Blog Post

I had a bit of free time last night and I have written a more extensive note on the 1982 wine tasting dinner. 

Superb evening and just simply taken aback at how agile and sprightly the wines were on the night. A few notes of my own. 

Great line-up and wow, Cheval Blanc was the first up and what an entrance: exuberance and oomph to boot. Plumy nose sitting on cedar and spices. Medium bodied and showing a cabaret of notes on the palate: plums, dark cherries, cedar and spices, and a smidgen of menthol. Harmonious wine and showing beautifully on the night. 

Figeac: out of the traps the poor filly did not fare well. The harrying crowd singled out this wine as corked, yet Neal stood firm and counselled patience. Whilst I remain foxed, the Figeac redeemed itself and offered up tertiary notes of tobacco and menthol, reinforced by a rigid spine. A good wine but lacked the class and breeding of the “white horse”. 

Haut Brion for me, sat mirthfully and majestically in the glass. Plumy. forest floor, earthy and grass dew notes with an intensity of flavours and complexity on the palate. A wine with backbone, lingering acidity: this is a complete and an accomplished wine. 

I know the Margaux was described as the “grumpy” adolescent on the night, but I found poise and a bit of an attitude and so pleased not to detect any sense of a shrinking violent. It had little of the reputed floral notes and we were left with an elegant, dignified wine with tertiary notes of tobacco and traces of leather.

Lafite: when you know this is in the line-up the pressure mounts and the lead up is full of apprehension; on the night one can talk about all that is missing, the experts know where this is going, and in the right way. For me (and Howard) there was a nice austerity to this wine, one which was maintained throughout the evening. I was advised this is part of its evolution and perhaps showing signs of pre-maturity. The nose bestows graphite and pencil shavings and the palate is structured, a bottle which was not showing the classical blackberry fruits and minerals; a pleasure to sup, nonetheless. 

Mouton: full bodied, expressive and exuberant Mouton, showing impressively on the night. A quintessential Pauillac with a nose of black berries, spice and tobacco with undertones of graphite. A multi-layered, rich palate of tobacco, mocha, herbs and earth rounded off with a lingering mineral finish. 

The wine I was intrigued by was Latour, and it did not disappoint. Powerful and not overpowering, as Neal fittingly reminded me, a seamless wine. Quintessential aromas of Pauillac – dark fruits, graphite and cigar box - the palate lush, full-bodied, coated with tobacco and cedar, a vestige of firm tannins and a fine blade of acidity which shall prolong my thoughts and experience of this superb house. 

Up next was Pichon Lalande flanked by the super seconds. The Pichon had a jammy, fruity entrance and was remarkably approachable, though had little to ponder on but nonetheless was exciting and pleasurable on the night, leaving little mystery. The Pichon was surpassed by the dark-fruit, earthy and mocha scented, harmonious Leoville Las Cases and the correctly pitched Gruaud Larose. The Gruaud is unassuming; it outclasses many and stole the show for this flight.