TN: 1982 Ch. La Lagune, Haut Medoc

WINE TALK
1

In a very stout line-up of wines, including the 2003 Haut Brion, the '82 La Lagune was my stand-out. Not based on score - some wines I scored higher - but just because of the intoxicating pleasure of drinking a lovely, mature Bordeaux that is firing on all cyclinders, fully exposed.

Bought from MacArthur’s a few months back when they were selling a nice cache of unopened boxes of '82s procured from a cellar. I picked up a mixed bag. Reading Kevin Shin’s notes earlier this year intrigued me about this particular wine. MacArthur’s, by the way, was a treat to work with, and the bottle was as pristine as they come. Super clean label, relatively high fill.

The cork came out nicely except for the very last tip breaking off. Nothing fell into the wine and I was able to clean out the residue of the tip which still stuck to the bottle sides. The remainder of the cork was flawless, no signs of seepage at all.

Poured into the decanter a lovely brickish red elixir. A quick waft and taste, and clearly this wine needed some decanting. A bit thin, acidic and tart on pop and pour. Thirty or so minutes later, and this wine was glowing. On the nose, a melange of red fruits, pencil lead, earth and a touch of Bourdeaux funkiness. The body itself was silky, tannins full integrated, with some graininess to the finish. More reds than darks, but beautiful sweet fruit propped up with enough acidity to keep the wine light.

Not a whopper by any stretch, but just a lovely, lovely classical wine to enjoy with food and company. This wine is, IMHO, at the end of its plateau and is or will start declining. Drink up.

2

Thanks for this note, Robert. I have one of these laying down right now — sadly, I don’t have access to it right now – hopefully it has a couple more years of plateau in it!

You say the fill was “relatively high” — does that mean “base neck”?

3

Yes, base neck. Sorry I was not clearer.

I hope you enjoy this wine as much as I did.

4

Cool. Thanks for the follow-up, Robert. [cheers.gif]

5

The 1982 La Lagune has always been an interesting wine. At release I thought it tasted like a fine

Burgundy. To prove the point I put it in a blind Burgundy tasting I was giving-It won.

6

[wow.gif] [swoon.gif]

7

I love the old-wine roulette game. We are finishing a glorious 1985 Ravenswood Merlot, while watching the sun set over the Atlantic Ocean.

8

sun set over the Atlantic?

9

Great note. I’ve really liked the 80’s La Lagune’s I’ve had over the years, and agree with your comment that while not rock stars, they are just wonderful clarets.

10

I happens on various islands…such as Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard, Block Island, the Azores, Tristan de Cunha, England, and Ireland.
Here, tonight, my back is facing Portugal, as I look toward the Eastern seaboard of America.

11

I ordered some '09 La Lagunes. Gonna sit on them for a long while. Hope they are as classicly structured.

12

But it lacks the inconsistency of a fine Burgundy. [stirthepothal.gif]

13

good work sir…old wine is where its at

14

Ahhhh, the allure of drinking old Bordeaux and lucky me, i was one of the recipients of Roberts fine offering. The Lagune was a bit disjointed at initial taste after the pop, but just a short lounge in the decanter did wonders and out beautiful old world claret and a pleasure to taste! Still had soft bright red fruit mixed with that muddy earth. An epic evening of wines like '03 haut Brion, ping us, les pavot, opus…and the superstar of the bunch…some label I never heard of '00 cirsion rioja(stunning).

15

Thanks for the note and glad that your bottle showed well.

16

The 1978 is also brilliant.

As for Burgundy lookalikes, the best I have found is Beychevelle.

17

Robert; Nice note…The '82 La Lagune has been gorgeous for years and is still holding up beautifully. Probably one of my all time best purchases and I am quite glad to still have a few remaining.

Cheers ! [cheers.gif]
Marshall

18

Love the '82. '90 is pretty good too.

19

I’d likely puke if you told me what you paid back then! :wink:

20

1982 Château La Lagune - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Haut-Médoc (4/18/2015)
– decanted immediately before initial taste –
– tasted non-blind over two hours –

NOSE: mature red fruits; strong cigar/leafy/(hint of brett?); baked cherry; molasses; pine tar; hint of mineral.

BODY: dark garnet core with slight bricking throughout; looks younger than it is; medium bodied.

TASTE: strong cigar note; very earthy; mature red/purple fruits; hollowing-out on the mid-palate; alc. not noticeable; medium- acidity; hint of pencil lead mineral; damp fallen trees/old rotting trees; better than a bottle I tasted two years ago; barely on the wrong side of peak: Drink Now. Gut impression score: low 90’s.