1980 Château Lascombes

Community Tasting Notes (1)

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  6/29/2022 - Carib Likes this wine:

  At 42 years old, this bottle was in excellent condition, despite several instances of salt water flooding at the cellar on the edge of Long Island sound. Cork broke in two at the middle, but was all there and the wine well preserved. Not an everyday occurrence, tasting this wine was a humbling experience. We felt like we were communicating with the past. What an honor and privilege, no one took this for granted. Tannins were smooth and fully resolved. Yes sire, there was a lovely, strong and 'ancien' fruit fully present, with cassis / black currant, blackberries, other deep & dark fruits, and olives. Not one hint of staleness, cardboard, vegetal or the usual signs of expiration. Structure and balance incredible. The color was all there, dark blue-red & inky, with lovely sediment 'twinkling' at the bottom of each glass. IMHO, under no circumstances should you decant a bottle like this. Your enemy is potentially rapid or sudden oxidation. At 10 mins it was well settled and all there; at 30 mins it became somewhat stale almost bretty; at 40 mins it was back full on; until at the hour and a-half mark it fell off a cliff and we bid adieu. I'm not going to bore you with florid descriptions, it was a unique and (can't say it enough times) humbling experience to meet the work of winemakers from long ago. Reviewed by Parker in 1995, he gave it an 87, which after another 25 years, seems both not high enough and actually pointless. Parker called this a little disjointed or words to that effect. Not so today!

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