Welcome
»
Vintage
Vintage
View our selection of rare wines sorted by vintage.
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
9
|
10
|
11
|
12
|
13
|
14
|
15
|
16
|
17
|
18
|
19
|
20
|
21
|
22
|
23
|
24
|
25
|
26
|
27
1347 items in Vintage
1979 Caymus Napa (1.5L) |
$250.00
|
||||
| Wine Spectator 90 | |||||
1979 La Mission Haut Brion (750ml)
List Price:
|
$220.00
|
||||
| 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)
List Price:
|
$745.00
|
||||
| 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 | |||||
1979 Opus One California (750ml) |
$595.00
|
||||
| Wine Spectator 91 | |||||
| "The debut Opus One has retained its elegance and delicacy, with spicy currant, cedar and cherry flavors that offer richness, depth and complexity without weight." | |||||
| FineWine International | |||||
| Debut vintage. Blend: 80% Cabernet, 16% Cabernet Franc, 4% Merlot | |||||
| Wine News 92 | |||||
| "Wonderfully evolved, intense, fragrant nose of cedar, black fruits, smoked meat, leather and brown spice. Sweet and luscious with soft tannins and brimming flavors, yet supremely elegant and complex. Bordeaux-like in its balance, depth and richness. Drinks fine now." From 20th Anniversary Tasting held October 1999 | |||||
1979 Spring Mountain Vineyard California (750ml) |
$98.00
|
||||
1979 Yquem (750ml) |
$430.00
|
||||
| Wine Spectator 94 | |||||
| "Lovely, elegant in style, this balanced Yquem seduces with tropical, dried apricot and creamy-smooth flavors. Medium-bodied, it weighs softly on thepalate, then kicks in with a persistent finish." | |||||
1980 Pousse d'Or (750ml) |
$275.00
|
||||
| Allen Meadows, Burghound 89 | |||||
| Even from magnum, the nose is displaying a good deal of sous bois and very ripe secondary fruit aromas coupled with a distinct earth and mushroom component. The rich, full, delicious and highly complex flavors are very Volnay in character with elegance, precision and a lovely touch of minerality that complements nicely the velvet on the backend. This is a very pretty wine, especially texturally but one that should be consumed relatively soon. | |||||
1981 Filhot (750ml) |
$136.00
|
||||
1981 La Mission Haut Brion (750ml)
List Price:
|
$165.00
|
||||
| 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 | |||||
| Neil Martin, Wine Journal, eRobert Parker 89 | |||||
| Garnet core with brick rim. The nose is lacking vigour, but has a nice refined, leafy personality with overt sous-bois characteristics. But give this time in the glass because it develops some nice earthy black fruits. The palate is medium-bodied with good freshness and vitality. Not great depth but with a nice earthy finish. Drink now-2012. Tasted May 2008. | |||||
1981 Mouton (750ml) |
$375.00
|
||||
| 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)
List Price:
|
$395.00
|
||||
| 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 La Mission Haut Brion (375ml)
List Price:
|
$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 Lafite (750ml)
List Price:
|
$4,495.00
|
||||
| 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. | |||||
| 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. | |||||
| Neil Martin, Wine Journal, eRobert Parker 98 | |||||
| Tasted at the 1982 dinner at The Square, this bottle had been purchased en primeur for the princely sum of £240/case. It is a truly great 1982. It has an entrancing nose of graphite, minerals and dark fruit that have incredible focus and delineation, developing further pencil-lead aromas with continued aeration. The palate is supremely well balanced in a way that reminds me of the spectacular 1959. The tannins are perhaps even finer than Latour 1982 with an understated, youthful finish that displays perfect acidity. The harmony, the cohesion is utterly convincing here. Startling! Tasted April 2012. | |||||
1982 Lafite (1.5L)
List Price:
|
$9,995.00
|
||||
| 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. | |||||
| 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. | |||||
| Neil Martin, Wine Journal, eRobert Parker 98 | |||||
