Smelled a bit funky right out of the bottle, but with some aeration said funk blew off and exposed a beautiful nose of black fruit, tobacco, mushroom, graphite (almost crude oil-like) and a slight violet aroma. Black cherry/berry fruit flavors with hints of dark chocolate, menthol, soy sauce and dusty earth. Color was quite dark (purple) with just a bit of lightening around the rim. Perfect balance of alcohol, body and tannin (which were quite silky). Powerful, generous and rich, but quite elegant. Aging beautifully! Spectacular! I could not stop drinking this wine. Thank You Petey P. — 4 years ago
Another spot on wine from Morgan, I love the back label story about his grandmother passing along the love of wine in their family. Grenache is so much about how it is grown, and the sourcing for this wine delivers great fruit. The winemaking is restrained which lets the fruit shine thru. What a lock with our Applewood smoked baby back ribs! — 4 years ago
What a wine and did not show it’s 43 year age at all. The color was very dark with no brick edge. The nose was a bit subdued but had the typical berries, herbs and meat notes that carried over to a very tasty wine. The finish was okay not super long but long enough.
I started buying Beaucastel maybe a few years before this 1978 vintage and in Parker’s reviews of the 1978 vintage was a consistent hold but he did change his mind years down the road and said it was over the hill; well not by a long shot. I constantly purchased 2 or 3 bottle of every vintage till the price was out on my reach in 2001. I also had visited the winery in about 1990. The real kicker with this vintage is the current price estimates of $150 to about $250, current vintages run $80+ and I purchased this bottle for $11.99.
— 4 years ago
Probably said this before: pound for pound this is the best Napa Cab out there. This vintage specifically is riveting: bright dark fruit with incredible acidity and depth on the palate. Balanced, round tannins, medium alcohol and notes of fig and cedar on the medium plus finish. Yup, hats of to this pretty little dear in 2020. — 2 years ago
2002 vintage.Tasted at the Château, showing very well at 4 pm The person who opened the bottle said it was closed in the beginning, she double-decanted in the morning. A beautiful Lafite from a forgotten vintage, elegant, profound and very long. — 3 years ago
At the Dom Perignon dinner last Friday night. David Cross from Moët Hennessy who presented on the night said that this was the first showing of the 2012 in Australia. More intensity and power than the 2010. David thought the 2012 will be the better wine (a definite future P2 star) but the 2010 the better wine to drink now. Almost like a very good white burgundy with a little bubble. — 4 years ago
Not too dry — 4 years ago
Mark Farrell
Deep ruby in color with slight brick color on the rim. Nose is quite pleasing with berry compote, lavender, and dark chocolate. Also a bit of earthiness. Wow. A great mouthfeel on this wine. Well balanced with tannins still a bit heavy. That said, I like my wines with a bit more tannic backbone. These notes are from pop and pour taste. Will let it open up a bit and will update if it changes significantly. — 8 months ago