962. 1937 has a justifiable reputation for being a hard vintage, but one could see through the austere, still tannin-dominated 1937 Haut-Brion to admire the healthy, dark, dense color with only some amber at the edge. Minerals, tobacco, cedar, and coffee aromas were followed by a muscular, medium-bodied wine with plenty of power and fruit. But the vintage's tell-tale hard tannin was still present. This particular magnum of 1937 Haut-Brion would have lasted another 20-30+ years. I suspect many 1975s are the modern day clones of the 1937 vintage. The notes for this wine are taken from the description of Series IV - Flight D of the 1995 tasting conducted in Munich by Helga and Hardy Rodenstock.

1946 Latour (750ml)

$1,395.00

1951 Latour (750ml)

$865.00

1963 Latour (750ml)

$450.00

Michael Broadbent

A relatively sound wine due to the high percentage of Cabernet Sauvingon and old vines.

1964 Pichon Lalande (750ml)

$285.00

1966 Beychevelle (750ml)

$163.00

Robert Parker 86

One of my favorite Beychevilles, this wine has constantly shown well in tasting of the 1966's.Quite mature, with an expansive, complex, ripe, fruity, spicy, cedary bouquet and supple, soft, velvety flavors, this Beycheville has consistently exhibited good concentration..Although fully mature for over a decade, it displays no signs of decline.

Clive Coates 16

Full colour. Still youtful. Medium-full substance on the nose. Sligthly four-square. A lack of flexbility. Medium-full body. Good ripe blackcurrant fruit. Smooth now. Good acidity. Indeep perhas just a suggestions of leaness at the end. Very good but not greaat. Still holding up well.

1966 La Mission Haut Brion (750ml)

$390.00

Clive Coates 18

Fine colour. Firm,very Cabernet nose..Fullish. Some tannin. Aristocratic. Balanced. Very classy fruit..Very fine. Bags of life.

Wine Spectator 93

Very ripe, rich and fleshy, although still with a hard backbone. Deep ruby, brick-red color, ripe, intense raspberry aromas, full-bodied, with ripe, rich raspberry flavors and cedar and tobacco notes. There's plenty of tannin here. better in 1994 to '96.--La Mission-Haut-Brion vertical.

Robert Parker 89

The 1966 La Mission-Haut-Brion, never quite as rich and deep as the 1964, is still a beautifully made, elegant La Mission, with a very cedary and leather-scented, fruity bouquet, medium to full body, and a long, supple, velvety finish. I would advise those who have it in their wine collections to consume it over the next 4-5 years. It does not appear capable of getting any better, and may, in fact, be just starting to lose the fruit.

1966 Lafite (750ml)

$720.00

Michael Broadbent 5 *

"Rich and stylish bouquet. On the palate, good, crisp flavour, touch of iron, lean and refreshing, excellent aftertaste."

Clive Coates

"Very good vigorous full colour. Very elegant fruit on the nose. Good, concentrated fruit."

Wine Spectator 93

1966 Pichon-Baron (750ml)

$215.00

Clive Coates

Fuul, vigorous colour. Just a touch dense on the nose but mellow, rich and 'old viney' underneath. Fullish, just a little over-macerated and old-fashioned. But the fruit is very good and balanced. Lacks just a little class. Slight astringent at the end.

1970 Ducru-Beaucaillou (750ml)

$245.00

Wine Spectator 91

"Deep garnet; spicy cassis and tar nose is ripe and full; rich, full, chewy and fruity; at its peak; a very classy claret."

Clive Coates 18/20

"..Lovely classy nose. Medium-full body. Ripe and velvety. This is laid-back and very intense. Quite developed now..but still lovely. Long on the finish?

1970 Grand-Puy-Lacoste (750ml)

$107.00

Wine Spectator 90

Deep ruby-garnet; fragrant cassis, spice and tar nose; very full, firm and chewy, with concentrated cassis flavor in a very full package.

Robert Parker 91

One of the few wines that was not purchased in the early 1970s (I made a trade - and a good one, for this bottle), this deep, dark ruby-colored wine exhibits good liveliness in its color. The wine reveals the classic cassis, mineral, weedy tobacco, spicy nose of a top Pauillac. Full-bodied, concentrated, and close to full maturity, it is a flavorful, expansive, chewy wine. Although it has been distressingly inconsistent in previous tastings, I am convinced the off bottles had been cooked - undoubtedly by exposure to high temperatures. In this tasting, it was a delicious, outstanding example of the vintage that should continue to drink well for another decade.

1970 Lafite (750ml)

$585.00

Michael Broadbent

Originally considerable depth of colour, now medium-deep. Nose, though well developed, opens up in the glass, fragrant, touch of vanilla. The first sip has the sweetness of maturity and bottle-age, fairly full-bodied, silky, delicate yet mouthfilling, greath length, beautiful aftertaste, with tannin and acidity to prolong its life.

Wine Spectator 92

Outstanding quality. The color seems light for a wine that tastes this young and tannic, but the mint and cherry flavors seem intense enough to last until the tannins soften. Try it about 1995.--Lafite Rothschild vertical.

Neil Martin, Wine Journal, eRobert Parker 90

Tasted at the ?First Growth? lunch in London. Nice clear colour. The bouquet definitely has more vigour then previous bottles encountered, with sandalwood, cigar box and cedar to the fore. Not a complex nose, but nicely defined and unashamedly ?classic? in style. The palate is medium-bodied and well-balanced, good level of ripeness, elegant; harmonious but aloof. The second half is conservative but still fresh with just a touch of piquancy right on the finish. This Lafite is not going to go anywhere, but this shows that good bottles can still be pleasurable. Drink now-2015. Tasted October 2008.

1970 Lynch-Bages (750ml)

$300.00

Robert Parker 91

"The 1970 is an old style Lynch Bages with plenty of dry tannin in the finish. Compellingly aromatic, it offers aromas of cedar wood, spice box, tobacco, earth, black currants, and new saddle leather. Spicy, concentrated, and burly, with mouth-searing tannin, this big, thick wine is a terrific example of Lynch Bages made in an older style."

Undergound Wine Journal 18.5/20

"Very impressive, deep colour. Cedary, minty nose. Very ripe, California-style Cabernet. A fruity, tannic, minty wine. Great fruit extract. Sweet, rich, long. Loads of ripe, rich fruit. No rush drinking this." Tasting 3/1999

Wine Spectator 92

"I drank a lot of this in Paris when I lived there in the mid-1980s. And I had a bottle this summer as well. Always outstanding. Shows intense aromas of prune and licorice. Full, velvety and long. This is a beautiful Bordeaux."

1970 Montrose (750ml)

$190.00

Robert Parker 92

"This is one 1970 that appears to possess the necessary components to develop into something special. It remains youthfully hard and astringent, but there is no doubting the high levels of concentration and intensity. Moreover, the wine exhibits a classy, complex bouquet, offering up scents of cedar, black fruits, minerals, and leather. Full-bodied, powerful, and rich, with outstanding concentration, this wine requires another 7-10 years of cellaring - can you believe that? It is unquestionably a 40-50-year wine."