| Tasted at the 1982 dinner at The Square, this bottle had been purchased en primeur for the princely sum of £240/case. It is a truly great 1982. It has an entrancing nose of graphite, minerals and dark fruit that have incredible focus and delineation, developing further pencil-lead aromas with continued aeration. The palate is supremely well balanced in a way that reminds me of the spectacular 1959. The tannins are perhaps even finer than Latour 1982 with an understated, youthful finish that displays perfect acidity. The harmony, the cohesion is utterly convincing here. Startling! Tasted April 2012. | |||||
1982 Lafite (750ml)
List Price:
|
$4,495.00
|
||||
| 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. | |||||
| 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. | |||||
| Neil Martin, Wine Journal, eRobert Parker 98 | |||||
| Tasted at the 1982 dinner at The Square, this bottle had been purchased en primeur for the princely sum of £240/case. It is a truly great 1982. It has an entrancing nose of graphite, minerals and dark fruit that have incredible focus and delineation, developing further pencil-lead aromas with continued aeration. The palate is supremely well balanced in a way that reminds me of the spectacular 1959. The tannins are perhaps even finer than Latour 1982 with an understated, youthful finish that displays perfect acidity. The harmony, the cohesion is utterly convincing here. Startling! Tasted April 2012. | |||||
1982 Lafite (1.5L)
List Price:
|
$9,995.00
|
||||
| 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. | |||||
| 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. | |||||
| Neil Martin, Wine Journal, eRobert Parker 98 | |||||
| Tasted at the 1982 dinner at The Square, this bottle had been purchased en primeur for the princely sum of £240/case. It is a truly great 1982. It has an entrancing nose of graphite, minerals and dark fruit that have incredible focus and delineation, developing further pencil-lead aromas with continued aeration. The palate is supremely well balanced in a way that reminds me of the spectacular 1959. The tannins are perhaps even finer than Latour 1982 with an understated, youthful finish that displays perfect acidity. The harmony, the cohesion is utterly convincing here. Startling! Tasted April 2012. | |||||
1982 Latour (750ml)
List Price:
|
$2,495.00
|
||||
| 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 | |||||
| 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 Château Latour. Classic notes of crème 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 Médocs, especially the St.-Juliens, Pauillacs, and St.-Estèphes. 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 Château. 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 | |||||
| Neil Martin, Wine Journal, eRobert Parker 100 | |||||
| Tasted at the 1982 dinner at The Square, even compared to the other First Growths, the Latour 1982 is the ?daddy? and rightly voted the wine of the night. You just cannot fault it. It has that intense pencil lead nose with clinically defined, almost aloof scents of blackberry and wild hedgerow. There is perfect balance on the palate with an unerring sense of symmetry that leads to an effortless, crystalline finish that is far more refined and elegant that I was expecting. It does not get better than this wine. Tasted April 2012. | |||||
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 fruité 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 Estèphe that is ignorant of the great vintage it was born in. Yet still pleasurable. Tasted May 2011. | |||||
1982 Mouton (750ml) |
$1,295.00
|
||||
| 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. | |||||
| 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. | |||||
| Robert Parker 100 | |||||
| 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 crème de cassis, underlying floral note, full-bodied power, extraordinary purity, multilayered texture, and finish of over a minute are a showcase for what this Château 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 châteaux 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 | |||||
| Neil Martin, Wine Journal, eRobert Parker 96 | |||||
