From a 1.5 format. Dark garnet in color with some clearing at the edges. Full, forward & aromatic nose of mature, ripe fruit aromas of cherries, blueberries, & cassis with classic cigar box overtones of tobacco & cedar, floral notes of violets, earthy/dusty, leather, cocoa/coffee, herbs, spices, minerals/graphite & a slight hint of oak/vanilla in the background. Medium-full bodied with a very good concentration of balanced & smooth textured, mature, ripe fruit flavors of dark cherries, cranberries & pomegranate with mushrooms, cocoa/coffee, herbs, minerals & a hint of oak/vanilla. Lingering smooth finish. Drinks quite well at present but it is close to or at its peak but should be able to continue with a several additional years of aging. Fill was at mid neck level; cork was stained 1/2 up but otherwise intact. My idea was to sample both the 750 ml (4/22/23) and this 1.5 liter in close proximity time wise to see what effect, if any the larger format had on the development of essentially the same wine. Although the notes were identical, the wine from the 1.5-liter seemed fresher and livelier than the one from the 750 ml. Hence, the higher score.
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Dark garnet in color with some clearing & bricking at the edges. Full, forward & fragrant nose of mature, ripe fruit aromas of cherries, blueberries, & cassis with classic cigar box overtones of tobacco & cedar, floral notes of violets, earthy/dusty, leather, coffee, pepper, mocha, herbs, spices, minerals/graphite & a slight hint of oak in the background. Medium-full bodied with a very good concentration of balanced & smooth textured, mature, ripe fruit flavors of dark cherries, cranberries & pomegranate with mushrooms, cocoa/coffee, herbs, minerals & a hint of oak. Lingering smooth finish. Drinks quite well at present & at 42 years of age, it is close to or at its peak but should be able to continue with a few more additional years of aging. However, I doubt any further development will occur. Fill was at lower neck level; cork was stained 1/3 up but intact.
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Late night at Maison Dakota with Frenchie peeps. Drank in Grassl Cru. Appearance deep intensity, garnet colour with sediments. Thin legs. Nose medium intensity, with aromas of tertiary mushrooms and earth, pencil lead, some violet, blackcurrant, blackberry, black plum, animal leather. Developed. On the palate, dry, medium acidity, medium alcohol, resolved tannins, medium+ body. Medium flavour intensity, with flavours of blackcurrant, blackberry, black plum, tobacco and pencil leaad, mushroomy earth, leather, dark animal. Medium+ finish. Good quality. Fruits still surprisingly alive, but the savouriness overtaking the acidity sensation. Nice but is a drink up for me.
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It was fun to taste this unknown vintage of Ducru Beaucaillou a second time. Its performance was similar to the last. While not dazzling with complexity or presence, this is actually quite a nice wine from a difficult vintage, offering an easy charm, fresh red and blue fruit, and a hint of gingery sandalwood.
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Medium garnet, and slightly cloudy with some fine sediments. Nose was rather captivating with florals, red fruits and subtle clove spices and paprika, while the palate does show a good measure of power with the crunchy tannins and warm alcohol, intensity and length, savoury slightly floral briny attack, then ripe redcurrant and blackberry fruits, dried grass, nutmeg and cloves, black pepper, paprika, and a backpalate of mushrooms and coffee grounds. A complex end. Nice!
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Absolutely fantastic at 40 years old. Perfectly stored. Base neck fill. Super youthful. Drinking at peak, I believe. Might be a "B" vintage but this is no "B" wine. Lots of fruit, ripe cherry pie and tobacco dominate both the nose and the palate. Delightful with lamb chops. I think this wine will be fine for another decade but not likely to improve so if you have some, drink it!
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Impressive albeit tired. The fruit and tannins are gone and the flavors left are all the tertiary flavors you would expect, forest floor, cassis. Not a heavy or big wine, just one that is beautifully balanced. Not going to get any better at 39.
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No formal tasting notes. Drunk from a magnum on Xmas day. Very enjoyable mature Bordeaux. Nice harmony of fruit, earthy tastes and fine dusty tannins to provide balance.
Enjoyable!!
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Interestingly enough, the 81 Ducru Beaucaillou is reticent on the nose when first poured. More inviting on the palate, though, with cassis, cedar, ginger, and some inky, loamy notes and pretty good impact for a vintage no one talks much about. With air, the nose opens up a bit to show a similar aromatic profile. I can hardly believe I'm saying it about an 81, but this might become more accessible with more time. Admittedly this bottle had a fill into the neck, so it may be more backward than most.
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This the only bottle of this below average vintage and I can safely say this wine was fantastic. After 1 hr opened bottle this was a perfect mix of blackberries, blackcherries and wet forest floor. Balanced, muscular and unbelievable at 38 yrs of age. Just shows that serious Bdx producers do make consistent wines over time. it is just difficult to get the drinking point at maximum level. Most people would say to drink this wine 10 yrs ago
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A vintage I seldom see anymore, the wine is more interesting on its complex nose, due to the tobacco, cigar leaf, ash, cedar, thyme, leaf and red berry nose. Medium bodied, soft and with fresh, bright red fruits on the palate, this requires drinking sooner than later.
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Not as successful as last year's bottle but still enjoyable. The fruit has faded a bit, leaving a touch of tartness. Mine are clearly dying, I have one left that we will drink soon while it is still fun.
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Forest floor, Wet earth, Mineral, very nice wine. The wine looks brick colored. The legs are medium. There is light sediment in the bottle. It smells like fig, forest floor, mineral, mushroom, stoniness, light toast, nutmeg and walnut. It tastes like forest floor, stoniness and light toast. The body is medium. The wine has smooth texture. The wine finishes long. The wine has medium acidity.
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Garnet/Dark red color. Reticent nose of faded spice and cherry. Definitely Bordeaux on the palate with a light spicy tingle and plum/raspberry/cherry in the forefront. Virtually no sediment. Served alongside a 1981 Leoville las Cases with grilled butterflied leg of lamb, this was a quintessential Bordeaux experience. Excellent.
