Bottle from a perfect cellar, needs time (20') to collect, then: forest floor, moss, cherries, leather... But it is very sensitive, too much oxygen and it tips over... Clearly past its peak...
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I was very surprised at how great the condition was of this bottle. The capsule had some damage, but the long cork was in great shape (1/2 saturated, but still strong). The nose right after opening was full of "funk" and cheese, which made me fear the worst. However, after about 20 mins of air, this started to come together. Very little to no fruit remained, but it was full of tertiary flavors and aromas that were flawlessly balanced by the remaining acidity. The tannins, however, were nearly completely gone. It stayed at this level for another 1.5 hours before falling off. Overall, this is probably a decade past its prime drinking window, but I would certainly drink another bottle now if I had one.
What a treat to enjoy the remaining life of this 40 year old beauty.
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Erstaunliche Entwicklung nach ca. 1/2-1 Std. merkwürdigerweise plötzlich an Frische gewonnen, trotz des hohen Alters. Direkt aus der Fl. konsumiert, ohne Dekantieren. Weiche, samtige Tannine, Lakritze und Süssholz. Etwas Kako u. Zedernholz. Moos und Trüffel, Waldboden.
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Jon's 40th Bash. Tasted blind. Drank in Grassl Cru (should have used the 1855 instead). Bottle was Bordeaux decanted. Appearance is clear, medium intensity, garnet colour. Legs. Nose medium+ intensity, with aromas of stinky earth, green bell peppers and leaves, animale, red cherries. Developed. On the palate, dry, vibrant high acidity, medium alcohol, medium+ body. Medium+ flavour intensity, with flavours of green bell peppers, green leaves, tobacco, pungent earth, leathery animal, red cherries. Fading medium finish. Very good quality. Clearly a very old Bordeaux. Commendable longevity of fruit and vibrant acidity. Time to drink up and enjoy.
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I stood up the bottle 3 days prior to popping. Unfortunately, the cork broke upon opening. It was 90% saturated. Audozed for 3 hours. Deep rubi, with a violet rim. Notes of dark fruit, blackcurrant, some violets and a hint of mint with sweet spices, blood, iron and damp forest floor. It is ferrous. On the palate, at forty years old, it is still full of fruit. It is sweet at the core with notes of black cherry, black raspberry and earthy undertones. Acidity is medium plus, tannins are low, fully resolved. It is lean but penetrating. Highly elegant but exuberant at the same time. With a long, persistent finish. This was a beautiful experience. What a pleasure to drink!
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70s French Wines (Jade Palace Seafood Restaurant, Forum): Tasted blind. Dark ruby and vibrant hues. Fresh and vibrant, lifted bouquet of floral, blackcurrant, dark cherry, sweet spice & licorice. Elegant and showing nice fruits, amazingly holding so well so fresh. Nice entry, still robust, young with loads of fruits. Blackcurrant, dark cherry, spice and earthy undertones. Vibrant acidity lead to a long persistent finish. Seamless and harmonious. What a sensational effort as it tastes like a good 80s or even 90s. Judging that Château Pavie has not made its name in those days. This is so impressive and voted as WOTN unanimously by the group.
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To my slight surprise this was the second '79 we have drunk this year alone, which marks a severe ramp up in consumption given that I bought 6 bottles in 1983 and still have 2 left. Currently the Wine-Searcher price is between $180-230 but I note an eBay auction in Germany where the current bid is a mere $5. There is always that nagging question, do I drink or do I sell? Well I never got in the game to profit so it really is a moot point.
The level was very generous at the neck, higher than the previous couple. The cork came out entire, in pretty good nick although soft and sodden. The color fantastic, all garnet red with a white rim, no yellowing in evidence. As before, notable berry fruit combined with the civilized aromas of oak. Still two left to go is the nice closing thought.
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We last drank one of these in 2007, some 19 years after consuming the first. I am slightly shocked to see that my reaction in 2007 is little different from what it is this evening, all the more so since I declared to be slightly disappointed in 1988.
