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Great 1982 vs 1990 Vintage Tasting
Rare-Bordeaux-Weine, Wachtberg (Germany)
Tasted May 25, 2017 by DrZett with 472 views
Introduction
Once again a beautiful wine tasting evening with an awesome menu at Elke's home in Wachtberg - close to the Ahr-Valley in Germany.
Just the 1990 Chateau Gruaud Larose bottle had to be exchanged since it was corked.
It was very interesting to see how these two vintages with 8 years between each other competed. As you see in my votings there isn't a clear vintage winner it more depends on the Chateau than the vintage.
Thank you Elke for this experience!
Flight 1 - Bubbles (1 note)
White - Sparkling
1973 Moët & Chandon Champagne Cuvée Dom Pérignon
89 points
Some nice fruit and interesting aging notes - already a little flat and without much power or structure. Interesting experience but over its peak in my opinion.
Flight 2 (2 notes)
Red
1982 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande
94 points
Plum, dry leather and dry raisins - beautifully ripeness, an amazing wine - but there is something missing. Structure could be a little better.
Red
1990 Château Pichon-Longueville Baron
94 points
Lots of fruits and power left. Some nice aging notes in the back but a beautiful structure and really nice and smooth tannins. In best drinking condition right now!
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Flight 3 (2 notes)
Red
1982 Château Cheval Blanc
97 points
Wow - what a beauty! Beautiful structure and long finish. Soft tannins, some nice aging notes but beautiful ripe red berries too. Close to perfection in my opinon.
Red
1990 Château Cheval Blanc
96 points
Awesome, a lot of power left here, this one is in a good drinking window now, but could age for at least 10 years more. Beautiful ripe red fruits and some beginnig aging notes. Just beautiful.
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Flight 4 (2 notes)
Red
1982 Château Angélus
85 points
Still interesting but way over its peak and too flat. Not much fruit left here.
Red
1990 Château Angélus
94 points
In great drinking window now! Beautiful ripeness and a lot of power left in this beauty. Long finish and a nice soft acidity - drink up in the next few years.
Flight 5 (2 notes)
Red
1982 Château La Mission Haut-Brion
98 points
Simply amazing! So much power and fruit left - this one will age beautiful for plenty more years. One of the best wines I ever had! Nice beginning soft aging notes with fresh leather and forrest soil on the one hand and beautiful juicy red berries on the other hand. Perfect structure and a never ending finish! Wish I had one of these bottles on my own. A breathtaking experience.
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Comment
Red
1990 Château La Mission Haut-Brion
95 points
Great body and nice tannins - still quite closed in the moment. Needs some air. Lots of beautiful red ripe fruits. Long and great finish. It will get even better in the next years - have patience. Really beautiful!
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Flight 6 (2 notes)
Red
1982 Château Haut-Brion
92 points
Nice aging notes and a beautiful body. Soft tannins, medium-long finish. A little over its peak in my opinion but still a great wine with a great structure after all these years.
Red
1990 Château Haut-Brion
96 points
Beautiful mixture between ripe red berries, tobacco and fresh leather. In a good drinking window now. Amazing structure with a long finish and nicely intergrated tannins. Amazing!
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Flight 7 (2 notes)
Red
1982 Château Montrose
94 points
Wow, a little surprise. Nicely aged with beautiful wet leather, dark soil and some overripe black and red berries in the back. Still a lot of fun and a beautiful juicy medium-long finish. Drink up now.
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Red
1990 Château Montrose
95 points
Still very young although nice integrated tannins and beginning beautiful aging notes. A lot of power left. Beautiful red and black berries. Long finish.
Flight 8 (2 notes)
Red
1982 Château Margaux
96 points
Very complex with an amazing structure. Quite young, would never guessed on a 1982 vintage. Lots of fruits and an endless finish - a really great vintage of this wine!
Red
1990 Château Margaux
95 points
Still very young and powerful. Great structure, firm tannins and nice red fruits. Beautiful and very interesting to see its development in the future. Right now very, very nice!
Flight 9 (2 notes)
Red
1982 Château Latour Grand Vin
95 points
Young but really enjoyable right now. Great ripe red berries and some leather and tobacco. Soft tannins and a looong finish.
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Red
1990 Château Latour Grand Vin
93 points
Very young - firm tannins. A little too young in my opinon, patience will be rewarded. Shows great potential. Lots of fruit and a long finish.
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Flight 10 (2 notes)
Red
1982 Château Mouton Rothschild
98 points
Simply amazing, so much power and fruit left here! I would never guessed the vintage if tasted blind. Great long finish, this is beautiful stuff. Lovely!
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Red
1990 Château Mouton Rothschild
93 points
Interesting wit nice soft tannins and a good body. But the same problem as the 1982 vintage - not enough power and fruit left here. MR seems to have the biggest problems with its quality fromthe great vintages from the big Chateaus.
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Flight 11 (2 notes)
Red
1982 Château Gruaud Larose
97 points
Biggest surprise of the tasting night for me and most people in our group. This is a true beauty with all what it needs. A lot of juicy fruit power and some nice beginning aging notes like wet leather and fresh tobacco. Tasted more like a young maybe 10 year old Gruaud. Endless finish and a great structure. Simply amazing!
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Red
1982 Château Léoville Las Cases
94 points
Beautiful right now, quit young, some great years ahead. Soft tannins, nice body and a great medium-long finish. Very nice!
Flight 12 (2 notes)
Red
1982 Château Talbot
92 points
Still very nice but over its peak and not enough power left to hide the tannins and the aging notes. Drink up soon!
Red
Closing
The overall winner:
1st.
98 pts. 1982 Château La Mission Haut-Brion
2nd.
97 pts. 1982 Château Gruaud Larose
3rd.
96 pts. 1990 Château Cheval Blanc