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We loved this wine after two hours in decanter (a lot of sediment). I didn't expect much, was blown away at how good it was... classic mature Bordeaux, still fruity, smooth with a long finish, a touch of sweetness. Still have two more :)
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This bottle was disappointing. Nose had some green, sous bois, and very little fruit. Palate was showing mostly greenness and little fruit. Its drying out. Over the peak.
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Shared with pat at selkirk manor to celebrate the end of the work week. This bottle showed very well. it has held up nicely since last tasted in 2014. still shows youthful garnet color. No browning or thinning at rim. Needed a few minutes to open up and to show raspberry and plum fruit with chocolate and earth. gentle mouth feel. No discernible tannins or acid. Clean finish. has done remarkably well considering the modesty of the vintage. possibly the best of the 1981's. nevertheless, should not tempt fate as there is no such thing as imortality. Will attend to remaining bottles this year.
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Bright garnet no fading in the round; earthy cedar nose, fennel and anise , in the mouth medium body dark cherry fruit cassis big rich dense slight lead pencil, spicy herb complex long lasting finish so delicious w carrots, celery & beef spicy flash red peppers dry wok Chinese
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One of the surprises of the evening. The '81 displays a perfumed (lavender and violet) and spicy (white and black pepper) nose with notes of menthol and wood. The breadth of flavors on the palate is impressive and worthy of another look in a few years. Paired well with venison and wild mushrooms.
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Opened at home for dinner. The wine was stored temp-controlled and was in great shape (but what a terrible cork!) It was actually as enjoyable or even more than the '70 I tasted recently. Very Very aromatic upon opening (I opened in the living room and I got a call from the kitchen- mmm... what's the good smell?)With nice violet on the nose, and I agree with previous notes regarding the graphite and earthy notes. Very good on the palate (well balanced). I don't think it faded over the dinner, but we did need to give it an hour 'rest' in the middle and got back to it later in the evening. It was so enjoyable we finished it all, so no day 2 tasting/testing. Brighter purple color compared with the '70, but the nose was so wider (I think both would be good choice).
93+
If you have one in good storage, enjoy!
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Very enjoyable aged claret. Very aromatic upon opening. Cigar box and graphite. Palate had very good balance, but I didn't find the finish was a long one. Nose faded later in the evening. Saved some for day 2, not much change. Would buy again.
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again a good bottle, not decanted. amazing to see this wine evolve in the glass. first a brett nose and a faded taste. in an hour a nice and mature cabernet, still tannic.
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Served to Debbie and her Roadie at Selkirk Manor to demonstrate cellar conditions prior to consigning 60 bottles to mission fine wines. Also gave a sip to pat and ellen. This bottle showed very well. Youthful garnet color. No browning or thinning at rim. Needed 15 minutes of air to show raspberry and plum fruit with chocolate and earth, gentle mouth feel. No discernible tannins or acid. Clean finish. Not as outstanding as last bottle, but still very pleasant. Will attend to remaining bottles this year.
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32 years old but still very elegant, with great length. This was, above all, an immensely enjoyable old claret - exactly what it was predicted to be en primeur. A great example of an really excellent wine from a less than stellar vintage, with entirely correct St Julien features. What a delight!
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shared with pat at selkirk manor. this 1/2 bottle had a full fill just below the cork. the cork was firm and was extracted intact. the cork showed minimal penetration of 1/4 inch. this wine has changed little since last tasted in 2011. still has vibrant color. perfumed nose. slightly tannic but well balanced overall. may still be the best of the 81's that we have had.
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Similar to other tasters, the wine only opened at 30 minutes, but when it did open, wow! It showed complex red and black fruit, iron, spice (clove?), beautiful balance. At first taste it seemed to show its age... But after 30 minutes, I thought I was mature but with plenty of life left. Still, drinking so well now, drink up.
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This cork was moist and dark from saturation but completely intact. This was dark garnet colored, medium bodied, very expressive floral notes throughout that linger long beyond tasting; initial slight dark cherry astringency gave way to black berry fruits, hints of cinnamon spice, leather, tea and violets lingering on a soft smooth polished tannin finish.While great with the steak tenderloin, the remains of this were even better the next day with pasta shells stuff with ricatta cheese and tomato bolanaise sauce.
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While the fruit was subdued, it was quite enjoyable drinking this nicely aged bottle. The wine opened up after about 30 minutes. Tobacco, cherry, tea leaves... evidence of the aging process. Offered a smooth drinking experience, however, a short finish with drying tannins. Paired with a dry aged ribeye.
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Nose of tobacco and herbs with a bit of closet smell, with cedar and oak finish on the nose. Flavours were ripe blueberries with plum with a bit of blackcurrant and vanilla. Developed to be slightly gamey towards the 1.5hr mark but still a great wine with a bit more left in it i think. Had a few chewy tannins in there also but generally quite mild.
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Mid neck fill. Cork disintegrated on removal, breaking off with 1/8 still in the bottle. That pulled easily.Medium ruby cold with paling edges. Nose and palate are predominantly cigar box/tobacco with some cedar and currants. Just what you'd expect and you wouldn't be disappointed. Finish was long with drying tannins. Had this with a leg of lamb and it paired very well. I would have liked more fruit, but that's my issue, not the wine's. It performed as one would expect.
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shared with pat at selkirk manor. many people have been drinking and enjoying over the past few years so i have put off opening this bottle. recent tasting note indicated, "perhaps slightly past peak" so i thought it best to have a look. this half bottle was nothing short of a miracle. i have sampled many half bottles of 1981 from a half dozen producers with mixed results. this is, by far, the best of the bunch. still young and vibrant yet smooth as velvet. aromatic as well as sensuous fruit in the mouth. this wine reminds me of john cameron swazey who said of his timex watch, "takes a licking and keeps on ticking".
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David Turns 30 -- 1981 Cabs: David pretty much nails it: this is a lovely, textbook claret from a medium vintage. Fully at peak, maybe slightly past. Best nose of the night, full of cedar and currant and herbs. The fruit has faded a bit here and lacks the depth and sweetness of the other cabs, and the palate leans toward the woodsy, savory side, but the tannins are mostly resolved and it's not at all in danger of drying out.