The label had come off during an inundation of the cellar (well if the cork is good, what should that matter?). The cork came out entire, although fragile, and the level was below the shoulder.
Of course one tends to be biased with things one loves, but I do not exaggerate the deep garnet clarity with just a faint fading in the rim. Lovely bouquet of old drawing rooms and books; but on the palate is where it shines with bright currant fruit that lingers an age. How few people probably get to enjoy a Bordeaux at the right maturity. We are blessed; and three still to go.
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Still interesting and enjoyable to drink. Despite there being virtually no fruit on the nose, this smelled very interesting and delicious. The palate still had a small amount of fruit intact with a good amount of structure still present. A nice length finish showcased many interesting secondary flavors. An enjoyable drink overall.
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Opened up quite a bit over an hour. Now shows heavy aromas of smoke, dark chocolate chips, cabbage growing in dirt, and some graphite. Quite pleasing nose. Some dirty cherry fruit, wet wood, some soil, Brussles Sprouts, and tannins and smoke build on the palate. Finish shows some mushrooms, soil, and not really holding any fruit. Still very pleasing; best on the nose.
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I think this wine is a bit past its peak and on its way down. The 85, which I had recently, is at its apex right now. Fruit is a bit thin, with a little greenness peaking through. Olivine character beginning to show. An interesting wine for sure, but certainly not in its prime.
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Stood bottle up about two hours before opening. Cork was half saturated, but intact. Not surprisingly, a fair bit of sediment on the bottle and following decanting. Color has faded down to ligh ruby, but not bricked. Very little nose to speak of, which made me worry that this had turned, but the taste is still there. Not a ton of fruit, mind you, but enough. Black currant, leather, gravel, a hint of oak. Drank with brie and cheddar cheeses, apples and crackers. Not a 'knock your socks off' bottle, but a good experience nonetheless. If you have one, I'd drink it, because I doubt it's got a lot left.
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Hard to believe that almost twenty years have passed since consumption of the first bottle. I have battled with a strong emotional attachment to what was then my first (of what I expected to be many to come) foray into the futures game. Time and occasion never seem to present themselves and I probably fuss too much but yesterday I took the plunge and broached another.
Maybe I will be shown to be the beneficiary of this reluctance to consume. In all honesty, I had expected the thing to be tired and worn and that I would be left regretting my indecision. Oh, how gloriously wrong on that point! The level was down to the top of the shoulder; the cork came out intact although it was a little frail and thoroughly discoloured with a gorgeous old cellar smell. The wine showed a crystal clear garnet red with a lowering intensity at the rim but no evident yellowing. The nose was big, cedary, fragrant, complex and subtle. On the palate it was even better, with a strong initial berry fruit - redcurrant - followed by a swirl of other events. Everything was well resolved, all the tannins mellowed out. Dulcie thought the best wine she has had.
Another twenty years to the next one? Probably not.
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We drank the first bottle before they were shipped from N.J. to my new home in Illinois. At the time I wrote, "Somewhat disappointing: comparative lightweight. Unexciting bouquet, not long-lived in the mouth. Good balance but lacking power."
Obviously not a ringing endorsement. Perhaps the wine was dumb back then.
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3/16/2024 - grandvin100 wrote:
Bottle from a perfect cellar, needs time (20') to collect, then: forest floor, moss, cherries, leather... But it is very sensitive, too much oxygen and it tips over... Clearly past its peak...
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8/17/2020 - libero wrote:
Flawed
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12/24/2019 - Winning_Wines Likes this wine: 92 Points
Christmas Eve Dinner 2019: Christmas Eve Dinner: Wine #1 of the evening.
I was very surprised at how great the condition was of this bottle. The capsule had some damage, but the long cork was in great shape (1/2 saturated, but still strong). The nose right after opening was full of "funk" and cheese, which made me fear the worst. However, after about 20 mins of air, this started to come together. Very little to no fruit remained, but it was full of tertiary flavors and aromas that were flawlessly balanced by the remaining acidity. The tannins, however, were nearly completely gone. It stayed at this level for another 1.5 hours before falling off. Overall, this is probably a decade past its prime drinking window, but I would certainly drink another bottle now if I had one.
