Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Cabernet Sauvignon Blend

As good as the 1986 a couple of weeks ago.

Taken to Napua at the Mauna Lani. Dark tawny color. Old Bordeaux nose. Notes of tobacco and cigar, black fruit, mocha, wood desk, and some barnyard gravel floor. Tannins faded, yielding a smooth mouth feel. Fruit starting to fade. Still a great drink, paired with a ribeye.

Tasted blind. Dark purple and opaque. Black fruit, barnyard, earth and gravel. Having had this 20+ times including not that long ago, I should have been able to pick this out. But we're all nearing our the useful end of our tasting abilities and the reveal leads to, "Of course it is". The condition of this 85 LB was much better than others I've had recently - clearly has much life left for it if the bottle conditions are similar.

Bright scarlet color, mostly translucent. Red fruit, gravel stone, spice, dark earth, some tobacco and some leather. Fruit is somewhat faded but still present. I think the 85 LB is moving towards being past peak, but still delivers a nice old world experience.

Oh my my my. Tasted 20 years younger than ‘85. Slight stewed quality to the fruit. Pencil lead, baking spice, incense and dried earth.

Old scarlet color with amber rims, mostly translucent. Has a perfume that I covet. Notes of black fruit and some raspberries, freshly cut cigar, Provençal herbs, some gravel and pepper, and a hint of barnyard earth. Still has good fruit and structure, with tannins fully integrated. Velvet glove finish. I’ve had this maybe 15 times and it never seems to disappoint.

Dark red tawny. Not as deep in color as the 90 LB next to it. Earthy and herbal nose. Notes of tobacco leaf, red and black fruit, gravel stone. Becomes more vegetal with more air. Not as good of a showing as other experiences with this wine.

Another Wednesday Wine Committee for the books, this one in honor of a former WWC member, with the wines donates from his cellar by his family. A wonderful tribute. Wines tasted blind as usual.

Hello gorgeous! Hard not to call this Bordeaux from a reputable producer. I called it early ‘80s. Tart cherry, a streak of green/vegetal notes down the middle but it wasn’t detracting at all. Herbs and underripe black fruit finish. This powered through 2hours in the glass easily. Beautiful.

Dark reddish color. Opaque. Aromatic nose but not flashy. Notes of black fruit, earth, gravel, cassis, some cedar box and some iron. Smooth and supple in the mouth. Tannins fully resolved. Got better with air. Not as big or impactful as some other bottles of this I’ve had, but really nice. A share with the chef brought out some shaved white truffles for one of our dishes. It’s good to be the king.

Legit 🤔