CT Drink Dates for BDX - '76 Ducru, '83 Rausan-Ségla, '90 Talbot, '90 Pontac-Lynch

WINE TALK
1

I got all of 4.5 hours of work done before daydreaming about last week’s wines. [dance-clap.gif]

I’ve been trying to drink bottles that are near or past their CT lifecycle and determine if the site’s range for “Drink Dates” is appropriate or not.

Of the four test “subjects” ('76 Ducru, '83 Rausan-Segla, '90 Talbot, '90 Pontac-Lynch), the Talbot and Segla showed the best. The Pontac never came to life over a 3-hour dinner. It wasn’t dead, but unbalanced with weak tannins. Our Segla delivered finesse…nice plums and cherries…very well balanced. Would buy again. The Ducru was all sour cherries and tobacco leaf…paired alongside a '76 Lopez Rioja, the Rioja had perfect provenance and ultimately won the battle of the 76’s. The Ducru did maintain an impressive finish.

Looking back, if the bottle was outside the CT range and the bottle showed poorly, was that because the bottle was not stored properly, or was it because the wine was past its peak and tired? But what if the bottle showed well and was still outside the drinking window?

For those Bordeaux lovers that like their wines with age, do you find that you enjoy the wines before the drinking date (why would you do that?), at the beginning of the range, the middle, the end or past the drinking window?

Potential options that are past the CT drinking window include:
1985 Grand-Puy Ducasse
1982 Potensac
1979 Pichon Lalande
1989 Olivier
1961 Chasse-Spleen
1988 La Lagune
1985 Pichon Lalande
1983 Gruaud Larose

Any thoughts on ones that could use more time versus drink now?

2

the 83 Gruaud Larose has a lot of life left in it.

3

I assume that you do know you can override whatever dates the community has entered…

4

I do, but that’s a lot of pressure Eric :slight_smile:

5

Please! The 1985 Pichon Lalande is still in elementary school…

6

Carlos - That is certainly the most out of whack. 1996-2010. Thanks!