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Tasted alongside a dozen other reds from 1981 and this was a step up in class. Tobacco, cherry, graphite, earth and mixed spices. Palate has beautiful balance and depth. Finish is long and there is enough fruit and structure to really impress here. Think this bottle was right near its peak and similar bottles should have plenty of life left over the next few years.
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wotn in a lineup of some fabulous wines. so fresh, youthful, vibrant, and beautiful on the nose. for a 30-yo wine, the cork was barely soaked past the first 1/2 inch. silky tannins and beautiful balance. i would have mistaken this for a 12-15 yo high class cali cab in a lineup, though it was by no means "new world" in any aspect. whoa!
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lovely bottle of fully aged Bordeaux at it's best. Decanted for an hour. Color of the youngster, not much signs of bricking, profound nose and long finish. I'd buy it if I see it.
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Amazingly youthful color: deep blood, bricking. Nose deep with plum, iron, cigar ash, touch of bell pepper -- I think I could probably ID this wine blind as Ducru. Now furniture polish, antique stove, funky nice nice. Palate very powerful, definitely tannic; wonderfully smooth and balanced, but monolithic to my palate; plums and red iron. Nose leading with bell pepper, palate finishing with iron. Big nose now, 60 minutes in! Lots of cedar, cigar box, iron, and now a little sprig of mint. Pretty good length, but that is where the vintage-quality reveals itself. B+, a little shy of A-, but a durned good drink with a big hunk o' steak. (Dinner at Harry's Steakhouse with SWK; other wine was '96 Rousseau Cazetieres)
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Not nearly as good as the previous bottle -- one year ago. Cork very soft, but the wine seemed to hold up. Let it breathe for about an hour or so. Color and nose were good, although the fruit was not that pronounced. Drank along side an '81 Beringer, which seemed to win our "81 throw down".
Drink up.
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A delightful bottle of wine. Could be possibly, maybe, a little past it's prime. Nose was actually very abundant, with vegetable, prune, and a bit of funky sweaty sock, a great deal of earthiness as well. Palate was very integrated and there was still a good deal of fruit with less of the funkiness, and even a touch of a metallic component. Nothing was out of balance on this wine, a great experience for not the best vintage.
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Went to dinner for our 30th wedding anniversary at a very good local restaurant. I purchased this wine on futures in 1982 from Calvert Woodley, and have had it in my cellar for almost 30 years. I was concerned about the wine since previous reviews of the 1981 have not been all that positive. Thought it might be over the edge. Had the wine with quail, stuffed with Wygue beef. The wine was wonderful. The original cork was in great shape and came out intact. Very little, light browning on the edge but wonderful ruby colors as in a much younger wine. Nose was floral, hyacinths, violets, with a touch of cinnamon, and flavors were complex, excellent length, and the wine only go better throughout the evening. It matched well with the farm raised quail, and my only complaint was I wish I had served it with wild quail since I think it would have enhanced the flavor. Life doensn't get much better than this.
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Elegant og raffinert. Tanniner helt integrert. Fortsatt syrlig frukt med kirsebær, tre, lær, sigar og parfyme. Avrundet munnfølelse med økende intensitet. Lang minus ettersmak. Nydelig vin. Drikk nå.
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Beautiful aromatics; dried flowers, earth, leather and cigar smoke combining into a wonderful perfume that's hard to move away from. All about finesse and elegance in the mouth with gentle red fruit surrounded by earth and leathery flavours that unravel with air; a lovely gentle mouthfeel with tannins resolved and bright acids keeping it very fresh. Lovely.
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Medium bodied, classic left bank Bordeaux bouquet of floral and perfume with that elegant and well integrated classic earthy leather that gives way to berry, black cherry, a hint of anise, vanilla, plum and a lengthy finish. Breaking out a 1981 Bordeaux, Erin's birth-year wine as we celebrate news and all being together. Still life left in this mature St Julien, Bordeaux, but need to be mindful of last two bottles and large format dbl magnum remaining.
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The color, fill and cork were prime. The bottle looked brand new after 29 years of storage. The wine was barnyard and robust to start. It blew off in short time to reveal a wine that evolved until it was gone. The fruit was hidden by the inky cigar box nose, but came out light in the end. This wine as most Bordeaux baffles me and I don't know why I buy it. I think I like fruit tht tastes like fruit not pencil lead.
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This was my last bottle. Had it for OTBN and enjoyed with a rustic rigatoni and bolognese sauce made with buffalo and lamb. We decanted this for about 6 hours before dinner and thoroughly enjoyed it. My previous bottle was better than this one. Lots of cigar box on the nose and leather, but less fruit. Drink now if you have any.
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Absolutely splendid. Needed a little while to smooth out. Initially, very sharp cherry flavors, but eventually, it all blended into a very smooth soft wine, with soft used as bsherwin used it (10/7/2008). I have another and will drink it soon, although I don't think there is an immediate dire need to do so. It did not taste (to me() as if it was going downhill at all. Nevertheless, I don't think it will improve with more time in the bottle.
I let this breathe for 90 minutes or so, drank over the course of an hour plus a little. Don't know if decanting is needed.
Also, very strange. When I initially opened the bottle, the cork (rather easily) slid into the bottle. There were no signs of seepage, and the fill was excellent (basically completely full). Nevertheless, I was concerned -- don't like the slippery corks, but as it turned out, all was well that ended well.
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leather and cherry on the nose. Had a small issue with the cork, so had to strain and filter, but after an hour in the decanter this baby opened up to bing cherry, cocoa and coffee. a real treat I have one more of these and am excited to open it and share it over the holidays.
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Similar to my recent tasting, this wine is spectacular and has some good life ahead of it. Great structure and fruit/acid balance. A bit dusty with forest floor and damp basement. Tannins a medium to light and give a nice little bite in the finish. Should continue to drink great through 2013.
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Purchased at auction for $74 all in and I guess that was a big mistake. This is definitely past its prime...It's got a delicate nose of flowers and cassis but the palate is lacking and devoid of any fruit. It's thin and diluted with no finish at all. I don't have much experience with the 81 vintage but perhaps this is just a product of a really poor vintage???
