Not a first growth, but we popped the '82 Lynch Bages and it was enormously tasty instantaneously, so we started right there anf then a drank it over about 3 hours.
The fruit did not fade in that time, and pretty much stayed in place throughout the evening.
There are times when I think true cassis is best used as a Bordeaux descriptor… this has a very subtle but deep dark cassis to it, but that was an undernote. My wife at first wondered if it were a Latour because there was just so much pencil lead to this. Along with cedar notes and some humidor/leather. The flavor was positively mouth filling with a vast and lingering mid and back palate finish that I can still close my eyes and dream on.
I honestly don’t think it could get better than it was, but suspect it will stay tasty for a long time yet to come.
Just perfect.
So, not a first growth, but of that vintage, and it was ready to party right away and didn’t lose its stamina for the time we spent savoring it.
Also not first growth, but we just had a 1982 Calon Segur with a similar trajectory. Accessible right away, but it did improve a bit over the course of the three hours we had it open (faked us out after one hour thinking it was fading, but it shifted gears instead of disappearing). As recommended earlier, I wouldn’t plan to decant for any period of time in case you do get a collapsing star. Just gotta be ready to go with the flow, unfortunately, but our example (family bottle in passive basement cellars with two moves since release, 60-70 degree range) held up nicely.
Not a first growth, but lots of 100 point scores: '82 Pichon Lalande. Pristine bottle, fill still slightly up into the neck.
15 minutes breathing in glass was crucial, to allow some initial funk to blow off.
It continued to change over the following 2 hours, but was accessible/powerful/enjoyable the whole time. I did not decant, and I don’t regret that decision at all. Of course, even w/ the same wine, different bottles will be different.
I’ve had all but the Mouton in the last year. Agree with most here no real air needed. You can pnp or decant for sediment but nothing else required. Over the course of 1-3 hours in glass/bottle/decanter should all be great and evolve with little risk of falling apart. Sounds like an amazing night ahead. Enjoy !
What an amazing opportunity for you. CONGRATULATIONS!
I have been very fortunate many times to have the 82 FGs.
The most recent was for my BD a few years ago - 82 Latour. As I have found with all of my previous 82 Latours,
90-120 minute decant and it really shines. Sure, it is quite lovely right away, but ROCKIN in that 90-120 minute range.
90 minutes as well for the other FGs too.
Except for the Lafite, I have all these several times this year and last. Your mileage will vary greatly by bottle.
Here are mine thoughts from memory
82 Cheval - pristine single owner bottle- little air if any- mind blowing
82 Latour - unknown provenance- needed air , under -preformed
82 Haut Brion - pristine single owner bottle- need some air and stunning
82 Haut Brion - unknown provenance- very little air, did not improve with more, good not great.
82 Mouton - both times showed very different but both were close to perfect wines. One had several hours and one had a short slow ox.
Just in case- the 82 PLL a needs no air and is sublime.
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