I was hosting a few business partners at Restaurant 3950 in Vegas (Mandalay) earlier this week after a meeting. One individual who's a real wine connoiseur flew back home immediately after our meeting and couldn't join us for dinner. None of the remaining folks are real wine geeks, and given restaurant pricing, I ordered a few bottles of '02 Caymus (regular bottling) to accompany what turned out to be a very nice meal. As we were finishing up our entrees, the maitre d' presented a bottle of '86 Petrus, and mentioned that my absentee guest had ordered it on behalf of the table. Helluva nice treat!!

Full, deep color, light bricking on the edges. Medium+ hold on the glass. Licorice, cherry, smoke and creme de casis on the nose. Flavors opened up with a hint of warm macadamia nut. Fairly dry mouthfeel with muted, pure cherry fruit - popping on the front of the palate. Smoke, saddle leather also present in the soft tannic backgound. Finish lasted 45+ seconds.

I don't have a great deal of experience with Bordeaux, and certainly even less with well-aged gems like this. I was awed by its fullness and complexity, and just how well put-together it was 18 years after harvest. It still has to have a good 10+ years ahead of it from my feable knowledge of such wines. I'd be tempted to give it 97+ points, but my experience with such a wine prompts me to randomly bring it down to 95 pts. Nonetheless, highly impressed, and even more appreciative. Made the 6am flight to Vegas (and back to denver the same time the next morning) well worth-while.