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Dinner with Paul Jaouen (Guiseppe's on 28th, Phoenix): Nose of ripe plumbs. Tastes of blackberry, currant and earth. The fruit is quite mature and the tannins fully resolved. Well balanced with good freshness. Soft finish. I'm pleasantly surprised at ow well this wine has held up despite it's age and vintage. A delight to drink. 14% alcohol.
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Softness is often used perjoratively, but this wine lacked any hard edge and was imbued with a warmth and generosity of spirit. The nose was floral and pretty with notes of earth and a slightly savory character. It was medium bodied with good plummy fruit and a sneaky persistence. A gentle and classic Claret.
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how quickly time goes by. in 2006 i said i would try another one in 6 months. oh, well. at least 6 years didn't go by. how remarkable that this wine has offered so much pleasure over such a long period of time. at this point in time, and for this particular bottle, tannins and acid fully resolved. dominant plum flavor is now a visit from the sugar plum fairy. very sweet. overall, a beautiful wine. will hope for the best and wait awhile for the next one.
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Loved this wine. Flowers and fruit on the nose. Sweet berries on the palate w/a nice finish. Excellent value at the usual auction price of $60 or so. Wish I had more bottles.
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required 2-3 hour decant, got much better with areation. Cork in great condidtion. Very acidic upun 1st opening, I let it sit a few hours. Nice purple without browning, strong graphite and milder plum on the nose. Towards the end of the decant, really held through the finish, a full, lush wine that provided dark plum and stones.
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Triomphe Offline with Jay Selman: What a pleasant surprise. Still quite vivid in color. Nose and taste is a bit musty but nice dark red fruit and eucalyptus. Holding on quite well.
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this bottle showed a little better than the last one with more prominent nose. spectator has two notes with one indicating plum and the other cherry as dominant flavors. i would go more in the plum direction at this point. at this stage of development, ancillary flavors noted in its youth of vanilla and tar are no longer evident. a very pretty and well balanced wine that is probably among the greater successes of the vintage. there still seems to be some tannin left which will carry it along a bit further. will try another one in 6 months.
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i have had several "off system" bottles prior to the advent of cellar tracker. it has been quite enjoyable all throughout the years. this bottle had full fill, tightly fitting intact cork with liquid penetration of less than 1/4 inch. deep rich color with no browning or thinning at the edge. the wine did not offer full bouquet but plenty of characteristic fruit on the palate. the wine still is full bodied and i agree with parker that we will not see all that it has to offer for several more years.
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1981, 1982, 1983 Chateau Ducru Beaucaillou (Walnut Creek, Ca.): Great red color-Derrald's cellar, hot, dusty nose, gret rich raspberry taste, with lots of minerals, very dusty, slight hint of green bell pepper taste, went slightly woody during the evening, on the long finish, long aftertaste. My #2 of 3.
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9/24/2023 - michal wrote:
Corked
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5/19/2023 - Vinnut Likes this wine: 92 Points
From a 1.5 format. Dark garnet in color with some clearing at the edges. Full, forward & aromatic nose of mature, ripe fruit aromas of cherries, blueberries, & cassis with classic cigar box overtones of tobacco & cedar, floral notes of violets, earthy/dusty, leather, cocoa/coffee, herbs, spices, minerals/graphite & a slight hint of oak/vanilla in the background. Medium-full bodied with a very good concentration of balanced & smooth textured, mature, ripe fruit flavors of dark cherries, cranberries & pomegranate with mushrooms, cocoa/coffee, herbs, minerals & a hint of oak/vanilla. Lingering smooth finish. Drinks quite well at present but it is close to or at its peak but should be able to continue with a several additional years of aging. Fill was at mid neck level; cork was stained 1/2 up but otherwise intact. My idea was to sample both the 750 ml (4/22/23) and this 1.5 liter in close proximity time wise to see what effect, if any the larger format had on the development of essentially the same wine. Although the notes were identical, the wine from the 1.5-liter seemed fresher and livelier than the one from the 750 ml. Hence, the higher score.
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4/22/2023 - Vinnut Likes this wine: 91 Points
Dark garnet in color with some clearing & bricking at the edges. Full, forward & fragrant nose of mature, ripe fruit aromas of cherries, blueberries, & cassis with classic cigar box overtones of tobacco & cedar, floral notes of violets, earthy/dusty, leather, coffee, pepper, mocha, herbs, spices, minerals/graphite & a slight hint of oak in the background. Medium-full bodied with a very good concentration of balanced & smooth textured, mature, ripe fruit flavors of dark cherries, cranberries & pomegranate with mushrooms, cocoa/coffee, herbs, minerals & a hint of oak. Lingering smooth finish. Drinks quite well at present & at 42 years of age, it is close to or at its peak but should be able to continue with a few more additional years of aging. However, I doubt any further development will occur. Fill was at lower neck level; cork was stained 1/3 up but intact.
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12/11/2021 - Derek Darth Taster wrote: 91 Points
Late night at Maison Dakota with Frenchie peeps. Drank in Grassl Cru.
Appearance deep intensity, garnet colour with sediments. Thin legs.
Nose medium intensity, with aromas of tertiary mushrooms and earth, pencil lead, some violet, blackcurrant, blackberry, black plum, animal leather. Developed.
On the palate, dry, medium acidity, medium alcohol, resolved tannins, medium+ body. Medium flavour intensity, with flavours of blackcurrant, blackberry, black plum, tobacco and pencil leaad, mushroomy earth, leather, dark animal. Medium+ finish.
Good quality. Fruits still surprisingly alive, but the savouriness overtaking the acidity sensation. Nice but is a drink up for me.
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9/11/2021 - englishman's claret wrote:
It was fun to taste this unknown vintage of Ducru Beaucaillou a second time. Its performance was similar to the last. While not dazzling with complexity or presence, this is actually quite a nice wine from a difficult vintage, offering an easy charm, fresh red and blue fruit, and a hint of gingery sandalwood.