Undergound Wine Journal 18/20

"This is clearly the best St. Estephe of the vintage. As expected, a brooding giant. Very deep, very youthful colour to rim. Tight, cedary, slightly herbacious nose backed by ripe, black fruit. Very big, very had, very tight, with great concentration. If well stored, drink from 2000-2020."

Neil Martin, Wine Journal, eRobert Parker 92

This has always been a lovely Montrose, although it is in a very glacial decline since first encountered in 2001. A deep garnet hue. The nose is still vigorous with mulberry, espresso, crushed black pepper and a touch of liquorice. The palate is masculine and tannic as always, powerful with a slight grainy texture. Perhaps this bottle is more muffled than others but the finish is impressively powerful, with cedar, blackberry and this time a faint hint of black tea. Dry finish, a hedonist might describe this Montrose as a little �dour�. Classic is the word I prefer to use. Drink now-2018. Tasted July 2007.

1970 Mouton (750ml)

$430.00

Robert Parker 93

"Opulent, full-bodied, thick, and juicy, the extraordinary evolution of this particular bottle would make a persuasive argument for long-term decanting."

Undergound Wine Journal 18/20

Much darker than Lafite. Lovely, cedary, cigar box, classic Mouton nose. Full, rich, round, evolved, yet lovely extract.

Neil Martin, Wine Journal, eRobert Parker 94

I have always had a soft spot for this Mouton, although it is beginning to show its age. A deep garnet hue with amber rim. The nose is mature with pencil lead, cedar and dusty attic aromas very Pauillac, this could not be from anywhere else. The palate is medium-bodied, stoic and conservative with notes of cedar, blackberry leaf and roasted herbs. Very ..solid.. And foursquare on the finish. It does not seem to have moved on since I last tasted this in 2003, although I am less inclined to cellar it as long term as I once supposed. Still, a classic mature Pauillac that certainly shows best with food. Drink now-2018. Tasted April 2007.

Steve Tanzer's International Wine Cellar 94

"Bright red with an amber rim. Captivating nose of dark plum, blackcurrant, oak, coffee, cocoa and flowers. Juicy, sweet and suave on entry, then brightly focused in its red fruit and black flavors complicated by cedar and citrus. Finishes with flinty, saline nuances and very suave tannins. This outstanding wine is perfectly balanced and light on its feet, still very young and capable of a very long life. It might disappoint those looking for a blockbuster, but I love its overall sense of refinement. An essence of claret." Ian D'Agata

1975 Gruaud-Larose (750ml)

$152.00

Robert Parker 89

This massive, backward wine appears to resist aging. Still bitterly tannic, impressively-colored (dark garnet with no amber), and monstrous on the palate, this wine will either turn out like the outstanding 1928 and begin to reveal some charm and character around age 40, or it will dry out, much like the 1948. It needs another 5-10 years of cellaring. The excruciatingly painful level of tannin makes this wine an enigma. It is likely to be appreciated only by the most patient Bordeaux enthusiasts. I would not be surprised to see some wine writer touting its greatness around 2025, long after most of it had been consumed and found to be pleasureless. Owners should try not to touch a bottle before 2005.

Clive Coates

Good colour. A little auster on the nose. Medium-full body. This is bettern than the 1978 but not brilliant. There is a little astringency, and though the fruit is quite class, it is not ample enough fine. Long though. Very good indeed.

1975 Leoville Las Cases (750ml)

$190.00

Robert Parker 93

This is one of the great successes of the vintage. However, those with modern day tastes for soft, easy-going, supple wines may not enjoy the 1975 Leoville Las-Cases. Why? It is a tannic, backward, old style wine cut from the mold of such vintages as 1948 and 1928. The color is a dark ruby/garnet with a hint of amber at the edge. The nose offers up distinctive mineral, lead pencil, sweet, blackcurrant scents with flinty overtones. Full-bodied, thick, and concentrated, as well as atypically muscular and powerful, this should prove to be one of the longest-lived wines of the vintage. There are sensational levels of richness and intensity. While the vintage's tough tannin level ensures another 20-35 years of longevity, the wine may dry out by that time. I thought this wine would be at its peak by the mid-nineties, but it still needs another 5-8 years of cellaring. It is a very impressive, albeit backward and hard wine.

Neil Martin, Wine Journal, eRobert Parker 90

Tasted at Roberson?s Las-Cases vertical. The ?75 has a lovely mature nose of mulberry, cedar, pine and a touch of gravel with very good definition and poise. The palate is not quite as attractive as the nose, but is fresh and lively with good acidity, degraded tertiary dark red fruits interlaced with tobacco and cedar, leading to an elegant supple finish with touches of wild mushroom. Very pleasing. Tasted February 2011.

1975 Montrose (750ml)

$98.00

Robert Parker 87

Still backward, although the color is beginning to exhibit amber/rust at the edge, this large-scaled, muscular, charmless Montrose is structured enough to be admired, but I wonder if there is enough fruit to hold for another 10 years? Full-bodied, with earthy, dusty, red and black fruit aromas, this tannic, behemoth needs another 2-3 years of cellaring. The jury is still out on this one.

Clive Coates 17.5.20

Very good colour. Barely mature. Rich and full but a bit inky on the nose. Better on the palate. Good grip. Medium-full-body. Some tannins and astringency but not unduly so. This is better than the Cos d'Estournel for once. Nice chocolate and caramel aspects. Long and positive. Very good indeed.

1978 La Fleur Petrus (750ml)

$680.00

Robert Parker 90

Quite similar to the 1979, yet showing a more perceptible amber/brown edge to it, the 1978 La Fleur Petrus has a supple, rich, fat, ripe Merlot fruitiness, medium to full body, and light, round tannins.

1978 Lafleur (750ml)

$925.00

Robert Parker 93

More and more the 1978 Lafleur is looking like one of the two or three finest wines of the vintage, along with La Mission-Haut-Brion and Latour. This dark plum/garnet-colored wine exhibits a knock-out nose of black cherry fruit intermixed with licorice, minerals, cedar, and spice. Medium to full-bodied, with powerful tannin remaining, this highly extracted wine is atypical for the 1978 vintage. It is a weighty, broad-shouldered, muscular, virile 1978 that is just beginning to reveal secondary nuances and complexity. I have always thought this wine could develop along the lines of the 1966, and I am more convinced than ever that it is the seventies clone of that vintage

Wine Spectator 92

Layered and complex, with loads of cassis and blackberry flavors and classic-tasting Lafleur terroir coming through in the mineral, lead pencil, wet earth character.-Ch�teau Lafleur vertical. January 2000

1978 Lynch-Bages (750ml)

$163.00

Neil Martin, Wine Journal, eRobert Parker 92

Ex-cellar bottle tasted blind at the Lynch Bages vertical. Light colour than others and a more open-knit nose, tobacco and cigar box and with time in the glass: burnt toast, a touch of melted toffee. The 1978 Lynch Bages has a very smooth entry on the palate, lovely balance between austerity and concentration. Good acidity...this is quintessential English claret. Blackberry, spice and a touch of pepper. Good persistency towards the caramel, savoury finish. Excellent�I was shocked when the vintage was revealed! Tasted September 2009.

