1975 Lanessan

Bought a case at auction 5+ years ago. I could have posted this on wines for $20 or less, my cost was ~$220 all in, but it’s not available at retail. Cracked one after a month’s rest, realized it was ready but in no hurry, so saved a few for the half century mark.

Deep garnet color, barely any bricking. The aromas are intense, immediate impact, black currant to the fore, a hint of cedar, both earth and mineral. The palate is broad, relatively soft and balanced, but not a lot of weight in the middle. The tannins are resolved, there is firm acidity left, but it’s not obtrusive. The black fruit is foremost (now with some raspberry), but there’s a hint of oak poking through.

This is excellent wine, although not really in the class of the 1966 I had a few years ago; if I had it blind and was told 20 years of age, I wouldn’t argue. This is beautiful today. Over the next decade, clearly the acid and wood will begin to dominate, so I would drink over the next 2 – 5 years. Rated 93.

Dan Kravitz

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Had a 1975 Beychevelle served blind the other night, and it was a lovely, almost elegant drink. Still tannic (ah 1975), but otherwise a beautiful old wine. I would never have thought it 20 years old (I guessed 1979). The price sticker was still on the bottle…$6.99!

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Outstanding. A very similar experience to the 1982 that I popped a week or so ago. Such classic wines.

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Lanessan at 50! Awesome! Nice tasting observations too, Dan.

Thanks, Dan. I just picked up a couple of these at auction as it’s the wife’s birth year. I hope they are as good as your bottle.