| Tasted at the 1982 dinner at The Square, the Mouton was sandwiched between the Lafite and the Latour 1982 and to be frank, it did not quite match up to those wines. In many ways, it was a quintessential Mouton ?82 with that bravura nose of opulent, macerated dark cherries, iodine and violets that come racing out of the blocks. It develops a cheeky scent of menthol with aeration. The palate is full-bodied with layers of crème de cassis, dark cherries, mint and tobacco. It is fleshier than Lafite, rounded and plumper in the mouth, although it does not have quite the same level of breeding. Tasted April 2012. | |||||
1982 Mouton (750ml) |
$1,295.00
|
||||
| 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. | |||||
| 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. | |||||
| Robert Parker 100 | |||||
| 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 crème de cassis, underlying floral note, full-bodied power, extraordinary purity, multilayered texture, and finish of over a minute are a showcase for what this Château 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 châteaux 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 | |||||
| Neil Martin, Wine Journal, eRobert Parker 96 | |||||
| Tasted at the 1982 dinner at The Square, the Mouton was sandwiched between the Lafite and the Latour 1982 and to be frank, it did not quite match up to those wines. In many ways, it was a quintessential Mouton ?82 with that bravura nose of opulent, macerated dark cherries, iodine and violets that come racing out of the blocks. It develops a cheeky scent of menthol with aeration. The palate is full-bodied with layers of crème de cassis, dark cherries, mint and tobacco. It is fleshier than Lafite, rounded and plumper in the mouth, although it does not have quite the same level of breeding. Tasted April 2012. | |||||
1982 Palmer (750ml) |
$345.00
|
||||
| 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) |
$185.00
|
||||
| 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 B.V. Private Reserve California (750ml) |
$65.00
|
||||
1983 Bergweiller Prum Wehlener Sonneneuhr Beerenauslese (750ml)
List Price:
|
$118.80
|
||||
1983 Canon (750ml)
List Price:
|
$136.00
|
||||
| Robert Parker 88 | |||||
| The 1983 Canon has reached full maturity. The wine's dark garnet/ruby color reveals some rust/amber at the edge. The nose is forthcoming, with scents of leather, earth, spice, sweet plums and fruitcake. In the mouth, the wine possesses good richness, heady, alcoholic clout, low acidity, and rustic tannin in the finish. This wine has matured quickly, but should hold (if stored in a cool cellar) for another 10-12 years. Last tasted 12/97 | |||||
1983 Climens (750ml) |
$163.00
|
||||
| Robert Parker 92 | |||||
| It exhibits the classic honeyed pineapple and spicy oakiness that makes Climens so profound. In the mouth, this wine is opulent and extremely rich, with gobs of glycerin yet enough acidity to give it plenty of definition and crispness. It is a beautifully made, stunning Barsac?" | |||||
1983 Clos du Marquis (750ml)
List Price:
|
$72.00
|
||||
1983 Kesselstatt Oberemmeler Karlsberg Eiswein GK (375ml)
List Price:
|
$118.80
|
||||
1983 Latour (750ml)
List Price:
|
$495.00
|
||||
| Michael Broadbent **** | |||||
| "Rich colour, more evolved than the Mouton; cedar..good chunky fruit. Medium dryness, not a heavyweight but rich, fleshy, fine. Very attractive." | |||||
| Wine Spectator 94 | |||||
| "A solid, firm wine with a tannin structure that is softening. Aromas of chocolate, ripe fruit and meat. Full-bodied, with loads of fruit and tannins and a long, long finish. Thick and chewy. Gorgeous." --Latour vertical. Drink now through 2010. | |||||
| Robert Parker 88 | |||||
| "Tasted from my cellar, this wine is fully mature, not terribly concentrated, and slightly herbaceous, exhibiting aromas of sweaty saddle leather, melted asphalt, tobacco, and red as well as black fruits. Notions of caramel and roasted nuts also emerge. A medium-bodied effort with soft tannin, but little persistence and length, it requires consumption over the next decade." | |||||
1983 Margaux (750ml-12pk OWC) |
$8,995.00
|
||||
| Robert Parker 96 | |||||
| "The 1983 Margaux is a breathtaking wine. The Cabernet Sauvignon grapes achieved perfect maturity in 1983, and the result is an astonishingly rich, concentrated, atypically powerful and tannic Margaux. The flavors are extremely long on the palate, with a clean, incredibly long finish." | |||||
| Clive Coates | |||||