Wine Spectator 92

Clive Coates 17/20

1979 La Mission Haut Brion (750ml)

$275.00

Robert Parker 90

"A strong effort from La Mission, the 1979 retains its healthy dark ruby/purple color. It offers a spicy, mineral, and cassis-scented bouquet, medium to full body, ripe, concentrated, muscular flavors, and a long finish."

Neil Martin, Wine Journal, eRobert Parker 88

The nose is very closed upon first acquaintance, but then some soft red-berried, wild hedgerow aromas reluctantly emerge. The palate is a little funky and I am not sure how representative it is? But still it has some attractive, ?animally? qualities in the middle with a herbaceous, almost rustic finish that has charm if not breeding. Drink now. Tasted May 2008.

1979 Lafite (750ml)

$875.00

Robert Parker 90

A dark ruby color, a tight but complex bouquet of blackcurrants, spice, and vanilla oakiness, medium body, firm tannins and a long crisp finish. Anticipated Maturity: Now - 2005

Wine Spectator 92

Lafite Rothschild is arguably the archetypal Bordeaux chateau, an aristocratic first growth with a reputation for great wines already established in the 18th century, When Thomas Jefferson visited Bordeaux and purchased it's wines. The 1979's elegance and balance, all finesse and subtlety, is classic Lafite.

Clive Coates 19.5

Fullish, mature colour. Lovely rich succulent blackberry nose. A touch of sweetness. A touch of oak. Pure class and elegance. Full body. Very good tannins. Excellent fruit and grip. This is a super 1979. One of the very best. Lovely long, vigorous finish. Vertical tasting 2001

1981 La Mission Haut Brion (750ml)

$180.00

Robert Parker 90

No doubt this vintage of La Mission-Haut-Brion was probably overlooked once the highly publicized 1982 vintage was conceived, but this wine has always been, in my opinion, one of the stars of the vintage. It showed extremely well with a big, rich, berry, smoky-scented bouquet, medium-bodied, alcoholic, deep flavors, huge fruit, and a long finish. It has shed much tannin, and seems to be nearing its plateau of maturity, where I would expect it to last for 10-15 years.

Wine Spectator 91

"Has good fruit. Medium ruby-red in color, with aromas of milk chocolate and spice. Medium-bodied, with medium-full tannins and plenty of earthy vanilla and chocolate flavors."

Clive Coates 18.5

Deep colour. Still barely mature. Lovely nose?Medium-full body. Good acidity. Plenty of fruit. This is very stylish. It finishes well and will still last. Vertical tasting 2001

Michael Broadbent 4 *

Spicy but aggressive in its youth, but rich, ripe fruit on the nose, crisp flavour and bitter tanins noted towards the end of the decade.

1981 La Mission Haut Brion (750ml)

$180.00

Robert Parker 90

No doubt this vintage of La Mission-Haut-Brion was probably overlooked once the highly publicized 1982 vintage was conceived, but this wine has always been, in my opinion, one of the stars of the vintage. It showed extremely well with a big, rich, berry, smoky-scented bouquet, medium-bodied, alcoholic, deep flavors, huge fruit, and a long finish. It has shed much tannin, and seems to be nearing its plateau of maturity, where I would expect it to last for 10-15 years.

Wine Spectator 91

"Has good fruit. Medium ruby-red in color, with aromas of milk chocolate and spice. Medium-bodied, with medium-full tannins and plenty of earthy vanilla and chocolate flavors."

Clive Coates 18.5

Deep colour. Still barely mature. Lovely nose?Medium-full body. Good acidity. Plenty of fruit. This is very stylish. It finishes well and will still last. Vertical tasting 2001

Michael Broadbent 4 *

Spicy but aggressive in its youth, but rich, ripe fruit on the nose, crisp flavour and bitter tanins noted towards the end of the decade.

1981 Latour (750ml)

$755.00

Robert Parker 88

The 1981 tastes remarkably velvety and supple for such a young Latour--not that this is a malevolent occurrence--because the excellence, complexity, and richness of the wine are still present. The color is dark ruby, the bouquet offers plenty of ripe cassis and spicy oak, and the flavor is generous, silky, moderately tannic, and long in the finish. This Latour may turn out to be similar to the 1971.

1981 Mouton (750ml)

$410.00

Wine Spectator 91

Wonderfully rich and still holding back. Beautiful plum, toasted oak, berry and tobacco character. Firm with a full body. Drinkable now; better with time.--The Bordeaux 50. JS

1982 Cos d'Estournel (750ml)

$540.00

Robert Parker 97

Atypically thick, super-concentrated, rich, and powerful. Although approachable and even delicious if decanted an hour or more before serving, the wine reveals no signs of age in its opaque dark ruby/purple color. The tannin is more aggressive, but the wine still reveals that fabulous inner-core of sweet, jammy, blackcurrant and black-cherry fruit.

Steve Tanzer's International Wine Cellar 94

Full medium red. Spicy aromas of redcurrant, strawberry and plum. Ripe, lush and gentle, with a mineral character contributing to the wine impression of structure and leavening the wine's sweetness. Very long, ripely tannic finish shows slightly elevated alcohol but comes across as firm nonetheless. (A second sample showed aromas of currant, tobacco, coconut and menthol and seemed tighter, even a bit harder, in the middle palate, with a similarly firm structure; I scored this sample 93(+?)) Drink now through 2020.

Neil Martin, Wine Journal, eRobert Parker 96

Tasted at the Cos d?Estournel dinner at St. John. Just how lovely is this Cos, which must be halfway along its plateau of maturity. The nose is just divine with dark cherries, iodine, a touch of hot bricks, scorched earth, and roasted chestnuts on a freezing December evening. So much character, so natural. The palate is medium-bodied with exquisite balance, still quite youthful and utterly harmonious. Smoky and meaty towards the finish that you yearn to go on as long as possible. This is a more rustic version of the Pichon-Lalande ?82, but in its own way, just as desirable. Drink now-2020+ Tasted March 2009.

1982 Croizet-Bages (750ml)

$72.00

Wine Spectator 89

Much better than I anticipated. Brilliant ruby-garnet color. Very fresh, with blackberry, dark chocolate and cherry. Full-bodied and concentrated, with plenty of fruit and velvety tannins.--1982 Bordeaux horizontal.

1982 Ducru-Beaucaillou (750ml-12pk OWC)

$4,800.00

Robert Parker 96

Quite rich, concentrated, extremenly young, and backward, but easy to appreciate as a superb Ducru, as well as the best wine made at this estate since the 1961. It is a fuller-bodied than normal, with remarkable delineation, great richness, and that wonderful sweetness that is a hallmark of this vintage. This long, exceptionally well-focused, classic Ducru should reach its peak in 3-5 years and last through the first two or three decades of the next century.

