Firstly, I didn't necessarily mean to open this. Originally, I bought it thinking I might open it one day. Last week I put up some expensive wines to auction. This was one of them. However, as I stood the bottle up, the cork dropped down. Ugh. Guess I'll have to open it now.
Well mostly I agree with the recent notes. You have to like old wine, as some will not like it at this stage. For the Happy Few, the rewards are glorious. It is definitely alive and well at 71 years of age.
Let's walk through it. A good bottle, no leaks, solid capsule.
Eye, like cola, but tinge more red, clean, but this must have been a solid wine in its day.
Nose. On opening, lots of varnish. After hours, less varnish and more stewed tomato and jam, but not in a sweet way. Varnish, some. A very buried whiff of espresso. Earth, leather, damp wood, all there.
Palate. The attack is very suave, nice old integrated tennins, low acid attack. Good acidity. If you plugged your nose, you'd be surprised by the acidity still, but it is only a supporting player. Coating.
Aromas and finish. Dry fruit without the sugar. Old wood notes. Both persist a long time. A whiff of orange on the end.
It might not be an immediate pleasure bomb - but I guarantee you, you also will not be able to put it down.
That is the crux of old wine. And who after tasting the old, would want the new?
Day 2. Half the bottle was not poured out and was immediately sealed with Vacuvin after opening. That seemed to have worked well, because the wine was not too tired, and was also decanted.
Mostly the same, but way less varnish and more actual, sweeter stewed fruit. A bit less acid too. Only a little sediment. Very pleasant, more just to drink on its own. Tastes way younger, as well. Very cool experience, amazing.
