TNs: Small 1985 Burgundy Horizontal (Drouhin Mouches, Faiveley Clos des Cortons, Chateau de Pommard)

WINE TALK
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A SMALL 1985 BURGUNDY HORIZONTAL - (11/14/2023)

  • 1985 Joseph Drouhin Beaune 1er Cru Clos des Mouches Rouge - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Beaune 1er Cru
    This pours very pale garnet with heavy bricking to the core. The nose is very alive with rose petals, cardamom, raspberry, dried strawberry, chai tea, dried orange peel, peonies, black truffle, beautiful whiffs of caramel, light roast coffee, fresh baked seed bread, and a smoky topnote. The palate is lithe and elegant entering on bright red and citrus tinged fruit, tannin is low, acid is high. The finish replays all of the nose along a long finish. All in all this is a spectacular showing for this wine, and my favourite ever Drouhin Mouches. (96 points)
  • 1985 Faiveley Corton-Clos des Cortons Faiveley - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Corton Grand Cru
    This pours pale garnet with medium plus bricking and a touch of ruby at the core. The aromatic profile is very pretty but clearly more muscular and quite tertiary showing leather, animal fur, fruit leather, autumn foliage, pipe tobacco, a faint touch of VA, and soy sauce. The palate is somewhat more fresh with deep and rich plummy and cherry fruit. The finish gets quite focused on the autumn leaves and soy sauce leaving a very mature expression. All in all I was quite dissappointed here. This was far more mature than a 1993 of the same wine I had last month, and not really showing the lifted aromatics I hope for in Burgundy. (91 points)
  • 1985 Château de Pommard Pommard - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Pommard
    This pours light garnet with medium bricking. The nose on this is just gorgeous showing, big bright red cherry, dried strawberry, peonies, nori, crushed rocks, perfume, cigar ash, and a touch of brine. The palate enters on the broad and sweet cherry fruit. Tannin is low and acid is medium plus. The finish is lovely and harmonious with lovely red fruit and cigar ash. All in all this is another lovely showing that has held up oh so well. Plenty of big, bright primary fruit here. In fact I'd say there is plenty of life ahead here as this is really not tertiary at all. Just a fabulous showing that really feels true to its Pommard origins. (95 points)
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Thanks Chris. I like '85’s very much, they just keep on keeping on.

I reckon there are probably better bottles of that Faiveley out there. The Latricieres and Beze were wonderful a few years ago, and with so much more in the tank.

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Also a big fan of everything I’ve had from 85 generally. It’s true, this may not have been a fully sound showing for this bottle form Faiveley.

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when 85 came out it was a fruity not serious fun vintage not expected to last. 30+ years later many are going strong and still delicious.

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Very interesting to hear that. Curious what vintages of the 80s were considered serious then.

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most serious was 88, very hard and austere, vin de garde. 83 probably next, though some rot. 89 more like 85 but a bit firmer. Personally I didn’t care for more of the others and love 80, but that’s prior decade. Just my opinion.

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The '88s were hard and never gave much pleasure; neither aeration nor years helped.
The '85s were a joy to drink/smell from the get go. Best about 10-12 years ago. I drank a lot of them…
Many are fading now…
Paul

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