Wine Spectator 91

This Ducru '82 has always been a beauty. Dark ruby in color, with a slight amber edge. Very fresh and floral, with loads of berry and rose character. Medium-bodied, with a good balance of soft tannins and a caressing finish.--1982 Bordeaux horizontal.

1982 Gruaud-Larose (750ml)

$430.00

Wine Spectator 94

Superb Bordeaux, perhaps one of the best ever from this estate. Deeply colored, with wonderful berry and violet aromas and similar flavors. Shows great restraint and style.

Steve Tanzer's International Wine Cellar 94+

Good deep red. Very complex, perfumed aromas of plum, leather, meat and minerals. Sweet, lush and young; really stuffed with fat, meaty fruit. Broad without being really thick, with impressive precision of fruit. The most complex of these three vintages of Gruaud-Larose. Finishes with big, ripe tannins and palate-staining sweet fruit. The young 2000 reminds me of this wine. (A second bottle of equal quality showed roasted currant, tobacco and leather on the nose; a broad, silky palate of compelling sweetness; and a sweetly fruity finish with big, firm tannins and excellent length.) Drink now through 2020

Robert Parker 98

A massive wine that is clearly of first-growth quality in this vintage, the 1982 Gruaud Larose remains a youngster. A broodingly dense, thick, unctuously textured, inky/plum/garnet/purple color offers up scents of beef blood, steak tartare, cassis, herbs, tobacco, and underbrush. One of the most concentrated wines of the vintage (as well as one of the most concentrated Bordeaux�s I have ever tasted), it is a huge, full-bodied, weighty, rich wine whose tannins are getting silkier and silkier. It appears set for another 30-40 years of life. This behemoth is a singularly profound example of Gruaud Larose that continues to justify its legendary status. Anticipated maturity: now-2050.

eRobert Parker Hedonist's Gazette

A massive wine that is clearly of first-growth quality in this vintage, the 1982 Gruaud Larose remains a youngster. A broodingly dense, thick, unctuously textured, inky/plum/garnet/purple color offers up scents of beef blood, steak tartare, cassis, herbs, tobacco, and underbrush. One of the most concentrated wines of the vintage (as well as one of the most concentrated Bordeaux�s I have ever tasted), it is a huge, full-bodied, weighty, rich wine whose tannins are getting silkier and silkier. It appears set for another 30-40 years of life. This behemoth is a singularly profound example of Gruaud Larose that continues to justify its legendary status. Anticipated maturity: now-2050. April 2009

1982 La Mission Haut Brion (375ml)

$645.00

Robert Parker 100

The greatest La Mission Haut Brion made between the 1975 and 1989, the 1982 is, stylistically, a dead-ringer for the ethereal 1959. One of the most massive wines of the vintage, it remains an adolescent in terms of evolution, but it can be drunk with great pleasure if it is decanted 2-3 hours in advance. A thick, unctuously-textured wine with massive richness as well as abundant notes of black fruits, truffles, creosote, scorched earth, smoke, and camphor, a colossal mouthfeel, a layered texture, incredible depth of fruit and glycerin, and copious, but well-integrated tannins that are largely concealed by the incredible amount of fruit. An old school La Mission, it is a tour de force that should continue to age effortlessly for another 40+ years. A monumental wine! June 2009

Wine Spectator 97

"Herculean in structure, this has an extraordinary amount of fruit and tannins. The last vintage from the Woltners. Super-earthy and fruity, with great structure. Don`t touch for years; try in 1998 to 2000." --1982 Bordeaux horizontal.

Steve Tanzer's International Wine Cellar 95

"Good full medium red. Exotic yet lively aromas of roasted plum, marzipan and grilled nuts. Wonderfully dense but sappy, with grip of steel. Finishes powerfully tannic and extremely long, still with a touch of youthful austerity. A very impressive showing. Drink 2005 to 2025. (My second bottle was equally impressive but came across as even more backward and dominated by its structure.)"

Neil Martin, Wine Journal, eRobert Parker 94

Tasted at the La Mission/Haut-Brion dinner at The Ledbury. Though the La Mission ?82 was out-classed by the ?78, this remains a lovely La Mission probably in the middle of its plateau. This bottle has a warm, voluptuous, still Pomerol-like bouquet with touches of espresso and a stronger mint aroma than encountered on other bottles. The palate has a gentle but insistent grip and is very well balanced with cedar, sandalwood and dried blood inflecting the black fruit on the dense, quite rounded, generous finish. Lovely. Drink now-2020. Tasted September 2010.

1982 La Mission Haut Brion (750ml)

$1,540.00

Robert Parker 100

The greatest La Mission Haut Brion made between the 1975 and 1989, the 1982 is, stylistically, a dead-ringer for the ethereal 1959. One of the most massive wines of the vintage, it remains an adolescent in terms of evolution, but it can be drunk with great pleasure if it is decanted 2-3 hours in advance. A thick, unctuously-textured wine with massive richness as well as abundant notes of black fruits, truffles, creosote, scorched earth, smoke, and camphor, a colossal mouthfeel, a layered texture, incredible depth of fruit and glycerin, and copious, but well-integrated tannins that are largely concealed by the incredible amount of fruit. An old school La Mission, it is a tour de force that should continue to age effortlessly for another 40+ years. A monumental wine! June 2009

Wine Spectator 97

"Herculean in structure, this has an extraordinary amount of fruit and tannins. The last vintage from the Woltners. Super-earthy and fruity, with great structure. Don`t touch for years; try in 1998 to 2000." --1982 Bordeaux horizontal.

Steve Tanzer's International Wine Cellar 95

"Good full medium red. Exotic yet lively aromas of roasted plum, marzipan and grilled nuts. Wonderfully dense but sappy, with grip of steel. Finishes powerfully tannic and extremely long, still with a touch of youthful austerity. A very impressive showing. Drink 2005 to 2025. (My second bottle was equally impressive but came across as even more backward and dominated by its structure.)"

Neil Martin, Wine Journal, eRobert Parker 94

Tasted at the La Mission/Haut-Brion dinner at The Ledbury. Though the La Mission ?82 was out-classed by the ?78, this remains a lovely La Mission probably in the middle of its plateau. This bottle has a warm, voluptuous, still Pomerol-like bouquet with touches of espresso and a stronger mint aroma than encountered on other bottles. The palate has a gentle but insistent grip and is very well balanced with cedar, sandalwood and dried blood inflecting the black fruit on the dense, quite rounded, generous finish. Lovely. Drink now-2020. Tasted September 2010.