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8/4/2021 - vinhonotte Likes this wine: 92 Points
Medium garnet, and slightly cloudy with some fine sediments. Nose was rather captivating with florals, red fruits and subtle clove spices and paprika, while the palate does show a good measure of power with the crunchy tannins and warm alcohol, intensity and length, savoury slightly floral briny attack, then ripe redcurrant and blackberry fruits, dried grass, nutmeg and cloves, black pepper, paprika, and a backpalate of mushrooms and coffee grounds. A complex end. Nice!
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5/26/2021 - Triforwine Likes this wine: 95 Points
Absolutely fantastic at 40 years old. Perfectly stored. Base neck fill. Super youthful. Drinking at peak, I believe. Might be a "B" vintage but this is no "B" wine. Lots of fruit, ripe cherry pie and tobacco dominate both the nose and the palate. Delightful with lamb chops. I think this wine will be fine for another decade but not likely to improve so if you have some, drink it!
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4/10/2021 - jnewman77 wrote: flawed
Corked; the palate seemed fully mature and very subtle, but still pleasant. Too bad..
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12/25/2020 - seijaro wrote: 88 Points
It's dying... it was OK, even pleasant after opening and decanting but soon died to tart... poured it out.
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6/2/2020 - paulst Likes this wine: 94 Points
Nicely mature; sweet blackberry; soft texture; elegant with melted tannins; sweet finish.
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4/12/2020 - VINNICK Likes this wine: 92 Points
Impressive albeit tired. The fruit and tannins are gone and the flavors left are all the tertiary flavors you would expect, forest floor, cassis. Not a heavy or big wine, just one that is beautifully balanced. Not going to get any better at 39.
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12/24/2019 - Carlos Fellipes Likes this wine: 91 Points
No formal tasting notes. Drunk from a magnum on Xmas day. Very enjoyable mature Bordeaux. Nice harmony of fruit, earthy tastes and fine dusty tannins to provide balance.
Enjoyable!!
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7/27/2019 - englishman's claret wrote: 90 Points
Interestingly enough, the 81 Ducru Beaucaillou is reticent on the nose when first poured. More inviting on the palate, though, with cassis, cedar, ginger, and some inky, loamy notes and pretty good impact for a vintage no one talks much about. With air, the nose opens up a bit to show a similar aromatic profile. I can hardly believe I'm saying it about an 81, but this might become more accessible with more time. Admittedly this bottle had a fill into the neck, so it may be more backward than most.
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6/2/2019 - andtheboat Likes this wine: 92 Points
Slight reduction but in great shape. Good balance, flavour and decent finish. Drink up.
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5/20/2019 - lexwine Likes this wine: 95 Points
This the only bottle of this below average vintage and I can safely say this wine was fantastic. After 1 hr opened bottle this was a perfect mix of blackberries, blackcherries and wet forest floor. Balanced, muscular and unbelievable at 38 yrs of age. Just shows that serious Bdx producers do make consistent wines over time. it is just difficult to get the drinking point at maximum level. Most people would say to drink this wine 10 yrs ago
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2/14/2019 - Mickygläbbisch Likes this wine: 94 Points
Great
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9/21/2018 - Jeff Leve wrote: 89 Points
A vintage I seldom see anymore, the wine is more interesting on its complex nose, due to the tobacco, cigar leaf, ash, cedar, thyme, leaf and red berry nose. Medium bodied, soft and with fresh, bright red fruits on the palate, this requires drinking sooner than later.
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7/5/2018 - seijaro Likes this wine: 92 Points
Not as successful as last year's bottle but still enjoyable. The fruit has faded a bit, leaving a touch of tartness. Mine are clearly dying, I have one left that we will drink soon while it is still fun.
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5/23/2018 - rocknroller wrote: flawed
A Big Mix at Kenwood (The Kenwood, Mpls, MN): corked
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10/14/2017 - Boone's Farm wrote: 91 Points
Forest floor, Wet earth, Mineral, very nice wine.
The wine looks brick colored. The legs are medium. There is light sediment in the bottle. It smells like fig, forest floor, mineral, mushroom, stoniness, light toast, nutmeg and walnut. It tastes like forest floor, stoniness and light toast. The body is medium. The wine has smooth texture. The wine finishes long. The wine has medium acidity.
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7/22/2017 - theRealPepe Likes this wine: 92 Points
Garnet/Dark red color. Reticent nose of faded spice and cherry. Definitely Bordeaux on the palate with a light spicy tingle and plum/raspberry/cherry in the forefront. Virtually no sediment. Served alongside a 1981 Leoville las Cases with grilled butterflied leg of lamb, this was a quintessential Bordeaux experience. Excellent.
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7/3/2017 - cfulbright Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very drinkable still. Very soft and resolved tannins. Nice mature Bordeaux nose.
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4/22/2017 - seijaro Likes this wine: 95 Points
We loved this wine after two hours in decanter (a lot of sediment). I didn't expect much, was blown away at how good it was... classic mature Bordeaux, still fruity, smooth with a long finish, a touch of sweetness. Still have two more :)
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8/2/2016 - cfulbright Likes this wine: 91 Points
Past its peak. Still has cedar, tobacco, and some green pepper in nose, but a lot of bottle age. Fair mouth feel, very low tannins.
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3/19/2016 - Burgnick wrote: 88 Points
This bottle was disappointing. Nose had some green, sous bois, and very little fruit. Palate was showing mostly greenness and little fruit. Its drying out. Over the peak.
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3/12/2016 - bacchus wrote: 90 Points
Shared with pat at selkirk manor to celebrate the end of the work week. This bottle showed very well. it has held up nicely since last tasted in 2014.
still shows youthful garnet color. No browning or thinning at rim. Needed a few minutes to open up and to show raspberry and plum fruit with chocolate and earth. gentle mouth feel. No discernible tannins or acid. Clean finish. has done remarkably well considering the modesty of the vintage. possibly the best of the 1981's. nevertheless, should not tempt fate as there is no such thing as imortality. Will attend to remaining bottles this year.
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9/20/2015 - Bacchus&Ceres Likes this wine: 94 Points
Bright garnet no fading in the round; earthy cedar nose, fennel and anise , in the mouth medium body dark cherry fruit cassis big rich dense slight lead pencil, spicy herb complex long lasting finish so delicious w carrots, celery & beef spicy flash red peppers dry wok Chinese
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2/19/2015 - tinybubbles Likes this wine: 92 Points
One of the surprises of the evening. The '81 displays a perfumed (lavender and violet) and spicy (white and black pepper) nose with notes of menthol and wood. The breadth of flavors on the palate is impressive and worthy of another look in a few years. Paired well with venison and wild mushrooms.