What a treat to enjoy the remaining life of this 40 year old beauty.
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12/7/2019 - Mipesu wrote: 92 Points
Erstaunliche Entwicklung nach ca. 1/2-1 Std. merkwürdigerweise plötzlich an Frische gewonnen, trotz des hohen Alters. Direkt aus der Fl. konsumiert, ohne Dekantieren. Weiche, samtige Tannine, Lakritze und Süssholz. Etwas Kako u. Zedernholz. Moos und Trüffel, Waldboden.
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8/24/2019 - Derek Darth Taster wrote: 92 Points
Jon's 40th Bash. Tasted blind. Drank in Grassl Cru (should have used the 1855 instead). Bottle was Bordeaux decanted.
Appearance is clear, medium intensity, garnet colour. Legs.
Nose medium+ intensity, with aromas of stinky earth, green bell peppers and leaves, animale, red cherries. Developed.
On the palate, dry, vibrant high acidity, medium alcohol, medium+ body. Medium+ flavour intensity, with flavours of green bell peppers, green leaves, tobacco, pungent earth, leathery animal, red cherries. Fading medium finish.
Very good quality. Clearly a very old Bordeaux. Commendable longevity of fruit and vibrant acidity. Time to drink up and enjoy.
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3/28/2019 - DoubleMagnum Likes this wine: 94 Points
I stood up the bottle 3 days prior to popping. Unfortunately, the cork broke upon opening. It was 90% saturated. Audozed for 3 hours. Deep rubi, with a violet rim. Notes of dark fruit, blackcurrant, some violets and a hint of mint with sweet spices, blood, iron and damp forest floor. It is ferrous. On the palate, at forty years old, it is still full of fruit. It is sweet at the core with notes of black cherry, black raspberry and earthy undertones. Acidity is medium plus, tannins are low, fully resolved. It is lean but penetrating. Highly elegant but exuberant at the same time. With a long, persistent finish. This was a beautiful experience. What a pleasure to drink!
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9/1/2018 - Kim Gerner Likes this wine:
26 Old Bordeaux grand cru classe - vertical (1938-1990) and horizontal semi blind wine tasting dinner (Fredriksberg): Excellent wine with lots of tertiary notes
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10/17/2016 - DFBW wrote: flawed
Very dark almost brown colour made me worry when decanting - and it was gone sadly.
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5/20/2015 - hkm520240 wrote: 95 Points
70s French Wines (Jade Palace Seafood Restaurant, Forum): Tasted blind. Dark ruby and vibrant hues.
Fresh and vibrant, lifted bouquet of floral, blackcurrant, dark cherry, sweet spice & licorice. Elegant and showing nice fruits, amazingly holding so well so fresh.
Nice entry, still robust, young with loads of fruits. Blackcurrant, dark cherry, spice and earthy undertones. Vibrant acidity lead to a long persistent finish. Seamless and harmonious.
What a sensational effort as it tastes like a good 80s or even 90s. Judging that Château Pavie has not made its name in those days.
This is so impressive and voted as WOTN unanimously by the group.
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1/18/2014 - LWI wrote: flawed
Saturday night wines: Initial a warm and interesting wine, rapidly grew into a TCA monster.
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11/25/2013 - Dulcie and Aylwin wrote:
To my slight surprise this was the second '79 we have drunk this year alone, which marks a severe ramp up in consumption given that I bought 6 bottles in 1983 and still have 2 left. Currently the Wine-Searcher price is between $180-230 but I note an eBay auction in Germany where the current bid is a mere $5. There is always that nagging question, do I drink or do I sell? Well I never got in the game to profit so it really is a moot point.
The level was very generous at the neck, higher than the previous couple. The cork came out entire, in pretty good nick although soft and sodden. The color fantastic, all garnet red with a white rim, no yellowing in evidence. As before, notable berry fruit combined with the civilized aromas of oak. Still two left to go is the nice closing thought.
