This bottle was purchased in 1994 from RWC, via Britian. The fill was low neck, very high shoulder with a fully saturated cork.

Wow, this was a great mature Bordeaux nose of cedarwood, ripe plum and graphite, the kind of nasal experience that is the reward for patient cellaring.

Tannin was mostly resolved with a low acid texture, along with flavors of cedar, more ripe plum and earth, with excellent mid palate density and overall balance. The finish was very long and persistant.

Certainly the best Bordeuax that I consumed in 2005 and quite possibly my WOTY.

More notes on this wine

This really is a great wine. We paired this against an '83 Latour and an '84 Ridge Monte Bello. I liked the Ridge best though.

Interestingly this 1982 did not show any of the classic Cordier funk.

I have to dig up my 375 of 1986 Gruaud Larose and check it out this year. The last time I had it from 750 it was showing softening tannins and some signs of awakening.

Last time I had the 1986 it was tighter than a....well, let's just say it was tight.

Board-O, I am sitting on a lot of '86 Gruaud. Is hold still the wisest course of action?

Well, I don't know what you mean by a lot. I bought a case on futures and also one single bottle. I've had two of my thirteen bottles so far, the first 4 or 5 years ago, and the second about a year ago, find them both tight and shut down, far too young to drink. At release, Parker rated this a 97 and said to drink 2000-2025. I don't think most of the 1986s are nearly ready yet. I also bought a case of the 1986 Margaux and a case of the 1986 Mouton. I've had two bottles of the 1986 Margaux and consider them wasted. I had the first four years ago and the second just a few months ago. I haven't even tried a single bottle of the 1986 Mouton yet.

I bought 24 bottles of the Gruaud on futures (along with 6 Mouton, 3 Margaux and 4 cases of other '86's). I've got a lot of similar vintage California cabs, and I'd like to think that I can just let these sit while I work through the cabs. To compound the problem, these wines are in Dallas and aren't readily accessible.

I assume you have them in temperature controlled storage. Be sure to keep the location a secret from wiml. Has corkscrew, will travel.

Yes, well stored. One of my goals for 2006 is to meet WIML, drink some of these wines and make his 2006 Offlines list. I have no other choice. He knows Francois.