Double decant for sediment and pour (lots of chunky/fine sediment). A striking still dark ruby red color with bricking. On the nose: wonderful fragrant nose of brambly red fruit, leather, loamy earth, mint, pencil lead. Taste: smooth, elegant wine with dried red fruit, cedar, dried herbs, tar, smokey earth, gravel with a medium plus finish. YUM! Still hanging in there and a pleasure to drink. — 8 days ago
Poured into a decanter about 30min prior to service and enjoyed over the course of several hours. This bottle of the 1985 was more recently acquired from the chateau and in pristine condition. The wine pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium visit with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of ripe and desiccated dark and red fruits: black currants, mixed brambles, tobacco, pencil shavings, some dried purple flowers, some green bell pepper, mushrooms, leather, some ferrous earth and gentle warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin (integrated) and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and slightly savory. Elegant and beautiful this was such a fun and rewarding wine to follow as the hours rolled by. A very strong showing at 40 years young and not slowing down soon. Drink now through 2040. — a month ago
Very pleasant blend out of Pauillac; 67% Cab Sauv, 25% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot and 3% Cab Franc work so harmoniously together that delivers an enjoyable medley of red berries and black currant aromas and taste. This particular wine has been aged for 18 months in 75% new wood French barrels, which shows it finesse and precision on the elegant finish and mouthfeel. Unbelievably smooth and noble on the palate. Enticing finish and incredibly structured tannins. This wine can age beautifully! — 3 days ago
Been sitting on it for a decade and boy was it worth the wait. It’s everything I’d want in a St. Julien Bordeaux. Silky tannins, elegant mouthfeel, great balance of red fruit and earthy undertones. Sadly, that was my last one. — 22 days ago
Deep ruby , thin pink rim . Fresh cassis , blackberry , quite spicy with a touch of vanilla, red plum . Quite open and enticing . On the palate this is somewhat linear with cool dark fruits , cassis , red plum , grafite and saline touch . Fills out well with quite grippy , cool tannins , fresh acidity , and good length with grafite , cassis finish . This is obviously not ready , however it was an enjoyable wine to drink over dinner , the freshness and cool fruit character are quite apparent , and the tannins though gritty are somewhat in the background . Though it was worth the experience , I would leave bottles a further 10 years before trying another. This is an elegant and well judged wine . — 8 days ago
(Two previous 1983 wine reviews never made it on here, so copying from my CT).
Continuing a run of ‘83s over the last 3-6 months, this not only showed quite well, but it was at its best after almost two hours in the bottle. Whereas the ‘83 Pichon was clean and elegant, this was a bit more dense and powerful. Beautifully expressive aromatics of potpourri, espresso, fig and leather with a flavor profile mostly on the red/black fruit side of the spectrum. The mid-palate showed good weight and continued to bulk-up during the evening. Old cherry-tobacco note at the finish. Honestly, this drank like it was more early ‘90s than it was early ‘80s. Good. — 21 days ago
Ron Siegel
Elegant style from Martines cellar — 2 days ago