Judgement of Paris

Classic Judgment of Paris bottles -- even though for some the year was slightly different: Leoville Las Cases 1970 instead of 1971, Ridge Monte Bello 1978 instead of 1971, and Stag's Leap 1975 instead of 1973.

• 1975 Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon 85 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Still surprisingly fresh and lively, this bottle opens with pronounced green bell pepper and pyrazines, leaning into the herbal, leafy side of aged Cabernet. Floral notes of violet, lilac, and spicy wildflowers lend a fragrant lift, but the wine feels a bit hollow on the mid-palate, with the fruit mostly faded and the structure beginning to fray.
  
  There’s a streak of high acidity that keeps things energetic, and while it hasn't fallen apart entirely, the wine now shows more youthful brightness than depth, and lacks the complexity or integration to elevate it. The finish is clean but short, with a lingering vegetal echo.

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• 1970 Château Léoville Las Cases 89 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Saint-Julien

  Rustic and earthy, with a deep sense of place and age. The nose opens with ink, coal dust, and ash, followed by layers of tobacco, dried potting soil, and a cool, almost mineral black earthiness. Underneath, there's still some life—hints of raspberry, black raspberry, and faded red fruit peeking through with air.
  
  The structure is intact, with medium+ acidity giving lift and medium tannins providing gentle grip. Initially austere, the wine softens and rounds out with time, gaining a touch of balance and an aged grace. There’s still a trace of freshness, even if the palate feels a bit hollow in places. Drink up -- no need to wait longer!

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• 1970 Château Mouton Rothschild 90 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  This bottle showed a truly eccentric evolution. It opens with a mix of sauerkraut, tomato soup, and V8, overlaid with herbal tones of rosemary, black pepper, and an oxidized edge that leans toward sherry and soy. There’s a slightly feral character—barnyard, manure, and earth—that eventually airs out with time, giving way to black currant, raspberry, and the more classic signatures of mature claret: coffee beans, graphite, and worn leather.
  
  The structure remains intact, with medium tannins, high acidity, and a palate that lightens as the wine breathes, shifting from vegetal and volatile to something gentler and more elegant. It never fully harmonizes, but there's some charm still left.

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• 1970 Château Montrose 93 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Saint-Estèphe

  A quietly powerful wine that takes its time to reveal itself. Initially low on aromatics, showing subtle hints of port, raisin, and vegetal notes, but with air it unfolds with surprising elegance. What begins as muted becomes increasingly expressive: leather, gravel, cigar box, and a touch of black plum and cassis come forward. There's a faint whisper of mushroom and dried herbs, grounded by earthy undertones. The palate is firm and fresh, with medium(+) acidity and medium(+) tannins still holding strong after more than 50 years. There's a touch of warmth and maturity—dried fruit, a trace of iron, and a lingering finish that tightens into balance with time. Classic old-school Montrose—structured and aging with grace

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• 1978 Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon Monte Bello 94 Points

  USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

  A beautifully mature Monte Bello, still vivid and hauntingly complex after more than four decades. The nose opens with deep barnyard funk, mushrooms, and truffle, laced with earthy notes of cow dung, cedar, and black currant juice. With air, a lifted layer of violets, coffee grounds, and a whisper of charcoal and leather emerges, showing the wine’s evolution and quiet power.
  
  The palate is high in acidity and still alive with energy, framed by medium tannins that feel fine but persistent. There’s less fruit here now, but what remains—subtle hints of currant, plum, port, and black tea—carries through. The finish is long and savory, echoing with cedar, herb, and mature spice.

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• 1970 Château Haut-Brion 93 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

  A beautifully mature Haut-Brion, still holding both its shape and soul. The nose opens with layered aromas of raisin, prunes, and dates, alongside warm tones of rose petals, dusty library shelves, and hints of sherry, soy sauce, and old leather. There’s a subtle oxidative nuance—port-like and earthy—yet the fruit remains present, mingling with classic Haut-Brion notes of tobacco leaf, smoke, and gravelly minerality.
  
  The palate is surprisingly alive, with medium tannins, medium(+) acidity, and a core of dried red and black fruit that still carries weight. The structure is just slightly coarse but well-integrated, and the finish is long, savory, and tinged with mocha, herbs, and a lingering trace of forest floor.

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Stag's Leap didn't age well at all, but Monte Bello did, and was one of the highlights. Montrose is alive and well, with some freshness still, and so is Haut Brion. Mouton and Leoville-Las Cases were not that exciting...