For my birthday celebration in St. Croix, I chose wines from four different "4" years in the decades of '60s, '70s, '80s and '90s (I'm a '74). This is an absolutely spectacular start. Top shoulder fill with a loose cork that I unsuccessfully tried to Coravin before resorting to the Durand. The color is stunning, like a 10 year-old wine, dark ruby with no signs of bricking. Effusive nose brimming with black cherry, cassis, forest floor and cigar box. Youthful and exuberant, incredibly fruit-forward, with a beautiful lift of acidity, and still a bit of tannins on the back end. This may just have surpassed the '66 Domaine de Chevalier as one of the best 40+ year old BDX that I've ever tried. Flat out gorgeous.
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Starting to fade, but if the bottle has been well-stored, there is still enough gas in the tank so you can enjoy the earthy, spicy, leafy, tobacco and red plum nose. Medium-bodied, the wine starts off reserved, but with time in the glass, the wine softens, revealing a gentle, but stoic character, finishing with bright red fruits, spice, earth, herbs and sweet plums. There is no reason to hold this any longer.
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What a deeply satisfying wine, not just grand but comforting, too. The perfect mélange of fresh mixed berry fruit, ganache, espresso, something umami - Périgord truffle-like, pine needle, leather, and cedar. Very woodsy and smoky on the palate, not as defined or long as on the nose but of course that could be this bottle in particular rather than the wine in general given the age. This is very fine, very compelling, and just right for the first snow in Boston. For those looking for a link between this wine and the modern era, think “2016 at 50 years of age.” Sublime.
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Two bottles were opened from an identical, original wood case. The fills were quite good for a wine of this age. The end results were the same for both bottles. While I realize it is about the specific bottle, and not wine with older vintages, especially after 50 years of age, the results were troubling. The wines were the color of dark tea, with some red, brick accents. The nose showed little fruit and the palate was not much better, leaving you with a short, not exactly satisfying finish. Other bottles could be better. But I'd approach buying this with extreme caution as the hands of time have not been very graceful here.
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Wow. Like previous note, this was my first experience with such an aged wine. I was nervous about what to expect. Expected a very musty faded wine. Was I shocked. Brick red in color, but still had nice red fruits on nose and palate. Tasted like a nice old port without the heat from the brandy. Paired with a steak with wine and mushroom sauce. Perfect pairing. Unfortunately this has just wet my appetite for older wines.
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This is my first experience with such an aged bottle. I expected dust, faded fruit, but the bordeaux character is all there. Perfectly in balance, only faded a bit with some dust. Notes of predominantly but not overwhelming sour cherries, with distant tobacco and leather undertones. A medium finish with surprising tannin still there just enough to keep it all together. 46 years old. 'Like drinking history'
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Youthful color. Relatively intense, dark nose of graphite and plummy dark fruits. Still youthful and medium-bodied on the palate with a tannic edge still evident. Classy restraint though not lacking in density. Deeper and fuller than a '64 Ausone enjoyed along with this. Will still improve but a very nice wine at this stage.
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3/24/2022 - GrapeScott wrote: 95 Points
For my birthday celebration in St. Croix, I chose wines from four different "4" years in the decades of '60s, '70s, '80s and '90s (I'm a '74). This is an absolutely spectacular start. Top shoulder fill with a loose cork that I unsuccessfully tried to Coravin before resorting to the Durand. The color is stunning, like a 10 year-old wine, dark ruby with no signs of bricking. Effusive nose brimming with black cherry, cassis, forest floor and cigar box. Youthful and exuberant, incredibly fruit-forward, with a beautiful lift of acidity, and still a bit of tannins on the back end. This may just have surpassed the '66 Domaine de Chevalier as one of the best 40+ year old BDX that I've ever tried. Flat out gorgeous.
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6/2/2021 - Jeff Leve wrote: 92 Points
Starting to fade, but if the bottle has been well-stored, there is still enough gas in the tank so you can enjoy the earthy, spicy, leafy, tobacco and red plum nose. Medium-bodied, the wine starts off reserved, but with time in the glass, the wine softens, revealing a gentle, but stoic character, finishing with bright red fruits, spice, earth, herbs and sweet plums. There is no reason to hold this any longer.
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5/26/2021 - BradE wrote:
In good shape, a good bottle, but a step or two below the 64 Conseillante served with it.
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10/31/2020 - englishman's claret wrote: 96 Points
What a deeply satisfying wine, not just grand but comforting, too. The perfect mélange of fresh mixed berry fruit, ganache, espresso, something umami - Périgord truffle-like, pine needle, leather, and cedar. Very woodsy and smoky on the palate, not as defined or long as on the nose but of course that could be this bottle in particular rather than the wine in general given the age. This is very fine, very compelling, and just right for the first snow in Boston. For those looking for a link between this wine and the modern era, think “2016 at 50 years of age.” Sublime.
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1/10/2017 - RedFilth wrote: flawed
Toast, cork disintegrated and wine was long gone.
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10/17/2016 - Jeff Leve wrote: 85 Points
Two bottles were opened from an identical, original wood case. The fills were quite good for a wine of this age. The end results were the same for both bottles. While I realize it is about the specific bottle, and not wine with older vintages, especially after 50 years of age, the results were troubling. The wines were the color of dark tea, with some red, brick accents. The nose showed little fruit and the palate was not much better, leaving you with a short, not exactly satisfying finish. Other bottles could be better. But I'd approach buying this with extreme caution as the hands of time have not been very graceful here.
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2/27/2015 - steinersing wrote: 96 Points
This bottle drank very well. Great energy and freshness still. Slight cigar box. Solid follow-through. Wonderful wine.
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8/2/2010 - rexmerlot wrote: 95 Points
Wow. Like previous note, this was my first experience with such an aged wine. I was nervous about what to expect. Expected a very musty faded wine. Was I shocked. Brick red in color, but still had nice red fruits on nose and palate. Tasted like a nice old port without the heat from the brandy. Paired with a steak with wine and mushroom sauce. Perfect pairing. Unfortunately this has just wet my appetite for older wines.
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4/3/2010 - bschwindtcoffee wrote: 97 Points
This is my first experience with such an aged bottle. I expected dust, faded fruit, but the bordeaux character is all there. Perfectly in balance, only faded a bit with some dust. Notes of predominantly but not overwhelming sour cherries, with distant tobacco and leather undertones. A medium finish with surprising tannin still there just enough to keep it all together. 46 years old. 'Like drinking history'
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5/13/2007 - Tree512 wrote: 93 Points
Still young! Purple robe, deep red fruits, still good acidity and tannins. Great nose, not quite balanced on the palate.
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12/1/2006 - psmith wrote:
Youthful color. Relatively intense, dark nose of graphite and plummy dark fruits. Still youthful and medium-bodied on the palate with a tannic edge still evident. Classy restraint though not lacking in density. Deeper and fuller than a '64 Ausone enjoyed along with this. Will still improve but a very nice wine at this stage.
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