3 bottles per lot
Details
Château Cheval-Blanc--Vintage 1985
Saint-Emilion, 1er grand cru classé (A). Château-bottled
Levels base of neck
Tasting note: One of my absolute favourite wines. For me, perfection. A plethora of notes - well, 20 to be precise, several from my own cellar. I have just two precious bottles left. Too expensive to replace. First tasted in cask in September 1986, probably in the second-year cellar. Deep purple; nose low-keyed, taut; good shape, good frui, cinnamon/spicy new oak. To be truthful, though impressive it gave me no inkling of the beauty to come. However, by the time of my next taste in March 1991, the first bottle I opened after I had bought a couple of cases, had changed out of all recoginition. I didn't decant it, just poured (a Sunday lunch in the country). Its initial whiff of iron, clover and mint, then, with air, rich, almost pungent. Distinctly sweet on the palate. Full of fruit and delicious to drink by itself. With almost '82 richness and extract. At ten years of age, with the seven other first growths, not my top mark despite its lovely nose, flavour and texture. Several bottles, all drinking perfectly at subesequent luncheons and dinners at home and, of course, with Bordeaux Club members. Unsurprisingly, showing perfectly at Kaplan's 1985s event. Most recently, sandwiched between the excellent and rare '78 Barca Velha (Ferreira's 'Douro Lafite') and '62 La Tâche, at a dinner at home. Decanted at 7.45pm, served two hours later: now medium deep, rich, with mature rim; a lovely, fully evolved bouquet; perfect sweetness, body, flavour, tannin and acidity. Last tasted June 2000 ***** Perfect now but balanced sufficiently for, say, another ten years Michael Broadbent, Vintage Wine
3 bottles per lot
Saint-Emilion, 1er grand cru classé (A). Château-bottled
Levels base of neck
Tasting note: One of my absolute favourite wines. For me, perfection. A plethora of notes - well, 20 to be precise, several from my own cellar. I have just two precious bottles left. Too expensive to replace. First tasted in cask in September 1986, probably in the second-year cellar. Deep purple; nose low-keyed, taut; good shape, good frui, cinnamon/spicy new oak. To be truthful, though impressive it gave me no inkling of the beauty to come. However, by the time of my next taste in March 1991, the first bottle I opened after I had bought a couple of cases, had changed out of all recoginition. I didn't decant it, just poured (a Sunday lunch in the country). Its initial whiff of iron, clover and mint, then, with air, rich, almost pungent. Distinctly sweet on the palate. Full of fruit and delicious to drink by itself. With almost '82 richness and extract. At ten years of age, with the seven other first growths, not my top mark despite its lovely nose, flavour and texture. Several bottles, all drinking perfectly at subesequent luncheons and dinners at home and, of course, with Bordeaux Club members. Unsurprisingly, showing perfectly at Kaplan's 1985s event. Most recently, sandwiched between the excellent and rare '78 Barca Velha (Ferreira's 'Douro Lafite') and '62 La Tâche, at a dinner at home. Decanted at 7.45pm, served two hours later: now medium deep, rich, with mature rim; a lovely, fully evolved bouquet; perfect sweetness, body, flavour, tannin and acidity. Last tasted June 2000 ***** Perfect now but balanced sufficiently for, say, another ten years Michael Broadbent, Vintage Wine
3 bottles per lot
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