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11/29/2014 - paulst Likes this wine: 89 Points
Light and still coming together; light blackberry with brittle backdrop.
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11/14/2014 - odds Likes this wine:
Opened at home for dinner. The wine was stored temp-controlled and was in great shape (but what a terrible cork!)
It was actually as enjoyable or even more than the '70 I tasted recently. Very Very aromatic upon opening (I opened in the living room and I got a call from the kitchen- mmm... what's the good smell?)With nice violet on the nose, and I agree with previous notes regarding the graphite and earthy notes. Very good on the palate (well balanced). I don't think it faded over the dinner, but we did need to give it an hour 'rest' in the middle and got back to it later in the evening. It was so enjoyable we finished it all, so no day 2 tasting/testing. Brighter purple color compared with the '70, but the nose was so wider (I think both would be good choice).
93+
If you have one in good storage, enjoy!
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9/22/2014 - minibob Likes this wine: 93 Points
Very enjoyable aged claret. Very aromatic upon opening. Cigar box and graphite. Palate had very good balance, but I didn't find the finish was a long one. Nose faded later in the evening. Saved some for day 2, not much change. Would buy again.
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7/17/2014 - Paui wrote: 93 Points
consistent with previous note
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4/4/2014 - Paui wrote: 92 Points
again a good bottle, not decanted. amazing to see this wine evolve in the glass. first a brett nose and a faded taste. in an hour a nice and mature cabernet, still tannic.
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3/8/2014 - bacchus wrote: 90 Points
Served to Debbie and her Roadie at Selkirk Manor to demonstrate cellar conditions prior to consigning 60 bottles to mission fine wines. Also gave a sip to pat and ellen. This bottle showed very well. Youthful garnet color. No browning or thinning at rim. Needed 15 minutes of air to show raspberry and plum fruit with chocolate and earth, gentle mouth feel. No discernible tannins or acid. Clean finish. Not as outstanding as last bottle, but still very pleasant. Will attend to remaining bottles this year.
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2/28/2014 - Paui wrote:
same source and good levels, but this one over mature and sour
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2/14/2014 - Paui wrote: 93 Points
from 1/2 bottle, in very good condition. mature cabernet. not the deepest or longest wine but a real pleasure to drink. will buy more.
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10/27/2013 - rjpbath Likes this wine: 92 Points
32 years old but still very elegant, with great length. This was, above all, an immensely enjoyable old claret - exactly what it was predicted to be en primeur. A great example of an really excellent wine from a less than stellar vintage, with entirely correct St Julien features. What a delight!
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4/11/2013 - bacchus wrote: 90 Points
shared with pat at selkirk manor. this 1/2 bottle had a full fill just below the cork. the cork was firm and was extracted intact. the cork showed minimal penetration of 1/4 inch. this wine has changed little since last tasted in 2011. still has vibrant color. perfumed nose. slightly tannic but well balanced overall. may still be the best of the 81's that we have had.
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12/17/2012 - jmht wrote: 92 Points
Similar to other tasters, the wine only opened at 30 minutes, but when it did open, wow! It showed complex red and black fruit, iron, spice (clove?), beautiful balance. At first taste it seemed to show its age... But after 30 minutes, I thought I was mature but with plenty of life left. Still, drinking so well now, drink up.
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11/18/2012 - rmcnees wrote: 89 Points
This cork was moist and dark from saturation but completely intact. This was dark garnet colored, medium bodied, very expressive floral notes throughout that linger long beyond tasting; initial slight dark cherry astringency gave way to black berry fruits, hints of cinnamon spice, leather, tea and violets lingering on a soft smooth polished tannin finish.While great with the steak tenderloin, the remains of this were even better the next day with pasta shells stuff with ricatta cheese and tomato bolanaise sauce.
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10/1/2012 - NathanT wrote:
While the fruit was subdued, it was quite enjoyable drinking this nicely aged bottle. The wine opened up after about 30 minutes. Tobacco, cherry, tea leaves... evidence of the aging process. Offered a smooth drinking experience, however, a short finish with drying tannins. Paired with a dry aged ribeye.
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5/5/2012 - kevincheng Likes this wine: 90 Points
Nose of tobacco and herbs with a bit of closet smell, with cedar and oak finish on the nose. Flavours were ripe blueberries with plum with a bit of blackcurrant and vanilla.
Developed to be slightly gamey towards the 1.5hr mark but still a great wine with a bit more left in it i think.
Had a few chewy tannins in there also but generally quite mild.
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4/8/2012 - drdecanto wrote: 92 Points
Mid neck fill. Cork disintegrated on removal, breaking off with 1/8 still in the bottle. That pulled easily.Medium ruby cold with paling edges. Nose and palate are predominantly cigar box/tobacco with some cedar and currants. Just what you'd expect and you wouldn't be disappointed. Finish was long with drying tannins. Had this with a leg of lamb and it paired very well. I would have liked more fruit, but that's my issue, not the wine's. It performed as one would expect.
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2/10/2012 - kevincheng wrote: flawed
It was unfortunate that this was badly corked when we opened this.. Oaky nose with a touch of cinnamon was all we could get..
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12/31/2011 - O.F. wrote: 89 Points
almost finished, good nose but no after taste!
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12/15/2011 - Nyindallas wrote: 90 Points
This is my fifth bottle of this amazing rich 81. There is still considerable smooth smokey black fruit flavors.
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11/13/2011 - bacchus wrote: 91 Points
shared with pat at selkirk manor. many people have been drinking and enjoying over the past few years so i have put off opening this bottle. recent tasting note indicated, "perhaps slightly past peak" so i thought it best to have a look. this half bottle was nothing short of a miracle. i have sampled many half bottles of 1981 from a half dozen producers with mixed results. this is, by far, the best of the bunch. still young and vibrant yet smooth as velvet. aromatic as well as sensuous fruit in the mouth. this wine reminds me of john cameron swazey who said of his timex watch, "takes a licking and keeps on ticking".
