What is your experience with 1964, 1966 &1970 BDXs?

I see these pop up for sale now and again and I think back to the poor treatment these wines got in the distribution chain back in the day. My dad was a retailer from 1958- 1996. I remember these wines being delivered on a nice hot summer day in an unrefrigerated truck and then going into my dads poorly temperature controlled retail environment. He could have been one of the worst examples of handling wine but I suspect many of the 60s retailers were no better. The wholesalers he bought from were mostly big name guys from Chicago and I remember all of them having pretty crappy delivery senarios. 1971 Rieslings from a highly respected Chciago importer showed up on nice hot summer days too. Then most people who bought the wines from my dad didn’t bother with temp controlled cellars either. I remember one surgeon my dad was buddies with who bought a walk in wine cabinet and that was a big deal. To this day I’ve never pulled the trigger on any wines from that era.

I have had very fine experiences (luck?) with all 3 vintages Craig. Have a 1970 Gruaud-Larose upright now I was saving for a friend who was considering a Bandon run later this summer. That’s off now so I don’t know who I’ll drink this with.

I have had a bunch of really good 1970s in the last year or so, although a Figeac I had was dead.

My guess is that 1966s would also be really good. It was an outstanding vintage.

I would think 1964 would be iffier. I think it rained during the middle of harvest or something and the wines are more mixed.

And, I am sure proper handling, storage, etc. would be key

The '66 Calon Segur is one of the three greatest Bdx I’ve ever had, and seemed to have plenty of life ahead of it as of four years ago.

From 1970 I’ve had Cheval Blanc, Pontet-Canet, and Fombrauge. All were excellent (70 PC is from the Cruse era, but there was nothing wrong with that bottle) and defying their age, although the Cheval Blanc was not anywhere near as good as other notes I’ve seen.

I’ve really like 66 Latour and Ch. Margaux, but 66 Lafite Rothschild never seems of the same level. It is fun to drink though. Only had 64 Latours, all delish.

64 Montrose ( Army & Navy Stores ), 64 Latour & Haut Brion were very good , 64 Palmer decent, 66 Ducru, Gruaud, Margaux, Leoville las Cases, Poyferre, Beychevelle very good as well, 70 Latour, Latour a Pomerol, Gazin, Ducru, Lynch Bages, Haut Brion, Gruaud, Palmer , Beychevelle, Haut Bailly very good too with Latour, Palmer, Ducru & Lynch Bages in the lead. Good provenance will be essential

'70 Brane-Cantenac was a real beauty when I tasted it a few years ago. Which reminds me, I still have a mag of '70 Lascombes that we need to drink, Mr. Smith!

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Has anyone had the 64 Calon Segur?

Well stored '66s and '70s Bordeaux can be magic still, left and right bank. Not had any 64s but I hear the 64 Grand Puy Lacoste is quite good.

20 years ago, 66 Gruaud was one of my best bottles ever and 66 H-B was not yet at peak, and 10 years ago 66 LMHB was very good.

All were acquired between 1996 and 2006 on the secondary market.

Edited to correct memory lapse.

That’s impressive and good to hear that most of these have been very good wines. The wines must be tougher than you think or, more people stored them better than I would have guessed.

I’ve had a lot of 70 Bdx over the last 20 years so I’d be skeptical of buying any now though.

Only a few 64’s and 66’s though. 64 is ok on the right bank, 66 had the reputation of being a tannic long lived vintage.

I also think they are just making so much better wines now. Or maybe its global warming.

We had some stellar 66 and 70 Bordeaux along with other stuff a year ago:

Experience isn’t recent, but I loved 70 Ducru, Latour and Palmer

My experience with the '70 Bdx has been mixed, although all of my bottles were acquired from auctions.
A 1970 Château Figeac was fantastic.
One 1970 Château Giscours was fine, but a year later, it’s twin bottle was tired.
1970 Château La Laguna and 1970 Château Belair (Dubois-Chalon) were both far past their prime.

I’ve had much better luck with 1970 Riojas.

Cheers,
Warren

This shows how important storage is. His Figeac was great. The one I purchased was dead.

They are three very good vintages for decent value wines that are in general drinking beautifully today. Over the past few years I have very much enjoyed:

1964 Château Ducru-Beaucaillou
1964 Château Latour
1964 Château Cassevert
1964 Château Lagrange (St. Julien)
1964 Château Pape Clément
1964 Château Cheval Blanc
1964 Château Durfort-Vivens
1964 Château Haut-Brion
1966 Château La Tour Figeac
1966 Château Cassevert
1966 Château Margaux
1966 Château Kirwan
1970 Château Larrivet-Haut-Brion
1970 Château Gruaud Larose
1970 Les Forts de Latour
1970 Château Cheval Blanc
1970 Château de Pez
1970 Château Barde-Haut

From all 3 years there are fine wines to be found - if bottles have been well stored/shipped.

1964 generally is much better on right bank (esp. Pomerol and border to St-Emilion, some great wines) and also in Graves … but there are also good wines from Medoc, like Latour (!), GPLacoste, Ducru, Gruaud and others … but many also show a dry edge now, lacking mid-palate …

1966 is usually better on the left bank than 1964, but less good on right bank, although there are successes … the wines are more masculine (than ´64, but also ´62) - and some are lacking sweetness. However, good wines, and I certainly will taste several again this year …

1970 may be overall the best vintage between 1961 and ´82, the better wines are still strong and intense, but some show a certain rusticity … so I hesitate to call it a really great year, but it yielded some really great wines … no doubt.

Had a very nice 64 leoville poyferre last week.

1970 La Lagune is superb from a well stored bottle.