1961 Château Rauzan-Gassies
Community Tasting Note
NewFrenchClaret Likes this wine:
Friday, December 3, 2021 - Bought this as an "unknown vintage" wine, but from a superb cache of wine from auction. Quite pleased it was a '61 when I cut the capsule.
Very light in color, even for its age, but no shortage of power on the nose. Like all the best examples of this underrated Château it has a terrific meaty quality, but still retains the freshness of Margaux violets. Plenty of complexity, with mint, cinnamon, chocolate and a bit of iodine. Almost perfect.
The taste isn't quite up to the standards of the vintage though. It's consistent with no particular weaknesses, but lacks the intensity of the best '61s (although perhaps there are few of those left now). The tannins have melted away almost completely, and the structure comes entirely from the acidity, which makes it feel a bit soft, albeit with plenty of flavor. The finish is also drying just slightly, and is medium length at best.
Overall this is half a great wine, giving far more pleasure to smell than to taste. But that's more than I expected from a bargain bottle.
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2 comments have been posted
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Comment posted by Jake Barnes:
1/18/2022 12:27:00 PM - Thanks for the very useful note! It’s amazing such a bottle was as good as it was. Do you happen to recall what the fill was like on this bottle?
Comment posted by NewFrenchClaret:
2/11/2022 11:50:00 PM - High shoulder approximately. Pretty much as you'd expect for its age.