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5/18/2013 - Dulcie and Aylwin wrote:
We last drank one of these in 2007, some 19 years after consuming the first. I am slightly shocked to see that my reaction in 2007 is little different from what it is this evening, all the more so since I declared to be slightly disappointed in 1988.
The label had come off during an inundation of the cellar (well if the cork is good, what should that matter?). The cork came out entire, although fragile, and the level was below the shoulder.
Of course one tends to be biased with things one loves, but I do not exaggerate the deep garnet clarity with just a faint fading in the rim. Lovely bouquet of old drawing rooms and books; but on the palate is where it shines with bright currant fruit that lingers an age. How few people probably get to enjoy a Bordeaux at the right maturity. We are blessed; and three still to go.
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1/31/2010 - gripNsip wrote: 88 Points
Still interesting and enjoyable to drink. Despite there being virtually no fruit on the nose, this smelled very interesting and delicious. The palate still had a small amount of fruit intact with a good amount of structure still present. A nice length finish showcased many interesting secondary flavors. An enjoyable drink overall.
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1/31/2010 - David Paris (dbp) wrote: 89 Points
Opened up quite a bit over an hour. Now shows heavy aromas of smoke, dark chocolate chips, cabbage growing in dirt, and some graphite. Quite pleasing nose. Some dirty cherry fruit, wet wood, some soil, Brussles Sprouts, and tannins and smoke build on the palate. Finish shows some mushrooms, soil, and not really holding any fruit. Still very pleasing; best on the nose.
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5/16/2009 - MHildbold wrote: 88 Points
I think this wine is a bit past its peak and on its way down. The 85, which I had recently, is at its apex right now. Fruit is a bit thin, with a little greenness peaking through. Olivine character beginning to show. An interesting wine for sure, but certainly not in its prime.
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3/31/2009 - thirstyman wrote: 89 Points
nice - but a little past prime. Funk that would not blow off - but still good fruit underneath.
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4/13/2008 - JuniorSamples wrote: 90 Points
Stood bottle up about two hours before opening. Cork was half saturated, but intact. Not surprisingly, a fair bit of sediment on the bottle and following decanting. Color has faded down to ligh ruby, but not bricked. Very little nose to speak of, which made me worry that this had turned, but the taste is still there. Not a ton of fruit, mind you, but enough. Black currant, leather, gravel, a hint of oak. Drank with brie and cheddar cheeses, apples and crackers. Not a 'knock your socks off' bottle, but a good experience nonetheless. If you have one, I'd drink it, because I doubt it's got a lot left.
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5/21/2007 - Dulcie and Aylwin wrote:
Hard to believe that almost twenty years have passed since consumption of the first bottle. I have battled with a strong emotional attachment to what was then my first (of what I expected to be many to come) foray into the futures game. Time and occasion never seem to present themselves and I probably fuss too much but yesterday I took the plunge and broached another.
Maybe I will be shown to be the beneficiary of this reluctance to consume. In all honesty, I had expected the thing to be tired and worn and that I would be left regretting my indecision. Oh, how gloriously wrong on that point! The level was down to the top of the shoulder; the cork came out intact although it was a little frail and thoroughly discoloured with a gorgeous old cellar smell. The wine showed a crystal clear garnet red with a lowering intensity at the rim but no evident yellowing. The nose was big, cedary, fragrant, complex and subtle. On the palate it was even better, with a strong initial berry fruit - redcurrant - followed by a swirl of other events. Everything was well resolved, all the tannins mellowed out. Dulcie thought the best wine she has had.
Another twenty years to the next one? Probably not.
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6/17/1988 - Dulcie and Aylwin wrote:
We drank the first bottle before they were shipped from N.J. to my new home in Illinois. At the time I wrote, "Somewhat disappointing: comparative lightweight. Unexciting bouquet, not long-lived in the mouth. Good balance but lacking power."
Obviously not a ringing endorsement. Perhaps the wine was dumb back then.
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