Have to agree with both the Palmer and Cantemerle in 83. Both are very good but at opposite spectrums in price and sheer size. Would be really interesting to taste them blind along with the Margaux. Can I get an invitation? I’ll bring the Cantemerle!
Stop bitchin about 83 being your birthyear. Mines 82 and while it’s a nice vintage in Bordeaux, I can’t afford to drink anything but plunk from that year.
82 California Zinfandels are what have been opened for me.
maybe if you stop buying new cars and remodeling your house you could buy some nice wine 
Your note on the '83 LMHB sounds very similar to the bottle I tasted recently. As far as '83 go, I’ve had the Palmer twice (haven’t gotten around to writing up my notes but it is an excellent wine) and a handful of others. The one that hasn’t been mentioned yet that is absolutely awesome is Cheval Blanc. It’s definitely a wine worth seeking out.
- 1983 Château La Mission Haut-Brion - France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan (7/30/2008)
Possesses an impressive nose featuring an expressive blend of dark fruit, tar, tobacco and leather reminiscent of the great vintages of LMHB. While this has a really, really satisfying nose, it is not nearly as satisfying on the palate. There’s plenty of flavor, but the fruit tastes a little overripe, and the overall palate impressive is a bit ponderous. Tannins are fully resolved. Nice stuff. (92 pts.) - 1983 Château Mouton Rothschild - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac (9/22/2007)
Kitchen Tasting Group Does Beaver Creek – Day Two: The only note in my notebook reads “spectacular.” I didn’t discern as much barnyard funk as there was in a previous bottle. Awesome bottle. I’m beginning to think that wines just show better at 9000 feet! Hope I get more chances to experiment. - 1983 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac (4/14/2007)
Boxed In at Craig’s (DRC, Leroy, Dugat-Py, Rousseau, Dujac, Kistler, d’Yquem and others): There was much debate on whether or not this was corked. The nose was awesome and showed no signs of being corked. It had the classic PL aromas and reminded me of the 1982 we had last fall. The taste was pretty good, too, but there was a little lack of fruit in the mid-palate that was probably a sign that it was corked. I would have to try this side-by-side with a second bottle to be absolutely certain. NR (flawed) - 1983 Château Lafite Rothschild - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac (4/25/2006)
Dinner with England, Manlin, and Others (Brad’s House): Decanted about one hour, and then delayed another hour until dinner. This wine smelled great from the moment the cork was pulled. The nose showed a penetrating smoke and some earthiness. The color was a concentrated dark red. The attack showed nice red fruit, but the mid-palate and the finish fell flat. Further time in the decanter did not seem to improve this defect. A very nice wine, but not the match for this company. (91 pts.) - 1983 Château Cheval Blanc - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru (2/27/2006)
Cheval Blanc with Brad England and Scott Manlin: Dark red turning slightly orange at the rim. This had an amazing nose. Not sure how to describe it. Interesting flavors like chocolate and black fruit, but very exotic. Similar to the '85, only better. In the mouth this is medium bodied and very balanced. The taste is exotic, smooth, layered, and elegant. This wine is concentrated, yet light in the mouth and elegant. The finish lingered nicely. This was a very nice match for the steak a la Manlin. My WOTN. (95 pts.) - 1983 Château Mouton Rothschild - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac (1/15/2006)
Tasted side-by-side with the ’89 – these were almost identical. If anything I thought the ’83 was a slightly darker color and had slightly more concentration. Both offered a big barnyard (in a positive sense) on the nose. Very Exciting. (93 pts.)
Posted from CellarTracker
1983 is my fiance’s birthyear too. We’ve had a number of wines from it, and it was far from a pitiful year, Charlie. Most top red bordeaux did very well, and it really is drinking at its peak right now. You also have riesling, port, sauternes, some champagnes, and I’ve read a few notes on some decent-good California wines.
But we have the 1983 Haut Brion lined up for this weekend 
Hopefully it’ll be as good or better than our last bottle. It was nice.