1982 Latour Bordeaux Blend - France - Bordeaux - Pauillac - Red - First Growth

Crimson in color. Medium rim variation. Slow legs. Cedar. Dates. Tobacco. Medium/Full bodied. Satin-like texture. Silky. Long finish. Truly a religious experience.

The 1982 vintage was characterized by high heat that resulted in very ripe, highly alcoholic wines (the ripest since 1959). Many wine writers and collectors (especially British writers) initially dismissed the vintage because of the high alcohol levels and almost freakish amounts of fruit. They theorized that the wines would die an early death. (Note, many of these same writers and fellow travelers now say the same thing about 1997 Barolos and Barbarescos.) Simply put, these pundits blew the call and today one would be hard pressed to find anyone of note who doesn't believe 1982 to be one of the best vintages of the 20th Century. An ethereal bouquet of sandalwood, leather, rose, cherry, and minerals ? almost textural in its nuances. Thick, smooth, and rich with deep power yet feminine grace ? the combination for which all great wines aspire. Tannins are still significant but are integrating. Acidity is more than sufficient for continued aging. Can be drunk now but another decade is probably warranted. The finish lasts for over a minute.