1982 La Mission Haut Brion (750ml)

$1,540.00

Robert Parker 100

The greatest La Mission Haut Brion made between the 1975 and 1989, the 1982 is, stylistically, a dead-ringer for the ethereal 1959. One of the most massive wines of the vintage, it remains an adolescent in terms of evolution, but it can be drunk with great pleasure if it is decanted 2-3 hours in advance. A thick, unctuously-textured wine with massive richness as well as abundant notes of black fruits, truffles, creosote, scorched earth, smoke, and camphor, a colossal mouthfeel, a layered texture, incredible depth of fruit and glycerin, and copious, but well-integrated tannins that are largely concealed by the incredible amount of fruit. An old school La Mission, it is a tour de force that should continue to age effortlessly for another 40+ years. A monumental wine! June 2009

Wine Spectator 97

"Herculean in structure, this has an extraordinary amount of fruit and tannins. The last vintage from the Woltners. Super-earthy and fruity, with great structure. Don`t touch for years; try in 1998 to 2000." --1982 Bordeaux horizontal.

Steve Tanzer's International Wine Cellar 95

"Good full medium red. Exotic yet lively aromas of roasted plum, marzipan and grilled nuts. Wonderfully dense but sappy, with grip of steel. Finishes powerfully tannic and extremely long, still with a touch of youthful austerity. A very impressive showing. Drink 2005 to 2025. (My second bottle was equally impressive but came across as even more backward and dominated by its structure.)"

Neil Martin, Wine Journal, eRobert Parker 94

Tasted at the La Mission/Haut-Brion dinner at The Ledbury. Though the La Mission ?82 was out-classed by the ?78, this remains a lovely La Mission probably in the middle of its plateau. This bottle has a warm, voluptuous, still Pomerol-like bouquet with touches of espresso and a stronger mint aroma than encountered on other bottles. The palate has a gentle but insistent grip and is very well balanced with cedar, sandalwood and dried blood inflecting the black fruit on the dense, quite rounded, generous finish. Lovely. Drink now-2020. Tasted September 2010.

1982 Lafite (1.5L)

$12,975.00

Robert Parker 100

The 1982 Lafite possesses a dark, dense ruby/purple color with only a subtle lightening at the rim. Spectacular aromatics offer jammy cherry and black fruits intertwined with lead pencil, mineral, and smoky wood scents. Powerful for a Lafite, this wine unfolds to reveal extraordinary richness, purity, and overall symmetry in addition to stunning flavor depth and persistence. The finish lasts for nearly a minute. Plenty of tannin remains, and the wine displays a vibrancy and youthfulness that belie its 18 years of age. The modern day equivalent of Lafite-Rothschild's immortal 1959, the 1982 will enjoy another 30-70 years of life! An amazing achievement! Anticipated maturity: 2007-2070.

Clive Coates

Very full colour. This is quite brilliantly concentrated. Chocolatey, lush, and intense on the nose. Full, still quite reserved and tannic, but with heaps of depth and oodles of fruit. Fat, very, very rich. Brilliant. The best of the decade.

Steve Tanzer's International Wine Cellar 95

Good full, deep red. Slightly high-toned, highly nuanced nose of currant, roasted meat, cedar, marzipan, smoke and tobacco. Supple on entry, then firmed by sound acids. Still quite unevolved but seems distinctly less deep than the bottle of '59 I tasted alongside it. A rather muscular style of Lafite, finishing with big, tongue-dusting tannins. Drink 2005 through 2030. 93(+?). My second bottle showed a darker red-ruby color; higher-pitched aromas of redcurrant, cedar, orange peel and coconut; a bright, very tight palate impression, with strong acidity contributing to the impression of steely spine; and a very subtle and very long, firmly tannic finish. This bottle seemed even less evolved than the first sample.

1982 Lafite (750ml)

$5,665.00

Robert Parker 100

The 1982 Lafite possesses a dark, dense ruby/purple color with only a subtle lightening at the rim. Spectacular aromatics offer jammy cherry and black fruits intertwined with lead pencil, mineral, and smoky wood scents. Powerful for a Lafite, this wine unfolds to reveal extraordinary richness, purity, and overall symmetry in addition to stunning flavor depth and persistence. The finish lasts for nearly a minute. Plenty of tannin remains, and the wine displays a vibrancy and youthfulness that belie its 18 years of age. The modern day equivalent of Lafite-Rothschild's immortal 1959, the 1982 will enjoy another 30-70 years of life! An amazing achievement! Anticipated maturity: 2007-2070.

Clive Coates

Very full colour. This is quite brilliantly concentrated. Chocolatey, lush, and intense on the nose. Full, still quite reserved and tannic, but with heaps of depth and oodles of fruit. Fat, very, very rich. Brilliant. The best of the decade.

Steve Tanzer's International Wine Cellar 95

Good full, deep red. Slightly high-toned, highly nuanced nose of currant, roasted meat, cedar, marzipan, smoke and tobacco. Supple on entry, then firmed by sound acids. Still quite unevolved but seems distinctly less deep than the bottle of '59 I tasted alongside it. A rather muscular style of Lafite, finishing with big, tongue-dusting tannins. Drink 2005 through 2030. 93(+?). My second bottle showed a darker red-ruby color; higher-pitched aromas of redcurrant, cedar, orange peel and coconut; a bright, very tight palate impression, with strong acidity contributing to the impression of steely spine; and a very subtle and very long, firmly tannic finish. This bottle seemed even less evolved than the first sample.

1982 Lafite (750ml)

$6,485.00

Robert Parker 100

The 1982 Lafite possesses a dark, dense ruby/purple color with only a subtle lightening at the rim. Spectacular aromatics offer jammy cherry and black fruits intertwined with lead pencil, mineral, and smoky wood scents. Powerful for a Lafite, this wine unfolds to reveal extraordinary richness, purity, and overall symmetry in addition to stunning flavor depth and persistence. The finish lasts for nearly a minute. Plenty of tannin remains, and the wine displays a vibrancy and youthfulness that belie its 18 years of age. The modern day equivalent of Lafite-Rothschild's immortal 1959, the 1982 will enjoy another 30-70 years of life! An amazing achievement! Anticipated maturity: 2007-2070.

Clive Coates

Very full colour. This is quite brilliantly concentrated. Chocolatey, lush, and intense on the nose. Full, still quite reserved and tannic, but with heaps of depth and oodles of fruit. Fat, very, very rich. Brilliant. The best of the decade.

Steve Tanzer's International Wine Cellar 95

Good full, deep red. Slightly high-toned, highly nuanced nose of currant, roasted meat, cedar, marzipan, smoke and tobacco. Supple on entry, then firmed by sound acids. Still quite unevolved but seems distinctly less deep than the bottle of '59 I tasted alongside it. A rather muscular style of Lafite, finishing with big, tongue-dusting tannins. Drink 2005 through 2030. 93(+?). My second bottle showed a darker red-ruby color; higher-pitched aromas of redcurrant, cedar, orange peel and coconut; a bright, very tight palate impression, with strong acidity contributing to the impression of steely spine; and a very subtle and very long, firmly tannic finish. This bottle seemed even less evolved than the first sample.