| "Heaps and heaps of overy classy concentrated fruit. Fullish, very good grip. Great intensity and consistency from start to finish.. Essence of fruit. Great complexity. Finely balanced. Great depth. Great class. Great wine." | |||||
| Steve Tanzer's International Wine Cellar 95 | |||||
| "Deep ruby-red. Exotic aromas of cassis, meat and smoke, plus a whiff of funky wood. Then remarkably sweet, lush and suave, with a flavor of raw berries. Pure Margaux silkiness allied to firm structure. Finishes very long, with rich, sweet tannins. Remarkable wine, particularly considering that the bottle was not perfect. Pristine bottles of this wine are just now embarking on their period of peak drinkability, which should last another 20 years or more." | |||||
| Neil Martin, Wine Journal, eRobert Parker 97 | |||||
| Tasted single blind at the Fine Wine Experience horizontal in London. This has an incredibly deep, almost opaque colour. A very intense, backward, masculine nose with brambly black fruits and cedar, with more secondary notes than the ex-chateau magnum poured earlier in the year, touches of scorched earth and leather. The palate is full-bodied, very well balanced, fresh and lively with some joyful blackberry, blueberry and raspberry leaf then hints of rock oysters towards the lingering finish. This could benefit from further bottle ageing. Complete and magnificent. Drink now-2020+. Tasted October 2008. | |||||
1983 Margaux (750ml) |
$695.00
|
||||
| Robert Parker 96 | |||||
| "The 1983 Margaux is a breathtaking wine. The Cabernet Sauvignon grapes achieved perfect maturity in 1983, and the result is an astonishingly rich, concentrated, atypically powerful and tannic Margaux. The flavors are extremely long on the palate, with a clean, incredibly long finish." | |||||
| Clive Coates | |||||
| "Heaps and heaps of overy classy concentrated fruit. Fullish, very good grip. Great intensity and consistency from start to finish.. Essence of fruit. Great complexity. Finely balanced. Great depth. Great class. Great wine." | |||||
| Steve Tanzer's International Wine Cellar 95 | |||||
| "Deep ruby-red. Exotic aromas of cassis, meat and smoke, plus a whiff of funky wood. Then remarkably sweet, lush and suave, with a flavor of raw berries. Pure Margaux silkiness allied to firm structure. Finishes very long, with rich, sweet tannins. Remarkable wine, particularly considering that the bottle was not perfect. Pristine bottles of this wine are just now embarking on their period of peak drinkability, which should last another 20 years or more." | |||||
| Neil Martin, Wine Journal, eRobert Parker 97 | |||||
| Tasted single blind at the Fine Wine Experience horizontal in London. This has an incredibly deep, almost opaque colour. A very intense, backward, masculine nose with brambly black fruits and cedar, with more secondary notes than the ex-chateau magnum poured earlier in the year, touches of scorched earth and leather. The palate is full-bodied, very well balanced, fresh and lively with some joyful blackberry, blueberry and raspberry leaf then hints of rock oysters towards the lingering finish. This could benefit from further bottle ageing. Complete and magnificent. Drink now-2020+. Tasted October 2008. | |||||
1983 Mouton (5.0L) |
$1,995.00
|
||||
| Robert Parker 91 | |||||
| "Medium-bodied, with sweet but noticeable tannin in the finish, as well as beautiful elegance and complexity, this wine is close to reaching its plateau of maturity. I have always thought it resembled this property's 1966. It should last for another 20 years. Last tasted, 7/93." | |||||
| Clive Coates | |||||
| There is plenty of depth here...Medium-full body, the tannins are now beginning to soften. This is an attractive, balanced wine with ripe fruit. | |||||
| Wine Spectator 94 | |||||
| Super-refined 1983 Bordeaux with an excellent deep ruby color and intense cigar-box, plum and berry aromas and flavors; there's even a hint of mint. It's full-bodied but very reserved in style with fine tannins and a seductively long finish. Better after 1997. | |||||
| Steve Tanzer's International Wine Cellar 92 | |||||
