Two Nice '86 Bordeaux Second Growths

WINE TALK
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  • 1986 Château Gruaud Larose - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien (9/16/2009)
    This wine was double-decanted, allowing two hours in decanter prior to funneling back into the bottle. It was then taken to a restaurant and consumed over two hours with mushroom ravioli and braised short ribs. Deep red with garnet rim. Beautiful intense bouquet of assorted black and red fruits, exotic spices, earth and anise. Full-bodied on the palate, with medium acidity, medium (fairly supple) tannins and flavors mirroring the nose. Long, smooth finish. Absolutely beautiful, and a great match with both dishes. This wine is wonderful now but clearly has the stuffing to last for another 10-15 years. Drink now-12/24. (97 pts.)
  • 1986 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac (9/16/2009)
    This wine was double-decanted, allowing one hour in decanter prior to funneling back into the bottle. It was then taken to a restaurant and consumed over two hours with mushroom ravioli and braised short ribs. Deep garnet with brick rim. Elegant bouquet developing over the first two hours to show plum, leather, cardamom and coriander aromas. Medium-to-full-bodied on the palate, with medium acidity, relatively soft tannins and complex flavors mirroring the nose. Long, smooth finish. What a beautiful wine and what an ethereal match with both dishes (especially the mushroom ravioli)! I was apprehensive because my most recent tasting of a bottle from my cellar showed it to be horribly corked. The wine is likely on plateau but should hold well for another 5-10 years. Drink now-12/19. (96 pts.)

Posted from CellarTracker

Colin [cheers.gif]

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Thanks, Colin!

Both Lalande and Graud Larose seem to have quite fantastic wines, as more and more notes come out. I’ve got some '02 Lalande and a couple bottles of '05 Gruaud Larose, so I have MANY more years before I can drink them.