12 bottles per lot
Details
1982 Vintage Report: A milestone. A sign of the complete recovery of the market; more, that the combination of richness and perceived quality matched the economic climate. It was the first really important, and well-timed, vin de garde since 1970, and perhaps the first universally touted ripe-for-investment vintage of the post war period. Ideal growing conditions. Flowering early and evenly. Hot and dry summer, harvest from 14 September in great heat, the early-ripening Merlot with a very high must weight. There was then a change, two days of heavy rain. I was there and thought it presaged another '64. The sun and fresh breezes enabled the Cabernets to ripen more normally. Rich, tannic wines resulted. The big guns still have fire power and length of trajectory. M.B.
Château Latour--Vintage 1982
Pauillac, 1er cru classé
Tasting note: Latour 1982: At Penning-Roswell's '10-year' tasting I described it as 'a mouth and fork wine', so big and chewy. Lovely fruit and fragrance at Kaplan's (1997) - tasted blind I put it down as the Mouton. High mark and hefty, again blind (1998). Starting to shed some of its colour and to mature in appearance and nose: a lovely cedar pencils bouquet; sweet, full of fruit, lots of tannin and still 'chewable' (Hamburg 2000) and, most recently, emitting 'warm' ripe, cedary and redcurrant scents. Surprisingly sweet, very amenable despite its tannic grip. Delicious. Last noted at the La Reserve tasting, April 2001. ***(**) Twenty glorious years ahead. M.B.
12 bottles per lot
Château Latour--Vintage 1982
Pauillac, 1er cru classé
Tasting note: Latour 1982: At Penning-Roswell's '10-year' tasting I described it as 'a mouth and fork wine', so big and chewy. Lovely fruit and fragrance at Kaplan's (1997) - tasted blind I put it down as the Mouton. High mark and hefty, again blind (1998). Starting to shed some of its colour and to mature in appearance and nose: a lovely cedar pencils bouquet; sweet, full of fruit, lots of tannin and still 'chewable' (Hamburg 2000) and, most recently, emitting 'warm' ripe, cedary and redcurrant scents. Surprisingly sweet, very amenable despite its tannic grip. Delicious. Last noted at the La Reserve tasting, April 2001. ***(**) Twenty glorious years ahead. M.B.
12 bottles per lot
Special notice
Offered duty paid, but available in bond. VAT at 17.5% will be charged on the hammer price on removal of the lot from bond.