| "Deep, saturated ruby-red with a hint of garnet at the rim. Floral nose offers aromas of red cherry, orange rind, cedar and aromatic herbs. Big, dense and concentrated, with ripe red cherry and plum flavors complemented by underbrush, sweet pipe tobacco and mint. Finishes long, sweet and saline, with a very classic, refined mouth feel. A very underrated vintage for Mouton, the 1983 has had to live under the shadow of the much more famous 1982. My latest sample was devoid of the green notes that some previous bottles of the '83 have shown. " Ian D'Agata | |||||
| Neil Martin, Wine Journal, eRobert Parker 93 | |||||
| Tasted single blind at the Fine Wine Experience horizontal in London. A deep garnet core with a thin tawny rim. The nose is a little lean compared to some of the other wines, slightly tinny but coalesces returning to the glass after twenty minutes, building some gorgeous tobacco and graphite scents with hints of cooked meat. The palate is high-toned on the entry, a little tarry with a smooth, almost creamy texture. Perhaps just a little more oak than was necessary, a little over-polished? Medium-bodied, smooth, more modern in style but somehow less satisfying than previous wines in terms of tension and clarity but it is probably more a case of this wine being relatively backward and deserving more bottle age. Tasted October 2008. | |||||
1983 Palmer (750ml) |
$425.00
|
||||
| Robert Parker 98 | |||||
| This wine goes from strength to strength, and is certainly a candidate for wine of the vintage. It has surpassed even Chateau Margaux in recent tastings. The color is an opaque plum/purple. The wine has a fabulously complex nose of smoked duck, white flowers, cedar, Asian spice, crème de cassis, melted licorice, and espresso. Super-concentrated, very powerful, full-bodied, and huge, this is undeniably, one of the biggest, most concentrated, and powerful Palmers made in the last 40 years. The wines has thrown off the rugged tannins that were so prominent during its first 10-15 years of life and has become increasingly seamless and compelling. Potentially this wine remains the most extraordinary Palmer after the 1961. Anticipated maturity: Now-2020. Last tasted, 10/02. | |||||
| Neil Martin, Wine Journal, eRobert Parker 96 | |||||
| Tasted at the Amuse Bouche offline in Hong Kong. Compared to the First Growth next door, Palmer can be a little variable but this is certainly and great example of the 1983. It has a beguiling Pinot Noir-like nose...as if this Margaux is toying with you, pretending to be something else. It has great purity, very floral with fresh violets, Bakewell tart and maraschino. The palate is medium-bodied with filigree tannins, great balance and a velvety, lifted finish that fans out with style on the finish. Bon vin. Tasted November 2011. | |||||
1983 Rausan-Segla (750ml) |
$119.00
|
||||
| Robert Parker 90 | |||||
| "Fully mature, this seductively rich wine offers a knock-out nose of spring flowers, black fruits, smoke, and roasted herbs. Expansive and round with a velvety texture, real opulence, and low acidity, this concentrated, deliciously layered and intense wine reveals no hard edges. It represents the beginning of Rauzan-Segla's rebound in quality. Anticipated maturity: Now-2008." | |||||
| Michael Broadbent 4 * | |||||
| "Good wine. Firm, good flesh, stylish. Gentle fragrance. Good flavour and grip. Best I think in the early to mid-1990s." | |||||
1983 Rieussec (750ml) |
$103.00
|
||||
| Robert Parker 92 | |||||
| Light golden with just the slightest tint of green, the 1983 Rieussec, from an excellent year for Sauternes, is certainly one of this property's greatest wines. Well structured with excellent acidity, and a deep, long, rich, full-bodied, viscous texture, this wine, despite the richness and power, is neither heavy nor cloying. It has gorgeous balance and a very long, lingering, spectacular finish. One of the great successes of the vintage. | |||||
| Wine Spectator 94 | |||||
| Nectar-like if a bit on the sweet side, impressively complex, concentrated and focused. Deep gold, big, sweet and rich, with gobs of concentrated fig, brown sugar, butterscotch and oak flavor. A knockout. | |||||
1983 Rieussec (750ml) |
$103.00
|
||||
| Robert Parker 92 | |||||
