Lovely wine - very savoury and tertiary, but the fruit's still holding up nicely. This is a classic Bordeaux, medium weight on the palate with restrained red and black fruited flavours, and lots of mature tobacco, tree bark, leathery, and faintly herbal accents around the fruit. It finishes a touch thin, but this is a really nice to sit and follow over an evening.
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The GP's birthday; 17 special bottles: Tertiary and autumn impressions in the bouquet. On the palate rust and a lot of old age acidity and bitterness. Not dead yet, but also not really enjoyable anymore. Far past its prime. No score.
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I was a bit worried about this bottle as the cellar report suggested it was beyond its drinkable window. The cork opened in one piece and the aroma seemed OK. I decanted and immediately tasted the wine and was concerned that it was well past its prime however after 2 hours, the wine came around nicely. I think the wine would have rated a higher score if I had opened it 5 years ago. Nonetheless, it was enjoyed with Beef Wellington by all my guests.
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My third and last 1978 Bordeaux, all bought from the same place. The other two bottles have been fantastic (Beychevelle and Labegorce), but this one, while in good shape, was clearly a tired bottle. Decanted for 20 minutes prior to tasting. Initially, there were quite delicious smells of bright red berries and pencil shavings, but this quickly changed to just pencil shavings and then further to a smoky smell with a slight medicinal tinge to it. Not bad, but certainly over the hill. On the palate, there were tannins still discernible and the taste was initially quite fruity, but the fruit quickly died, leaving the slight medicinal taste, among other tertiary tastes. This was by no means a bad wine, but compared to the others, it's gone, game over.
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garnet red with brick edge. Nose was restrained - dried fruits? There is plenty of life left here. Body had gentle fruit and leather notes, with nice acidity to balance it. Moderate length. Surprisingly good for a 30 year old Bordeaux which has had less than perfect storage conditions during certain periods of its life.
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Not many notes because I was enjoying the wine too much. This is very friendly and very complete. The 90 score might even be too low. Who said 1978 was not such a good vintage? This wine is just great.
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Dark carmine with a lot of brown on the edge. Very expressive, deep and complex bouquet with good oak and fruit. In the taste blackberries, blueberries and ripe cassis. A little sweetness. Soft tannin. A delicious and complex wine.
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3/30/2018 - salil wrote: 89 Points
Lovely wine - very savoury and tertiary, but the fruit's still holding up nicely. This is a classic Bordeaux, medium weight on the palate with restrained red and black fruited flavours, and lots of mature tobacco, tree bark, leathery, and faintly herbal accents around the fruit. It finishes a touch thin, but this is a really nice to sit and follow over an evening.
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12/23/2017 - europat55 wrote: 88 Points
Great Bordeaux nose (B++). Palate is surprisingly thing compared to other '70s Bdx I've had (B).
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12/9/2013 - Zweder wrote:
The GP's birthday; 17 special bottles: Tertiary and autumn impressions in the bouquet. On the palate rust and a lot of old age acidity and bitterness. Not dead yet, but also not really enjoyable anymore. Far past its prime. No score.
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1/1/2012 - Breukelman wrote: 89 Points
I was a bit worried about this bottle as the cellar report suggested it was beyond its drinkable window. The cork opened in one piece and the aroma seemed OK. I decanted and immediately tasted the wine and was concerned that it was well past its prime however after 2 hours, the wine came around nicely. I think the wine would have rated a higher score if I had opened it 5 years ago. Nonetheless, it was enjoyed with Beef Wellington by all my guests.
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6/9/2009 - NiklasW wrote:
My third and last 1978 Bordeaux, all bought from the same place. The other two bottles have been fantastic (Beychevelle and Labegorce), but this one, while in good shape, was clearly a tired bottle. Decanted for 20 minutes prior to tasting. Initially, there were quite delicious smells of bright red berries and pencil shavings, but this quickly changed to just pencil shavings and then further to a smoky smell with a slight medicinal tinge to it. Not bad, but certainly over the hill. On the palate, there were tannins still discernible and the taste was initially quite fruity, but the fruit quickly died, leaving the slight medicinal taste, among other tertiary tastes. This was by no means a bad wine, but compared to the others, it's gone, game over.
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12/27/2008 - wilmette vino wrote: 90 Points
garnet red with brick edge. Nose was restrained - dried fruits? There is plenty of life left here. Body had gentle fruit and leather notes, with nice acidity to balance it. Moderate length. Surprisingly good for a 30 year old Bordeaux which has had less than perfect storage conditions during certain periods of its life.
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7/25/2007 - MRichman wrote:
Branaire Ducru in NYC (Il Corso): Nicely mature, a bit thin. Long finish. Some dollop of dark tar inside.
B/B-
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3/31/1998 - Zweder wrote: 90 Points
Not many notes because I was enjoying the wine too much. This is very friendly and very complete. The 90 score might even be too low. Who said 1978 was not such a good vintage? This wine is just great.
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10/21/1994 - Zweder wrote: 91 Points
Dark carmine with a lot of brown on the edge. Very expressive, deep and complex bouquet with good oak and fruit. In the taste blackberries, blueberries and ripe cassis. A little sweetness. Soft tannin. A delicious and complex wine.
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