Community Tasting Notes 62

• RobinTeo wrote: 92 points

  March 30, 2024 - The one with Old Bordeaux (Praelum): Generously shared by a friend and what an experience it was to try the 82 La Tour Haut Brion that has been touted to rival the legendary 82 La Mission Haut Brion. Bouquet opens up with plums, cassis, cedar and tobacco with macerated cherries, cedar, capsicum and earth on the palate. Very classic bordeaux with a velvety texture and elegant finish. I do think this was not ready when initially served and in time it got better, but not sure if bottle variation or not because this was not quite magical for me.

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• essenceofreal wrote: 96 points

  February 18, 2024 - My one and only, sob. Bought at a wine shop in San Fran over 20 years. It has patiently been waiting for me ever since.
  
  Dropped off at O in San Francisco to decant before dinner. Instructed the Som to decant at 5pm for my 8pm reservation.
  
  Arrived a bit early, 7:40, got seated. Som came over and said she decanted about 6:15. Gr. I'm not even sure that was so based on how closed it was. Sometimes these Soms are not the sharpest tools in the shed, here in case in point. And of course she's never even had an 82 Bordeaux but went on her instincts anyway for fear it may oxidized. Huh? Moron, what a jerk! Michelin star restaurant with a moron for a Som. Oh and the fill was absolutely perfect.
  
  So where I'm going w this...of course it was still tight. She thought it was drinking nicely. I disagreed. I explained it wasn't nearly at its apogee and it needed a 4 hr decant. She looked pizzled and confused. Idiot.
  
  So upon tasting after a 1.5 hr decant, maybe 91/92 points. Gr.
  
  So of course then had to order grossly overpriced champagne with an insane mark up to let the 82 blossom, which thankfully it did. At the 3 hr mark shazam! Fantastic leather, tobacco, sandalwood with a long finish. Up to 94 points. It only got better at the 4 hour, unfortunately was the last glass by then. Easy 60 second finish. 96/97. I think it would have gained another point had it lasted longer in the glass.
  
  Such a classic old school Bordeaux like only can be done in that terroir. Funny table near me, French people, ordered a bottle of a cult Napa cab. They didn't finish it and you could see they were not fans of the new world heavy handed over extracted over heated slop. Over-hyped. And of course over priced.
  
  And on the 82, great stuff. Reminded me of the 96 LMHB I had last year. Same same, first 3 hours it was meh. Then at the 4 hr mark was an absolute rockstar.
  
  Not to self, the hell with these idiotic soms, next time will take care of things myself. Or stand there and make them open it to make sure it gets done. This isn't the first time this has happened. Buttheads. Lucky I was able to make it work.

  Comments (4)

• Le_Bon_Vivant Likes this wine: 98 points

  November 14, 2023 - Was just extraordinary. Still full of fruit at 41 years old - Plums, cassis, black cherries, just real old school Bordeaux. A smoky, earthy, menthol nose. I read a review that said "like an iron fist in a velvet glove" and that is spot on here! Very elegant with an endless finish to match. Like drinking a time capsule.

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• Barsacpinci wrote:

  June 25, 2023 - Super wine. Very tight cork. So much fruit and multiple flavors with this wine. Mushrooms. Leather blackberries

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• kr522 wrote: 93 points

  May 23, 2023 - This bottle was still full and vibrant with an expansive mid-palate, and plenty of tarry, mineral, tobacco notes plus the firmer grip that you’d expect from a wine that is basically La Mission + more press wine. My only issue is the fruit is starting to add a raisiny component….this is something I’m finding with a few 1982s. It seems that bottle variation, and provenance are mattering more for this beautiful vintage

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Pro Reviews 5

Wine Definition

• Vintage 1982
• Type Red
• Producer Château La Tour Haut-Brion
• Varietal Red Bordeaux Blend
• Designation n/a
• Vineyard n/a
• Country France
• Region Bordeaux
• SubRegion Graves
• Appellation Pessac-Léognan

Community Holdings

• Pending Delivery 4 (1%)
• In Cellars 504 (65%)
• Consumed 269 (35%)

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