Professor Bainbridge...on law, politics, religion, culture & food

Chateau Gruaud-Larose (St. Julien) 1982

This was one of the greatest bottles of wine I’ve ever had. The bottle was in excellent condition, with the wine still (albeit barely) in the neck. At age 25, it was still a deep ruby color. There was no sign of brick or amber at the edges. The powerful bouquet was redolent of cigars, cedar, dried black fruits, darkly roasted coffee beans, and rich leather. The palate combined those associations with an amazingly vibrant blast of fresh fruit, such as plums and black currant jam. Wow. It’s silky smooth but has a ton of power, like the proverbial iron fist in the velvet glove. I’d guess it will continue to evolve for 2-3 decades. I’ve got two bottles left in the cellar, which will be hard to resist. Grade: A++