| Light golden with just the slightest tint of green, the 1983 Rieussec, from an excellent year for Sauternes, is certainly one of this property's greatest wines. Well structured with excellent acidity, and a deep, long, rich, full-bodied, viscous texture, this wine, despite the richness and power, is neither heavy nor cloying. It has gorgeous balance and a very long, lingering, spectacular finish. One of the great successes of the vintage. | |||||
| Wine Spectator 94 | |||||
| Nectar-like if a bit on the sweet side, impressively complex, concentrated and focused. Deep gold, big, sweet and rich, with gobs of concentrated fig, brown sugar, butterscotch and oak flavor. A knockout. | |||||
1983 Simon, Bert Serriger Herrenberg Auslese GK (750ml)
List Price:
|
$62.10
|
||||
1983 Suduiraut (375ml) |
$103.00
|
||||
| Wine Spectator 88 | |||||
| Delicious and balanced, showing exciting earthy, white truffle flavors that add complexity to the honey and spice notes. Medium intensity. | |||||
| Robert Parker 87 | |||||
| This looks to be a good Suduiraut. A medium golden color, with a very honeyed, rich, floral bouquet, this full-bodied wine is not as profound as the other 1983s. Sweet, with fine honeyed flavors, this is an elegant, graceful Suduiraut with plenty of character. However, given the vintage, I had expected even more. | |||||
1983 Torres Gran Corona Black Label (750ml) |
$78.00
|
||||
| Steve Tanzer's International Wine Cellar 91 | |||||
| Subtle, reticent nose combines spicy oak and roasted meat. Lovely gamey sweetness in the mouth, with sound acids and a spicy character. Full, ripe and quite long. (Tasting note from March/April 1996) | |||||
1983 Volxem Scharzhofberger Eiswein (375ml)
List Price:
|
$165.60
|
||||
1983 Volxem Scharzhofberger Eiswein GK (375ml)
List Price:
|
$184.50
|
||||
1983 Wil. Freudenmacher Erben Ungstein. Herrenberg Eisw (375ml-12pk)
List Price:
|
$85.50
|
||||
1985 Bonneaux CNP Celestin (750ml) |
$700.00
|
||||
| Robert Parker | |||||
| "..Only a handful of wines (Henri Bonneau's Reserve Celestin, Beaucastel, clos des Papes, and perhaps Vieux-Telegraph) will age gracefully into the first decade of the next century. Owners of 1985s should not defer their gratification any l,onger. | |||||
1985 Cos d'Estournel (750ml)
List Price:
|
$220.00
|
||||
| Robert Parker 93 | |||||
| The 1985 from cask could have been a lighter version of the 1982 and 1953 vintages. Forward, with a fabulously scented bouquet of pain grille and concentrated red and black fruits (especially black cherries), it is rich, lush, long, and medium to full-bodied. Very fragrant, with gobs of sweet black fruits, minerals, and spice in both its flavors and aromatics, this is one of the most forward wines from Cos. | |||||
| Wine Spectator 93 | |||||
| Dark, rich and deeply concentrated. California-like, with its opulent coffee, herb, cedar, currant, coffee, mineral and spice flavors. Reaching a nice drinking plateau, but has substance, depth and a long, full finish.-- | |||||
1985 DRC La Tache (750ml)
List Price:
|
$4,150.00
|
||||
| Robert Parker 90 | |||||
| "A brilliant wine from cask, the 1985 La Tache remains expansive and fragrant, but bottle age appears to have given the wine more delicacy and lightness. The color is an extremely light ruby, with no signs of age. The nose offers up gobs of sweet, overripe red and black fruits intertwined with smoky, toasty new oak. On the palate, there is sweet, jammy fruit, full body, a harmonious interaction of tannin, acidity, and fruit, and a luscious, silky-textured finish." | |||||
| Wine Spectator 93 | |||||
| "Red brown center, orange edge. Seductive fruit and spice bouquet, with fleeting notes of cherry, kirsch and rose. Warm and spicy on the palate, elegant yet sumptuous, showing fine length and harmony. After about an hour in the glass, it turned more acidic and fragile." | |||||
| Allen Meadows, Burghound 90 | |||||
| "As I noted above in my comments, the '85 is a fine La Tâche but well short of profound with lovely spice but completely mature aromas and nicely complex, fully resolved flavors and a long, fine and pure finish. There is no benefit to holding the '85 further and even from magnum format, I would be inclined to begin looking for occasions to enjoy it; to be clear, it's not in decline but it is as good as it's ever going to be. Consistent notes as this is a wine that I have tasted more than 25 times." | |||||