1982 Lafite (1.5L)

$12,975.00

Robert Parker 100

The 1982 Lafite possesses a dark, dense ruby/purple color with only a subtle lightening at the rim. Spectacular aromatics offer jammy cherry and black fruits intertwined with lead pencil, mineral, and smoky wood scents. Powerful for a Lafite, this wine unfolds to reveal extraordinary richness, purity, and overall symmetry in addition to stunning flavor depth and persistence. The finish lasts for nearly a minute. Plenty of tannin remains, and the wine displays a vibrancy and youthfulness that belie its 18 years of age. The modern day equivalent of Lafite-Rothschild's immortal 1959, the 1982 will enjoy another 30-70 years of life! An amazing achievement! Anticipated maturity: 2007-2070.

Clive Coates

Very full colour. This is quite brilliantly concentrated. Chocolatey, lush, and intense on the nose. Full, still quite reserved and tannic, but with heaps of depth and oodles of fruit. Fat, very, very rich. Brilliant. The best of the decade.

Steve Tanzer's International Wine Cellar 95

Good full, deep red. Slightly high-toned, highly nuanced nose of currant, roasted meat, cedar, marzipan, smoke and tobacco. Supple on entry, then firmed by sound acids. Still quite unevolved but seems distinctly less deep than the bottle of '59 I tasted alongside it. A rather muscular style of Lafite, finishing with big, tongue-dusting tannins. Drink 2005 through 2030. 93(+?). My second bottle showed a darker red-ruby color; higher-pitched aromas of redcurrant, cedar, orange peel and coconut; a bright, very tight palate impression, with strong acidity contributing to the impression of steely spine; and a very subtle and very long, firmly tannic finish. This bottle seemed even less evolved than the first sample.

1982 Langoa-Barton (1.5L)

$320.00

Robert Parker 89

This is a top-class Langoa-Barton that is turning out better than the excellent 1975. Comparable to the fine 1970, 1959, and 1948 yet fruitier, the 1982 has a rich, deep ruby color, an intense ripe, black currant bouquet, a big, tough, full-bodied framework, and exceptional potential. Very rich, tannic, big, and promising, this wine needs time.

Wine Spectator 91

Wonderful tobacco leaf and fruit aromas follow through on the palate of this handsome wine. Has a lovely, silky, fruity texture. Drink now or hold.--1982 Bordeaux horizontal. JS

1982 Latour (750ml)

$3,840.00

Robert Parker 100

It is ironic that Latour, usually the most backward and longest-lived of the first-growths, has consistently been the most charming, precocious, and Pomerol-like of the 1982 Pauillacs. Gorgeously drinkable and delicious since infancy, it continues to be an opulent, flamboyant, blockbuster Latour with low acidity, dazzling flavor layers, and spectacular levels of fruit, glycerin, and alcohol. This wine was tasted on three separate occasions over the last two months, and it is unquestionably the finest Latour since 1961. It even overshadows such great Latours as 1990, 1995, and 1996 in terms of both its flamboyance and concentration/extract levels. Revealing some amber at the edge, it offers stunning aromatics (leather, walnuts, cedar, black fruits galore), full body, an unctuous texture, and a thick, juicy succulence reminiscent of the 1961. While fabulous to drink now, it will last another 30-40 years. The only Latour that remotely resembles the 1982 is the 1961, which has a similar texture and succulence. Anticipated maturity: now-2040

Clive Coates

Full colour. Smoky-rich nose. Full, quite tannic, still on the attack. Rich and concentrated. This is extremely good.

James Suckling 100

How can this be better? Mind-blowing aromas of currant, mineral, herb, coffee bean and hints of mint. It's full-bodied, with velvety tannins and loads of fresh mint and other herbs with raspberry and blueberry as well. Then it turns to milk chocolate. Long and beautiful. Still so fresh and powerful. 100 points, non-blind. Setp, 2009 "an exquisite vision of what perfection in wine is all about, the 1982 Ch�teau Latour. Classic notes of cr�me de cassis, roasted almonds, earth and spice box as well as a voluptuous, full-bodied mouthfeel, a velvety texture and a finish that lasts nearly 60 seconds make for a monumental wine. It has been drinking beautifully for the last decade and should continue to do so for another quarter of a century." March 2011

eRobert Parker Hedonist's Gazette

Always somewhat atypical (which I suspect will be the case with the more modern day 2003), the 1982 Latour has been the most opulent, flamboyant, and precocious of the northern M�docs, especially the St.-Juliens, Pauillacs, and St.-Est�phes. It hasn�t changed much over the last 10-15 years, revealing sweet tannins as well as extraordinarily decadent, even extravagant levels of fruit, glycerin, and body. It is an amazing wine, and on several occasions, I have actually picked it as a right bank Pomerol because of the lushness and succulence of the fruit. This vintage has always tasted great, even in its youth, and revealed a precociousness that one does not associate with this Ch�teau. However, the 1982 is still evolving at a glacial pace. The fruit remains remarkable, and the wine is a full-bodied, exuberant, rich, classic Pauillac in its aromatic and flavor profiles. It�s just juiced up (similar to an athlete on steroids) and is all the better for it. This remarkable effort will last as long as the 1982 Mouton, and will be more approachable and decadently fruity. Drink it now, in 20 years, and in 50 years! Don�t miss it if you are a wine lover. April 2009

1982 Leoville-Barton (750ml)

$260.00

Steve Tanzer's International Wine Cellar 91+

Red-ruby. Highly aromatic nose of raspberry, redcurrant, graphite, licorice and cedar. Leanish, dry and classic, with firm acidity but less flesh than the '96. Lovely traditionally made claret, with terrific finesse and grip. Still evolving. (A second bottle showed a somewhat leathery nose and came across as drier in the middle palate; it was not quite as fresh as the better sample.) Drink now through 2020.

Robert Parker 92

This traditionally made, old style, extremely dense, powerful wine requires another 7-10 years of cellaring. An opaque dark garnet color is followed by aromas of sweet cedar, old wood, truffles, smoke, and underbrush. Big, thick, juicy, black currant, and cherry flavors can be found in this muscular, monster-sized, exceedingly tannic, dense, backward wine. Immensely impressive for its size, strength, and structure, this 1982 requires another 5-10 years of cellaring. It is unquestionably one of the most concentrated wines of the Medoc, and it should last another 30-40 years.

Neil Martin, Wine Journal, eRobert Parker 90

Tasted blind at Harry Gill?s annual lunch. This is one of the best bottles I have had: open-knit and rather herbaceous at first with wild hedgerow, pine cone, pencil shavings and cedar on the nose. It has lost a little intensity over the years, but still well defined. The palate is well balanced with leafy black fruit, very natural with fine acidity, though without the depth and the chutzpah that marked out later vintages. Drink now-2020. Tasted February 2010.

1982 Montrose (750ml)

$250.00

Robert Parker 90

A deep ruby/purple color with garnet in the middle is followed by fragrant aromas of roasted herbs, briny olives, saddle leather, and steak tartare. With a round, sweet entry, medium to full body, a supple, fat mid-palate, and a diffuse but glycerin-dominated, thick, juicy finish, this wine suggests full maturity, but is capable of lasting another 10-15 years

Wine Spectator 96

Intense aromas of kirsch, currantand spice follow through to a full-bodied palate, with round, velvety tannins and a long, long finish. This is complex, changing on the the nose and palate. Layered and structured. Drinkable now, but will improve for many years to come.

