When we speak about Bordeaux (or Burgundy) the subjects are the so called Big Guns most of the time. Few people seem to be interested in Crus Bourgeoise and the likes. That´s a fault because some of them are simply wonderful. Yesterday evening I opened my last bottle of 1986 Gressier Grand Poujeaux and paired it with Spaghetti in truffle butter.
Fill level very top shoulder. Cellared in my temp. controlled cellar. Color a slightly transparent ruby with significant orange at the rim. In the nose typical aspects of a fully mature and very good Left Bank Bordeaux. Wet stones, pencil lead, dark chocolate and mint. At the palate the tannin is fully resolved, medium bodied, wonderful balance between sweetness and acid, long “cool” minty aftertaste. Perfect harmony, elegance, grace. Clearly a quality way above it´s image – at lest IMO. I can imagine some would have liked it less than me because it´s not a “rich” wine with power and full body. But to me this wine was in absolutely perfect harmony and the ideal combination with the truffle Spaghetti. As I said this was my last bottle but I wished I had at least a case left of this fully mature and beautiful wine.
BTW: I tasted some vintages of Branas Grand Poujeaux recently (2009 onwards) and I am pretty sure this wine has a similar quality. I you are interested in fine Left Bank Bordeaux to affordable prices this one is a safe bet.