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11/12/2011 - coremill wrote: 91 Points
David Turns 30 -- 1981 Cabs: David pretty much nails it: this is a lovely, textbook claret from a medium vintage. Fully at peak, maybe slightly past. Best nose of the night, full of cedar and currant and herbs. The fruit has faded a bit here and lacks the depth and sweetness of the other cabs, and the palate leans toward the woodsy, savory side, but the tannins are mostly resolved and it's not at all in danger of drying out.
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7/30/2011 - CamWheeler wrote: 92 Points
Tasted alongside a dozen other reds from 1981 and this was a step up in class. Tobacco, cherry, graphite, earth and mixed spices. Palate has beautiful balance and depth. Finish is long and there is enough fruit and structure to really impress here. Think this bottle was right near its peak and similar bottles should have plenty of life left over the next few years.
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7/17/2011 - wallstreet wrote: 91 Points
Must be bottle variation. This one delivered more pleasure than the last bottle. Too bad its my last.
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7/16/2011 - caeleric Likes this wine:
wotn in a lineup of some fabulous wines. so fresh, youthful, vibrant, and beautiful on the nose. for a 30-yo wine, the cork was barely soaked past the first 1/2 inch. silky tannins and beautiful balance. i would have mistaken this for a 12-15 yo high class cali cab in a lineup, though it was by no means "new world" in any aspect. whoa!
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6/30/2011 - wallstreet wrote: 89 Points
Slightly past its prime, but was better then the other two wines at the table. Fruit was still evident, but no oomph in the wine.
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6/30/2011 - Serge Birbrair wrote:
lovely bottle of fully aged Bordeaux at it's best. Decanted for an hour. Color of the youngster, not much signs of bricking, profound nose and long finish. I'd buy it if I see it.
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6/3/2011 - Matt Neel wrote:
Amazingly youthful color: deep blood, bricking. Nose deep with plum, iron, cigar ash, touch of bell pepper -- I think I could probably ID this wine blind as Ducru. Now furniture polish, antique stove, funky nice nice. Palate very powerful, definitely tannic; wonderfully smooth and balanced, but monolithic to my palate; plums and red iron. Nose leading with bell pepper, palate finishing with iron. Big nose now, 60 minutes in! Lots of cedar, cigar box, iron, and now a little sprig of mint. Pretty good length, but that is where the vintage-quality reveals itself. B+, a little shy of A-, but a durned good drink with a big hunk o' steak. (Dinner at Harry's Steakhouse with SWK; other wine was '96 Rousseau Cazetieres)
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1/24/2011 - John Nezlek wrote: 86 Points
Not nearly as good as the previous bottle -- one year ago. Cork very soft, but the wine seemed to hold up. Let it breathe for about an hour or so. Color and nose were good, although the fruit was not that pronounced. Drank along side an '81 Beringer, which seemed to win our "81 throw down".
Drink up.
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1/17/2011 - JimVarney01 wrote: 91 Points
A delightful bottle of wine. Could be possibly, maybe, a little past it's prime. Nose was actually very abundant, with vegetable, prune, and a bit of funky sweaty sock, a great deal of earthiness as well. Palate was very integrated and there was still a good deal of fruit with less of the funkiness, and even a touch of a metallic component. Nothing was out of balance on this wine, a great experience for not the best vintage.
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1/3/2011 - Ken332 wrote: 95 Points
Went to dinner for our 30th wedding anniversary at a very good local restaurant. I purchased this wine on futures in 1982 from Calvert Woodley, and have had it in my cellar for almost 30 years. I was concerned about the wine since previous reviews of the 1981 have not been all that positive. Thought it might be over the edge. Had the wine with quail, stuffed with Wygue beef. The wine was wonderful. The original cork was in great shape and came out intact. Very little, light browning on the edge but wonderful ruby colors as in a much younger wine. Nose was floral, hyacinths, violets, with a touch of cinnamon, and flavors were complex, excellent length, and the wine only go better throughout the evening. It matched well with the farm raised quail, and my only complaint was I wish I had served it with wild quail since I think it would have enhanced the flavor. Life doensn't get much better than this.
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12/6/2010 - AleksanderDye wrote: 91 Points
duft av kirsebær, lær og snev av skogbunn. lang smak, nesten litt syrlig kirsebær, frisk, lite taniner igjen
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12/6/2010 - pskard wrote: 93 Points
Elegant og raffinert. Tanniner helt integrert. Fortsatt syrlig frukt med kirsebær, tre, lær, sigar og parfyme. Avrundet munnfølelse med økende intensitet. Lang minus ettersmak. Nydelig vin. Drikk nå.
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10/31/2010 - salil wrote: 92 Points
Beautiful aromatics; dried flowers, earth, leather and cigar smoke combining into a wonderful perfume that's hard to move away from. All about finesse and elegance in the mouth with gentle red fruit surrounded by earth and leathery flavours that unravel with air; a lovely gentle mouthfeel with tannins resolved and bright acids keeping it very fresh. Lovely.
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4/17/2010 - rmcnees wrote: 89 Points
Medium bodied, classic left bank Bordeaux bouquet of floral and perfume with that elegant and well integrated classic earthy leather that gives way to berry, black cherry, a hint of anise, vanilla, plum and a lengthy finish. Breaking out a 1981 Bordeaux, Erin's birth-year wine as we celebrate news and all being together. Still life left in this mature St Julien, Bordeaux, but need to be mindful of last two bottles and large format dbl magnum remaining.
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3/24/2010 - JohnnyBark wrote: 91 Points
The color, fill and cork were prime. The bottle looked brand new after 29 years of storage. The wine was barnyard and robust to start. It blew off in short time to reveal a wine that evolved until it was gone. The fruit was hidden by the inky cigar box nose, but came out light in the end. This wine as most Bordeaux baffles me and I don't know why I buy it. I think I like fruit tht tastes like fruit not pencil lead.
