Château Margaux 1982

Well-coloured garnet. Initial nose is still surprisingly oaky and youthful. Under that sweet spice, there’s a touch of leather and dried herbs but the sweetness persists. So silky and plenty of bright expressive sweet red fruit with a delicate leathery overlay. Very very long, and its the fruit that persists not the tannin. Spreads across the palate and extends way back like water filling every nook and cranny. (JH)

Ruby. Blueberries, some cassis, anise, some spices, minerals, detailed, nuanced, floral, bright and exotic nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, dark berries, nuanced, detailed, layered, spices, juicy, long. 99

This bottle was a beauty. Silky in texture, with a floral, dark cherry, truffle and tobacco nose, the wine was concentrated, long and fresh. The finish felt as good as it tasted, with its depth, refinement and class. This is really drinking at close to peak today, where it should remain for years, if well stored.

Throwing off past reports of its premature decline, or complaints that it was a burly, plodding wine, over the last several years this has been burgeoning and blossoming, and was on a significant majority of our lists as one of the top four wines of the evening. Boysenberry, cassis, Margaux spices, dark chocolate, all embrace and collaborate ravishingly on the bouquet. You have opening notes of graphite and licorice, silky tannins and translucent fruit, sweet and yet seamless at and past the mid palate. Violets and rose petals perfume the palate almost, some candied orange peel, and just layers of red and black fruit, all effortlessly rallied for a persistent, seductive finish that so bountifully evokes Margaux’s brilliance. 98 Points+

A great wine in a great vintage. Dark garnet red colour. Excellent nose with hints of mild spices, slightly balmy character, freshly grated dark chocolate, with fine Margaux fragrance of almost floral style. On the palate fine and persistent, with good tannin structure, great depth, excellent freshness although an opulent touch in the finish.

I anxiously awaited the Margaux; it’s one of my favorites due to the big perfumed nose and typical elegance on the palate. Once again, the nose seemed to have faded due to being opened for quite a while; but the traditional elements were definitely there – cedar, tobacco and spice with flowery notes – just a little less potent than normal. On the palate, it shows nice black cherry fruit with berry undertones, lots of earthy elements, tobacco and some minerality. The laid back elegance was there, but the wine ran a little flat into the finish and lacked a bit of oomph. Very good, not great… perhaps a little less than expected, but still a fantastic wine. Parker most recently gave it a 98; I’ll go with a 92.