I think you’re right, it was probably just a bad bottle. I think a lot of us are just drawn into this aging mystique where we believe that there could be something MORE to be found after 30, 40 or even 50 years when in reality the probability that some mishap had happened that devastated the wine would seem much more likely. Think about it, in 43 years (for a 1979 bottle of wine), I myself have been through quite a bit, a few continents, more than 10 countries, life, marriage(s)l, children, and definitely some low points along the way. The next bottle I drink, I will try to keep an open mind, try to look for what’s there to enjoy, and not to try finding something that I expect to be there but just isn’t.
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Lunch today with friends to celebrate a 60th birthday
The 79 Mouton is a birth year wine for me as well, and the last one I had about 5 years ago was still quite backwards. I would expect this is a one off rather than a consistent 1979 Mouton experience.
The 1979 Pichon Lalande has consistently been my favorite wine in an otherwise distinctly mediocre (though not awful) vintage.
Surprised by this. Margaux and Pomerol are both extremely good in 1979, and overall I think this is a good, solid vintage just beginning to show its age.
Given the quality of the 80s in Bordeaux, 79 has always been a mediocre vintage to be. Mediocre doesn’t mean bad though - average. Which, really, isn’t that different from “good, solid”. I suppose by the standards of 70s Bordeaux (which I never drank much of) it could be seen as better 
I have drunk a lot of 1979s, including a couple of big horizontals. From the get go, the wines were beautifully balanced, easy to enjoy, but also aged extreme well for thirty five plus years. I have a lot left, and happy to have an excuse to open my Eureka wine, ‘79 Giscours.
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Mark, we should do that! I’ll bring a bottle of Pichon Lalande.
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2016 Ridge Lytton Springs (last night) - YES! This is why I like to try and age my Ridge Zinfandels, even just a short time - it’s so rewarding to do so.
Just loved the bright bramble in this wine, still good structure, well balanced, bright and lively - exactly what I hope Zinfandel to me, reminded me quite a lot of the Sky Zinfandels I’ve been enjoying lately, but this just had more complexity and liveliness to me. Robert.A.Jr. would have LOVED this wine, but he’s afraid of American oak. He’s no patriot.
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2017 Beta Vare sitting in decanter for tonight. Visiting with Ketan next week and didnt want that to be my first time tasting his wines
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2018 Gonon Iles Feray, young but delicious and still overtly citrusy notwithstanding the ripeness of the vintage. Gonon has a deft hand.
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Inhate to admit it, but this was the first wine i ever bought pre-arrival. Of course, i was not old enough to buy wine …
NV Mumm Napa Brut Prestige - USA, California, Napa Valley (7/8/2022)
Day 1: Used to be the house Sparkling wine and then fell out of favor but this one is back in the game! Spice, minerals, lemon, pear and sour apple. Medium finish and good acidity. 90 points
Better than the last batch a year ago.
2018 Les Bottes Rouges León (Arbois Chardonnay) from Jean-Baptiste Menigoz, which I had been looking forward to trying, is a hard pass for me. This oxidative and oxidized Arbois youngin just sucked if I got a true bottle.
Needing solace after giving the Arbois a three-day chance, then pouring a third of it down the drain, I reached for some dessert brilliance, 1996 Pierre-Bise Coteaux du Layon Chaume. This gem is one of the bottles I’ve had longest in the cellar, bought near its release 24+ years ago. It’s singing with an hour of air—like zingy liquified spiced apricots with a pecan/walnut and orange peel streak. So delicious. Beautiful deep copper sheen ain’t bad to look at either. Papin is a kook and a genius.
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Those 1995-1997 Pierre-Bise CdLs have been a consistent source of joy and represent tremendous value. I’m starting to run out and will really miss them when they’re gone.
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I’m down to my last two 500 ml bottles, another one of these 1996 Chaume and one 1997 Rochefort Rayelle. 
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2020 Sabelli-Frisch Zinfandel “Faun”
Finally convinced my wife that zin is not all overextracted bombs. This was really enjoyable.
2021 Dashwood sauv blanc Marlborough. If the “cat piss” and “garlic” descriptors were ever in-your-face present in a wine it was definitely in this one.
2016 Arbalest Bdx - nice wine for the price point ($20).
After the Egly rosé, we switched to a '18 Jacques Carillon PM Les Perrières that I served with lobster pasta, scallops and king salmon. This bottle was smoky and tropical, stood up well to the strong flavors of the dishes it was paired with. A really enjoyable '18.
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Done. Will have a back up just in case
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Good to start early. I understand that the WSWA has said that it is trying to prevent in womb purchases.
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