Neil Martin, Wine Journal, eRobert Parker 89

Tasted in London, this is certainly one of the better examples I have encountered of the Montrose 1982. It has a rather conservative, leafy bouquet that lacks a little cohesion, although I remarked that this bottle had more fruit� than others: cranberry, a touch of truffle and sous-bois. The palate is medium-bodied and not as complex or as ambitious as Cos d?Estournel, but there is decent fruit intensity here, abraded by time towards again, a conservative, straight-laced Saint Est�phe that is ignorant of the great vintage it was born in. Yet still pleasurable. Tasted May 2011.

1982 Mouton (750ml)

$1,850.00

Robert Parker 100

A gustatory and olfactory smorgasbord. When tasting it I recall what Michael Broadbent said about the 1945 Mouton: This is not claret, it is Mouton, Churchill of a wine. The 1982 is incredibly rich on the palate with an opulence, weight, and concentration that one can only compare to the very great Moutons, the 1929 and 1945. It remains, however, one of the legends of this century. Like Latour, the 1982 Mouton-Rothschild is a potential 50-60 year wine. Opaque purple-colored showing absolutely no signs of lightening, Mouton's 1982 is a backward wine. Still tasting like a 4-5 year old Bordeaux, it will evolve for another half century. At the Philadelphia tasting, it was impossibly impenetrable and closed, although phenomenally dense and muscular. However, on two other recent occasions, I decanted the wine in the morning and consumed it that evening and again the following evening. It is immune to oxidation! Moreover, it has a level of concentration that represents the essence of the Mouton terroir as well as the high percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon it contains. Cassis, cedar, spice box, minerals, and vanillin are all present, but this opaque black/purple Pauillac has yet to reveal secondary nuances given its youthfulness. It exhibits huge tannin, unreal levels of glycerin and concentration, and spectacular sweetness and opulence. Nevertheless, it demands another decade of cellaring, and should age effortlessly for another seven or eight decades. I have always felt the 1982 Mouton was perfect, yet this immortal effort might be capable of lasting for 100 years! Readers who want to drink it are advised to decant it for at least 12-24 hours prior to consumption. I suggest double decanting, i.e., pouring it into a clean decanter, washing out the bottle, and then repouring it back into the bottle, inserting the cork, leaving the air space to serve as breathing space until the wine is consumed 12-24 hours later. The improvement is striking. The fact that it resists oxidation is a testament to just how youthful it remains, and how long it will last. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2075.

Wine Spectator 100

A powerful wine with great depth, it's supple sweet, packed with ripe currant, plum and anise flavors, long and extraordinary deep.

Clive Coates

Very full, rich colour; still immature. Excellent nose. Very rich and concentrated. Cooked and exotic. Fat and voluptuous. A lot of spice. Very full, still very tannic. Hugely rich. Opulent and oaky. This is a splendid example. Marvellous fruit and great depth. Balanced by an excellent acidity. A brilliant wine. Multidimensional. Real power and intensity of flower here. Grand vin again.

James Suckling 96

This is a seductive red with complex and wonderful aromas of cedar, sandalwood and sweet tobacco. It's full-bodied, with velvety tannins and a beautiful palate. Such beauty and refinement. At its peak now. 96 points, non-blind.

eRobert Parker Hedonist's Gazette

This wine remains one of the legends of Bordeaux. It has thrown off the backward, youthful style that existed during its first 25 years of life, and over the last 4-5 years has developed such secondary nuances as cedar and spice box. The cr�me de cassis, underlying floral note, full-bodied power, extraordinary purity, multilayered texture, and finish of over a minute are a showcase for what this Ch�teau accomplished in 1982. The wine is still amazingly youthful, vibrant, and pure. It appears capable of retaining fruit and vibrancy in 2082. Thank God it is beginning to budge as I would like to drink most of my supply before I kick the bucket. This is a great, still youthful wine, and, on occasion, one does understand the hierarchy of Bordeaux ch�teaux when you see the complexity and brilliance of this first-growth. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2050+. April 2009

Steve Tanzer's International Wine Cellar 98

"Deep ruby-red with a hint of amber at the rim. Cassis, licorice, minerals, tobacco and cocoa on the complex nose; this has started to develop more tertiary aromas and is less fruit-forward than just a few years ago. The palate shows considerable sweetness and an almost opulent mouth feel, with blackcurrant and blackberry flavors given lift and clarity by harmonious acidity and complicated by graphite, tobacco and underbrush notes. The extremely long finish features a cool minty note and sweet, ripe tannins, but I also found a hint of astringency at the back that I had not tasted in previous bottles of this wine. A blockbuster wine, and still remarkably young: I can see this improving and lasting for another 40 years. This is a truly monumental wine and the best first growth of 1982, but I found this particular bottle to be a bit less explosive and rich than some other examples I have tried over the years." Ian D'Agata

1982 Mouton (750ml)

$2,050.00

Robert Parker 100

A gustatory and olfactory smorgasbord. When tasting it I recall what Michael Broadbent said about the 1945 Mouton: This is not claret, it is Mouton, Churchill of a wine. The 1982 is incredibly rich on the palate with an opulence, weight, and concentration that one can only compare to the very great Moutons, the 1929 and 1945. It remains, however, one of the legends of this century. Like Latour, the 1982 Mouton-Rothschild is a potential 50-60 year wine. Opaque purple-colored showing absolutely no signs of lightening, Mouton's 1982 is a backward wine. Still tasting like a 4-5 year old Bordeaux, it will evolve for another half century. At the Philadelphia tasting, it was impossibly impenetrable and closed, although phenomenally dense and muscular. However, on two other recent occasions, I decanted the wine in the morning and consumed it that evening and again the following evening. It is immune to oxidation! Moreover, it has a level of concentration that represents the essence of the Mouton terroir as well as the high percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon it contains. Cassis, cedar, spice box, minerals, and vanillin are all present, but this opaque black/purple Pauillac has yet to reveal secondary nuances given its youthfulness. It exhibits huge tannin, unreal levels of glycerin and concentration, and spectacular sweetness and opulence. Nevertheless, it demands another decade of cellaring, and should age effortlessly for another seven or eight decades. I have always felt the 1982 Mouton was perfect, yet this immortal effort might be capable of lasting for 100 years! Readers who want to drink it are advised to decant it for at least 12-24 hours prior to consumption. I suggest double decanting, i.e., pouring it into a clean decanter, washing out the bottle, and then repouring it back into the bottle, inserting the cork, leaving the air space to serve as breathing space until the wine is consumed 12-24 hours later. The improvement is striking. The fact that it resists oxidation is a testament to just how youthful it remains, and how long it will last. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2075.

Wine Spectator 100

A powerful wine with great depth, it's supple sweet, packed with ripe currant, plum and anise flavors, long and extraordinary deep.

