October 28, 2023 - Decanted for a short time. There was a fair bit of ullage, and the cork disintegrated on opening.
I've had this wine many times over the last thirty years, and at its peak it was excellent. This bottle was still enjoyable, but clearly very much in decline. The colour remains reasonably deep, but it's a brownish-red hue now. There was a certain slightly disagreeable mustiness initially, but this dissipated after a few minutes, leaving a sound but faded old claret.
Clearly one should expect a lot of bottle variation for a wine of this age, but if you can find a good example, this wine should still give pleasure.
January 12, 2022 - Bandaids, smoke, Islay scotch, pure red fruit, luminous in fruit character. Precise and just at the last peak of glory. Tannins resolved but silky. Very much still alove for 3 hours before we tanked it
July 23, 2021 - Berserker Offline (Mathilde Bistro - SF): Really pure and fresh, way younger than a 51 year old wine should be, especially compared to the 70 Mouton last month, which was "acting it's age". Crystalline red fruit, stony Graves soil, and tobacco. While not as complex as the other well aged bdx of the night (89/90 VCC, 85 Magdelaine), it carries an effortless purity that is enrapturing – if a red wine could be a limpid mountain spring, this would be it. I find myself repeatedly going back to the glass to experience it.
September 6, 2020 - No formal notes... from memory. The wine was only stood up for 1 day in advance (which was enough to leave just 1/2" in the bottom, and sediment free pours) and slow-o'ed for 5 hours before pouring. The color was quite pretty and mostly red, with really just a slight hint of bricking. Aromas were well defined and fruity, with a palate showing pretty soil tones and incredible acidity that carried long into the finish. Just a slight bit of old leaves on the finish, but mostly the acid kept this wine feeling fairly exuberant and young.
November 8, 2019 - One and half hour decant. This is a lovely fully mature old bordeaux. The nose is classic plums, pencil shavings, and tobacco weed. The palate is a complex kaleidoscope of flavors including red currant, blackberries, cigar box, leather and herbs. Lovely balance and holding up well where I can see it staying in this zone for a while.
November 5, 2019 - Obituary: 1970 Bordeaux: From magnum. Interesting due to the aged complexity and Graves character. Perhaps the large format helped preserve it. Although clearly faded, there’s enough stuffing here to almost enjoy half a glass although you won’t ask for a refill.
June 26, 2018 - Probably on the downhill slope, but what an elegant older lady. Fully resolved tannins, good acid, red fruits,lots of earth, a little tobacco and leather. Not the longest finish at this point, but still a delight. A-/B+
June 5, 2018 - Terra Cotta color, a little earth and cedar on the nose, but a lot of VA as well, lingering acidity makes it unpleasant at first but it then opens up nicely with some good complexity. However it doesn't last long as the fruit is fading and the wine falls apart eventually. A fascinating progression in about 45 minutes, this bottle should have probably been opened fifteen years ago.
December 27, 2017 - Sadly, tasted after it had been in a decanter for 2 days and was advised that it had lost some 'freshness'! Red/brown colour, earthy nose. I was surprised how round it was and still some fruit even out of the bottle for so long. Still very pleasant to drink taste of plum, slight caramel.This wine is a fine example of the longevity of well made wine.
August 28, 2016 - The 1970 Pape Clément is very attractive, especially from magnum, blossoming in the decanter (recommended) and glass to reveal a complex bouquet of red and black fruit, cedar, dark truffle, loamy soil and cigar ash. On the palate the wine is vibrant, juicy and quite intense, structured around a core of bright but not shrill 1970 acidity and fine, mostly melted tannins. Really creditable.