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2/27/2010 - dave smigielski Likes this wine: 90 Points
This was my last bottle. Had it for OTBN and enjoyed with a rustic rigatoni and bolognese sauce made with buffalo and lamb. We decanted this for about 6 hours before dinner and thoroughly enjoyed it. My previous bottle was better than this one. Lots of cigar box on the nose and leather, but less fruit. Drink now if you have any.
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1/13/2010 - John Nezlek wrote: 93 Points
Absolutely splendid. Needed a little while to smooth out. Initially, very sharp cherry flavors, but eventually, it all blended into a very smooth soft wine, with soft used as bsherwin used it (10/7/2008). I have another and will drink it soon, although I don't think there is an immediate dire need to do so. It did not taste (to me() as if it was going downhill at all. Nevertheless, I don't think it will improve with more time in the bottle.
I let this breathe for 90 minutes or so, drank over the course of an hour plus a little. Don't know if decanting is needed.
Also, very strange. When I initially opened the bottle, the cork (rather easily) slid into the bottle. There were no signs of seepage, and the fill was excellent (basically completely full). Nevertheless, I was concerned -- don't like the slippery corks, but as it turned out, all was well that ended well.
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12/7/2009 - dave smigielski wrote: 92 Points
leather and cherry on the nose. Had a small issue with the cork, so had to strain and filter, but after an hour in the decanter this baby opened up to bing cherry, cocoa and coffee. a real treat I have one more of these and am excited to open it and share it over the holidays.
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8/20/2009 - plitton wrote: 97 Points
Similar to my recent tasting, this wine is spectacular and has some good life ahead of it. Great structure and fruit/acid balance. A bit dusty with forest floor and damp basement. Tannins a medium to light and give a nice little bite in the finish. Should continue to drink great through 2013.
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7/12/2009 - Lou Ferreira wrote: 83 Points
Purchased at auction for $74 all in and I guess that was a big mistake. This is definitely past its prime...It's got a delicate nose of flowers and cassis but the palate is lacking and devoid of any fruit. It's thin and diluted with no finish at all. I don't have much experience with the 81 vintage but perhaps this is just a product of a really poor vintage???
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11/14/2008 - jeff nowak wrote: 91 Points
fun to try next to the 96. fully mature, drinking well. i thought it was delicious.
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11/14/2008 - kstoddard wrote: 89 Points
Dinner with Paul Jaouen (Guiseppe's on 28th, Phoenix): Nose of ripe plumbs. Tastes of blackberry, currant and earth. The fruit is quite mature and the tannins fully resolved. Well balanced with good freshness. Soft finish. I'm pleasantly surprised at ow well this wine has held up despite it's age and vintage. A delight to drink. 14% alcohol.
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11/14/2008 - jivey wrote: 88 Points
Brick color with bell pepper to point it almost seemed like TCA, pepper, cassis with dried tannins and soft finish.
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10/7/2008 - bsherwin wrote:
Softness is often used perjoratively, but this wine lacked any hard edge and was imbued with a warmth and generosity of spirit. The nose was floral and pretty with notes of earth and a slightly savory character. It was medium bodied with good plummy fruit and a sneaky persistence. A gentle and classic Claret.
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9/30/2008 - bacchus wrote: 90 Points
how quickly time goes by. in 2006 i said i would try another one in 6 months. oh, well. at least 6 years didn't go by. how remarkable that this wine has offered so much pleasure over such a long period of time. at this point in time, and for this particular bottle, tannins and acid fully resolved. dominant plum flavor is now a visit from the sugar plum fairy. very sweet. overall, a beautiful wine. will hope for the best and wait awhile for the next one.
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5/11/2008 - EGunderson wrote: 93 Points
Loved this wine. Flowers and fruit on the nose. Sweet berries on the palate w/a nice finish. Excellent value at the usual auction price of $60 or so. Wish I had more bottles.
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3/22/2008 - pilot360 wrote: 88 Points
required 2-3 hour decant, got much better with areation. Cork in great condidtion. Very acidic upun 1st opening, I let it sit a few hours.
Nice purple without browning, strong graphite and milder plum on the nose.
Towards the end of the decant, really held through the finish, a full, lush wine that provided dark plum and stones.
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5/4/2007 - VDLT Wine Likes this wine:
Triomphe Offline with Jay Selman: What a pleasant surprise. Still quite vivid in color. Nose and taste is a bit musty but nice dark red fruit and eucalyptus. Holding on quite well.
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10/7/2006 - bacchus wrote: 90 Points
this bottle showed a little better than the last one with more prominent nose. spectator has two notes with one indicating plum and the other cherry as dominant flavors. i would go more in the plum direction at this point. at this stage of development, ancillary flavors noted in its youth of vanilla and tar are no longer evident. a very pretty and well balanced wine that is probably among the greater successes of the vintage. there still seems to be some tannin left which will carry it along a bit further. will try another one in 6 months.
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11/20/2005 - Stan wrote: 85 Points
light. anniversary celebration.
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2/20/2005 - bacchus wrote: 90 Points
i have had several "off system" bottles prior to the advent of cellar tracker. it has been quite enjoyable all throughout the years. this bottle had full fill, tightly fitting intact cork with liquid penetration of less than 1/4 inch. deep rich color with no browning or thinning at the edge. the wine did not offer full bouquet but plenty of characteristic fruit on the palate. the wine still is full bodied and i agree with parker that we will not see all that it has to offer for several more years.
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1/1/2002 - bacchus wrote: 90 Points
enjoyed this one.
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1/1/2001 - bacchus wrote: 90 Points
enjoyed this one.
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9/18/2000 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 91 Points
1981, 1982, 1983 Chateau Ducru Beaucaillou (Walnut Creek, Ca.): Great red color-Derrald's cellar, hot, dusty nose, gret rich raspberry taste, with lots of minerals, very dusty, slight hint of green bell pepper taste, went slightly woody during the evening, on the long finish, long aftertaste. My #2 of 3.
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1/1/2000 - bacchus wrote: 90 Points
enjoyed this one.
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5/22/1991 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 86 Points
1981 Bordeaux Tasting with the Wine Group (Walnut Creek, Ca.): Nice, rich, ripe fruit, and acid, medium body, well balanced, big, pleasant finish.
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