1985 Fonseca (750ml) |
$124.00
|
||||
| Robert Parker 90 | |||||
| Fonseca is one of the great port lodges, producing the most exotic and most complex port. If Fonseca lacks the sheer weight and power of a Taylor, Dow or Warre, or the opulent sweetness and intensity of a Graham, it excels in its magnificently complex, intense bouquet of plummy, cedary, spicy fruit and long, broad, expansive flavors. With its lush, seductive character, one might call it the Pomerol of Vintage ports. When it is young, it often loses out in blind tastings to the heavier, weightier, more tannic wines, but I always find myself upgrading my opinion of Fonseca after it has had 7-10 years of age. The 1985 looks to be one of the top successes of the vintage, yet I believe both the superb 1983 and the otherworldly 1977 are far superior. Dense ruby/purple with the Oriental spice-box aroma, the 1985 is an expansive, sweet, broadly flavored wine with outstanding depth, concentration, and balance. It finishes with a solid lashing of alcohol and tannin. | |||||
| Wine Spectator 93 | |||||
| Very dark and youthful ruby-purple. Very intense aromas of blackberry and black licorice. Full-bodied and lightly sweet, with chewy tannins and a rich licorice, blackberry undertone. Still tight. Drinkable now, but it needs a few more years. '77/'85/'97 | |||||
1985 Lafite (750ml)
List Price:
|
$995.00
|
||||
| Wine Spectator 90 | |||||
| A graceful wine with cedar, berry and cherry aromas and flavors. Medium-bodied, with fine tannins and a succulent, sweet fruit finish. Delicious to drink now. | |||||
| Robert Parker 90 | |||||
| "The 1985 Lafite is revealing more class and complexity than I predicted. A moderately intense, cedary, woody, herb and berry-scented bouquet is attractive. The wine is open-knit and ripe, with fine tannins, sweet, medium-bodied, mineral, and cassis-scented flavors, fine depth, and a graceful, harmonious feel. It is beginning to blossom and appears to possess more depth and character than I had thought. Anticipated maturity: 1995-2010." | |||||
| Neil Martin, Wine Journal, eRobert Parker 90 | |||||
| Tasted from magnum at the Claret Club -85 Dinner at -The Square-. This has a classic Lafite nose, much more austere than Chateau Margaux, black fruit, tobacco, cedar and graphite, more backward, perhaps because of its larger format. Good definition though. The palate is medium-bodied and takes 30-40 minutes to open up in the glass, yet it never really thrills the senses compared to say, Mouton -85. Black berries, a touch of truffle, rather austere, masculine but lacking the persistency of its -cousin-. Too serious for its own good-c-mon-you-re an -85 not a -86! Drink now-2020. Tasted December 2009. | |||||
1985 Latour (750ml) |
$495.00
|
||||
| Wine Spectator 97 | |||||
| A majectic wine, a bit hard and lean with strong, firm tannins and a tight core of rie, cherry, currant and cassis flavors underneath that begin to unfold on the palate. | |||||
| Robert Parker 88 | |||||
| This wine was tasted from my personal collection, following the Latour tasting. The 1985 Latour is a soft, open-knit example, without much structure, delineation, and depth. The dark ruby color displays amber at the edge. The bouquet of tobacco, black fruits, herbs, earth, and new oak is pleasant, but neither intense nor persistent. The wine is medium-bodied, with sweet fruit on the attack, but it narrows out to reveal dry tannin and herbaceous notes. Anticipated maturity: now-2012. | |||||
| Neil Martin, Wine Journal, eRobert Parker 90 | |||||
| Tasted from magnum at the Claret Club -85 Dinner at -The Square-. Contrasted against the other First Growths for the fourth or fifth time in my career, the Latour still brings up the rear but having said that, this is definitely the best bottle I have encountered. It has a little more vivacity on the nose that previously, with a touch of Provencal herbs and even a faint notes of peppermint. Certainly fresher than I was expecting and you might almost mistake it for Haut-Brion! The palate is medium-bodied, certainly not as complex as Mouton or Lafite with a foursquare, slightly curmudgeonly finish. Drink now-2016. Tasted December 2009. | |||||