Clive Coates

Very full, rich colour; still immature. Excellent nose. Very rich and concentrated. Cooked and exotic. Fat and voluptuous. A lot of spice. Very full, still very tannic. Hugely rich. Opulent and oaky. This is a splendid example. Marvellous fruit and great depth. Balanced by an excellent acidity. A brilliant wine. Multidimensional. Real power and intensity of flower here. Grand vin again.

James Suckling 96

This is a seductive red with complex and wonderful aromas of cedar, sandalwood and sweet tobacco. It's full-bodied, with velvety tannins and a beautiful palate. Such beauty and refinement. At its peak now. 96 points, non-blind.

eRobert Parker Hedonist's Gazette

This wine remains one of the legends of Bordeaux. It has thrown off the backward, youthful style that existed during its first 25 years of life, and over the last 4-5 years has developed such secondary nuances as cedar and spice box. The cr�me de cassis, underlying floral note, full-bodied power, extraordinary purity, multilayered texture, and finish of over a minute are a showcase for what this Ch�teau accomplished in 1982. The wine is still amazingly youthful, vibrant, and pure. It appears capable of retaining fruit and vibrancy in 2082. Thank God it is beginning to budge as I would like to drink most of my supply before I kick the bucket. This is a great, still youthful wine, and, on occasion, one does understand the hierarchy of Bordeaux ch�teaux when you see the complexity and brilliance of this first-growth. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2050+. April 2009

Steve Tanzer's International Wine Cellar 98

"Deep ruby-red with a hint of amber at the rim. Cassis, licorice, minerals, tobacco and cocoa on the complex nose; this has started to develop more tertiary aromas and is less fruit-forward than just a few years ago. The palate shows considerable sweetness and an almost opulent mouth feel, with blackcurrant and blackberry flavors given lift and clarity by harmonious acidity and complicated by graphite, tobacco and underbrush notes. The extremely long finish features a cool minty note and sweet, ripe tannins, but I also found a hint of astringency at the back that I had not tasted in previous bottles of this wine. A blockbuster wine, and still remarkably young: I can see this improving and lasting for another 40 years. This is a truly monumental wine and the best first growth of 1982, but I found this particular bottle to be a bit less explosive and rich than some other examples I have tried over the years." Ian D'Agata

1982 Palmer (750ml)

$380.00

Wine Spectator 92

Some people said the '82 was not up to par, but it is a seductive wine. Has plenty of plum and cassis characteristics and ultra-fine tannins.

Clive Coates

Fullish colour. Now mature-more so than the 1983. Rich and ripe. Mellow qand concentrated. Fullish and abundant on the nose. This is very lovely and very 1982. Sweet, creamy, round and fat. Very good concentration. Very good acidity too. Bot no hard edges now. Impressive even, in a 1982 context. Very fine.

Steve Tanzer's International Wine Cellar 93

Full, deep red. Spicy aromas of cassis and rose petal, with a whiff of meat. Then wonderfully penetrating and classy, with bright acidity giving the wine superb clarity and thrust. This has terrific structure. Finishes very long and fine, with excellent grip. By far the finest bottle I've tasted to date of this wine, and one of the real surprises of the tasting. (My second bottle showed roasted redcurrant, leather, meat and smoky oak on the nose; and a sweet, suave, broad palate without quite the structure and grip of the first sample. But this wine, too, offered compelling sweetness and rated 91 points.) Drink now through 2015

Robert Parker 89

"This wine has turned out far better than predicted. The 1982 has become more delineated and put on weight. The 1982 is a juicy, complex, Pomerol-inspired effort with abundant black cherry and black currant fruit presented in a medium to full-bodied, plump, straightforward style. Fleshy, fresh, and lively."

1982 Pavie (750ml)

$215.00

Robert Parker 91

The strongest Pavie in the eighties, this dark ruby-colored 1982 reveals aromas of strawberry jam intermixed with cherries, dried herbs, earth, and spice. Medium-bodied, with beautiful fruit flavors (particularly kirsch liqueur), this sweet, ripe, expansive Pavie has reached its apogee, where it should remain for 10-15 years.

1982 Petrus (1.5L)

$11,950.00

Robert Parker 98

"The 1982 Petrus, while never quite living up to my predictions from cask (I thought it to be a perfect wine), is still a colossal Petrus, exhibiting a backward, sweet, expansive nose of ripe fruit, Provencal herbs, chocolate, and spice. Full-bodied, tannic, and super-concentrated, this wine requires another 5-8 years of cellaring. It should keep for 25-30+ years."

Wine Spectator 96

"Dark ruby garnet. Intense tobacco, cedar, berry and blackberry. Full-bodied, silky, firm and fresh. Long. A beauty. One of the best bottles I have ever had."

Neil Martin, Wine Journal, eRobert Parker 95

Tasted at ?Fook Lam Moon? in Hong Kong. This is the best bottle of Petrus 1982 that I have encountered (off the top of my head, this is the fourth.) It has a lifted nose of vibrant red fruit, a little plum, cedar and a hint of dried meats that I have not encountered before. It shimmers with delight. The palate is superbly balanced with perfect acidity, gentle but insistent grip with a silky, almost tart, quite primal finish. Very long in the mouth, this is an exquisite Pomerol, but I have to say, out-classed by the Lafleur 1982 tasted alongside. Tasted November 2011.

1983 Canon (750ml)

$136.00

1983 Cheval Blanc (750ml)

$645.00

Robert Parker 95

"A classic example of Cheval Blanc's style, the 1983 continues to put on weight and develop favorably in the bottle. A saturated dark ruby color with some faint lightening at the edges exhibits less age than most right bank 1983s. The huge nose of mint, jammy black fruits, chocolate, and coffee is sensational, as well as surprisingly well-developed. The wine offers lusty, rich, unctuous fruit presented in a medium to full-bodied, low acid, concentrated, rather hedonistic style. There are no hard edges to be found, but there is plenty of tannin in the lush finish. Gorgeous for drinking now, this is a great Cheval Blanc that should continue to drink well, and possibly improve for another 20 years. The 1983 is far superior to anything Cheval Blanc has subsequently produced. It remains somewhat undervalued for its quality." Last tasted 12/97

Wine Spectator 96

A giant of a wine. The complex aromas and thickly textured flavors range from plum and raisin to coffee, minerals and mint. Not so elegant as a typical Cheval; more in the mold of the powerful '47 and legendary '21. Drink or hold.--Cheval-Blanc vertical.

Neil Martin, Wine Journal, eRobert Parker 96

Tasted single blind at the Fine Wine Experience horizontal in London. A deep garnet core. A very well defined, herbaceous nose, with tobacco, chestnut, savoury fruit and a touch of dates. Quite complex and with very good vigour, the Cabernet Franc right in the (slightly bretty?) saddle. After thirty minutes, a lovely menthol character coming through. The palate is medium-bodied, very well balanced with fine tannins and superb acidity. Very well poised with great tension. Pure blackberry, raspberry, Chinese tea, tobacco and dried leaves. Lovely, elegant, very focused finish. Superb Cheval, multi-faceted if not as sophisticated as the ?85. Tasted October 2008.