Confessions of a first growth virgin.

M_M_c_C_a_l_l · January 30, 2009, 5:13pm

I have never tasted a first growth Bordeaux. I love Bordeaux, but I’ve always gone the bang-for-the-buck route with LLC, Leoville Barton, Cos, Lynch Bages, and Calon Segur. Steve and I will celebrate our fifth anniversary at the end of this month, and I’d like to surprise him.

So what should I buy?

I want something a bit older, and don’t mind stepping out of my $$$ comfort zone, but I absolutely do not what to spend the extra money for a “blockbuster” vintage like '61 or '82. Do you have a favorite unsung vintage?

Mark_Slater · January 30, 2009, 5:17pm

Lafite-Rothschild 1989 (but definitely not 1990!!). It has everything: outrageous nose, power, depth and super finish.

Eric_Anderson · January 30, 2009, 5:17pm

1989 or 1990 Chateau Latour.

Yoni_O_v_a_d_i_a · January 30, 2009, 5:19pm

I’ve had the '83 Mouton and Lafite in the past year and both have been wonderful.

Bill_Tex_Landreth · January 30, 2009, 5:21pm

Hit up Freemott for one of his '03 Lafites. Pretty near a 100 pt wine right now.

Eric_Anderson · January 30, 2009, 5:24pm

'83…good point. Sleeper vintage, but probably not too cheap any more.

LMD_Ermitano · January 30, 2009, 5:31pm

Boy, I’ve certainly posted a lot my first time here. At the risk of wearing my recent welcome thin, allow me a few suggestions before I go to bed (it’s 1:19am as I type).

Before I go into vintages, let me first suggest you go for Haut Brion - it is one of my favorite 1st growths and, generally, the least expensive one at that.

That said, may I suggest the '94 Haut Brion which may be currently purchased for $300 more-or-less. I’ve had this not long ago (around September or October 2008) and it was wonderful. While most are generally cool to '94 Bdx, I’ve recently found several to be quite enjoyable: Angelus and La Mission HB immediately come to mind.

1989s are also very nice, but the HB is ridiculously priced, no thanks to you-know-who.

Instead of focusing on a 1st growth for Steve (send him my warmest regards please), why not go for something like a 1986 or 1990 Cos d’Estournel instead?

M_M_c_C_a_l_l · January 30, 2009, 5:43pm

Thanks for all the suggestions. I’m loving the prices on the '89s. Noel, re: '86 Cos, we’ve had it several times and I want to shoot for something that will be new to us both. I just ordered a '94 La Mission Haut Brion… might still order an '89 “something” since LMHB is not technically a first growth.

Tex, Is Freemunch giving away first growths? He’s such a nice boy.

Yoni_O_v_a_d_i_a · January 30, 2009, 5:45pm

True, but they’ll probably cost around 300-400 at the moment. (Melissa said she was fine paying a little extra…)

Bill_Tex_Landreth · January 30, 2009, 5:49pm

He is if you cook him a steak and snuggle with him.

Jorge_Henriquez · January 30, 2009, 5:55pm

I agree with Noel about 94. Very underrated vintage.

Here’s Haut Brion in your neck of the woods for under $200:
http://www.brentwoodwine.com/os/itemhtml/ht992516.shtml?OsaScript=itemnavg&__itemnum=992516" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

83 Latour:
Buy Wine Online at Hooked On Wine, Purveyors of Fine & Vintage Wine" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

93 Latour:
Buy Wine Online at Hooked On Wine, Purveyors of Fine & Vintage Wine" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

94 Mouton for under $200:
Buy Wine Online at Hooked On Wine, Purveyors of Fine & Vintage Wine" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

94 Margaux:
Buy Wine Online at Hooked On Wine, Purveyors of Fine & Vintage Wine" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

You get the idea Mel. [thank_you.gif]

Bill_Tex_Landreth · January 30, 2009, 6:11pm

That’s not my thumb.

Peter_C · January 30, 2009, 6:23pm

Is that how you got to taste yours? How was the snuggling?

Bill_Tex_Landreth · January 30, 2009, 6:27pm

Actually I tasted first, cooked him a steak and Lang snuggled with him and a bag of M&M’s at La Keeentah.

Cris_Whetstone · January 30, 2009, 6:40pm

Post all you like Noel. I think I can speak for all of us to say that your contributions are very welcome. Terrific notes and posts.

Bob_Kaminski · January 30, 2009, 8:38pm

I would try to find an 85 Margaux or Haut Brion. Just rocking now. The 83 Lafite is no big deal -the 83 Pichon Lalande kills it.

Steve_Saxon · January 30, 2009, 8:52pm

Red if your looking for a Haut Brion, I suggest the 88, 98 or 01. The 88 and 01 are sleeper vintages but are delicious and you can get them all for around $250 or less.

John_Davis · January 30, 2009, 9:23pm

Lots of good ideas. 98 HB comes to mind first, 83 Mouton or Margaux. Love the 85 HB, too.

John

Chris_Freemott · January 31, 2009, 1:10am

Red,

If you snuggle you can have your choice of my Lafite, Latour or Margaux. But, I’m the outside spoon as that’s the cheatin’ spoon.

My $.02…

Don’t sweat it. It’s not as monumental as you may think it is especially with your depth of super second exposure. - is it worth it? Perhaps, if someone else is buying.

But, prices on recent vintages are falling fast - so pick one off and wait if you cannot get an older one with good sourcing.

I’ve had 82 and 83 and prefer the latter. I also happen to like fruit and find that the 98s are singing right now. But that’s MY palate, not yours.

I had the great group in Chicago treat me to about 15 firsts on one night - it was splendid. Alas, if you have to rely on Woody for your cherry to be broken - you’re screwed.

Bill_Tex_Landreth · January 31, 2009, 1:12am

Chris Freemott:

Red,

If you snuggle you can have your choice of my Lafite, Latour or Margaux. But, I’m the outside spoon as that’s the cheatin’ spoon.

My $.02…

Don’t sweat it. It’s not as monumental as you may think it is especially with your depth of super second exposure. - is it worth it? Perhaps, if someone else is buying.

But, prices on recent vintages are falling fast - so pick one off and wait if you cannot get an older one with good sourcing.

I’ve had 82 and 83 and prefer the latter. I also happen to like fruit and find that the 98s are singing right now. But that’s MY palate, not yours.

I had the great group in Chicago treat me to about 15 firsts on one night - it was splendid. Alas, if you have to rely on Woody for your cherry to be broken - you’re screwed.

Palate of yak.