Bordeaux Region Report

St Emilion Grand Cru Classe

The Château Ausone 1982 is a highly sought-after wine from one of Bordeaux's most esteemed estates in the Saint-Émilion appellation. The 1982 vintage is legendary across Bordeaux for its near-perfect growing conditions, producing wines of exceptional quality, power, and aging potential. While Château Ausone had a slightly different style and reputation during the early 1980s compared to today, the 1982 remains a fascinating and historic wine, showcasing the estate’s unique limestone terroir.

Wine Overview
Château Ausone is celebrated for its small production and unparalleled terroir. The 1982 vintage likely includes a blend of:

Cabernet Franc (dominant): Adding structure, aromatic intensity, and floral and herbal notes. …
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Price: £585.00
Stock: 1 in Stock

St Julien, 4th Growth Classification

1982 Château Branaire-Ducru – A Benchmark Bordeaux from a Legendary Vintage
The 1982 Château Branaire-Ducru comes from one of the most celebrated Bordeaux vintages of the 20th century. The 1982 growing season was marked by warm, dry conditions and an ideal harvest, allowing for excellent grape ripeness and tannin development. As a fourth-growth estate in the prestigious Saint-Julien appellation, Château Branaire-Ducru has long been known for producing refined and structured wines that age beautifully over time. The 1982 vintage is no exception, offering a mature and expressive profile after more than 40 years in the bottle. …
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Price: £139.00
Stock: 1 in Stock

St Estephe, 2nd Growth Classification

Review by Robert Parker... "A spectacular performance for this wine, Cos d'Estournel's 1982 exhibits a dark ruby/purple color with light pink at the rim. Sweet aromas of jammy black fruits intermixed with roasted espresso and vanillin jump from the glass of this young, concentrated, full-bodied, succulent effort. An opulent texture, low acidity, and splendidly pure, concentrated, blackberry and cassis fruit suggest this 1982 can be drunk now, or cellared for another 15-20 years. An awesome wine!" Wine Advocate, 2000

Château Cos d'Estournel is a prestigious wine estate located in the Saint-Estèphe appellation of Bordeaux, France. …
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Price: £495.00
Stock: 2 in Stock

Listrac (Médoc) Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel

Château Fourcas Hosten, located in Bordeaux's Listrac-Médoc appellation, has a history dating back to the 18th century. The 1982 vintage, celebrated for its exceptional quality across Bordeaux, yielded wines with remarkable richness and aging potential.​

Tasting Notes

A tasting note from 2013 for the 1982 Château Fourcas Hosten indicates that the wine had "held up very well," with "lots of fruit on the palate even after 31 years in a cellar." This suggests that, at that time, the wine maintained its fruit character and structure.​
CellarTracker

Serving Suggestions

When serving a mature wine like the 1982 Château Fourcas Hosten, …
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Price: £79.95
Stock: 23 in Stock

Pauillac, Cru Bourgeois

​Château Pibran, located in the Pauillac appellation of Bordeaux, has a history dating back to the early 20th century. The 1982 vintage is particularly noteworthy, as it is considered one of the finest in Bordeaux's history, producing wines with exceptional richness, concentration, and aging potential.​
The Wine Cellar Insider

Tasting Notes

While specific tasting notes for the 1982 Château Pibran are limited, one community member described it as having an excellent nose and being very pleasant to drink, awarding it 87 points. Given its age, the wine likely exhibits tertiary aromas such as leather, tobacco, and earthy notes, with softened tannins and a harmonious palate. …
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Price: £65.00
Stock: 3 in Stock

Pauillac, Cru Bourgeois

​Château Pibran, located in the Pauillac appellation of Bordeaux, has a history dating back to the early 20th century. The 1982 vintage is particularly noteworthy, as it is considered one of the finest in Bordeaux's history, producing wines with exceptional richness, concentration, and aging potential.​
The Wine Cellar Insider

Tasting Notes

While specific tasting notes for the 1982 Château Pibran are limited, one community member described it as having an excellent nose and being very pleasant to drink, awarding it 87 points. Given its age, the wine likely exhibits tertiary aromas such as leather, tobacco, and earthy notes, with softened tannins and a harmonious palate. …
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Price: £59.00
Stock: 1 in Stock

Saint-Julien, 2nd Wine

Built in 1565, Château Beychevelle has long been celebrated for its exceptional wines. It was recognised as a Fourth Growth estate in the prestigious 1855 Bordeaux classification, and today the team continues to uphold its stellar reputation. This Amiral Beychevelle from the 1981 vintage is their second wine – made with the same care and precision as their grand vin, but from younger vines and with a higher proportion of Merlot in the blend.

Tasting Notes:
Deep garnet hue with slight bricking at the rim, indicative of its maturity. Evolved bouquet featuring notes of dried black fruits, cedar, and subtle earthy undertones. …
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Price: £139.00
Stock: 2 in Stock

St Julien, 4th Growth Classification

The 1981 Branaire is quite forward, precociously supple, and fruity. The bouquet is showing expansive, complex, chocolatey, cedary components.

About Chateau Branaire Ducru Château Branaire-Ducru is a renowned wine estate located in the Saint-Julien appellation of the Bordeaux region in France. It is classified as a Fourth Growth (Quatrième Grand Cru Classé) in the 1855 Bordeaux Classification, which highlights its longstanding reputation for quality. The estate spans approximately 60 hectares of vineyards, planted mainly with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot. …
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Price: £119.00
Stock: 9 in Stock

St Estephe, 2nd Growth Classification

The 1981 Cos d'Estournel is a deep ruby colour, with a spicy, rich, briery, tightly knit bouquet, this wine is deeper and more promising than the 1983, but relatively light, compact, and lean.

Château Cos d'Estournel is a prestigious wine estate located in the Saint-Estèphe appellation of Bordeaux, France. Established in the early 19th century by Louis-Gaspard d'Estournel, the estate is renowned for its grand architectural style, including the iconic pagodas that distinguish its winery. Covering approximately 100 hectares, the vineyard benefits from a unique terroir of gravel and clay soils, ideal for cultivating Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot. …
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Price: £129.00
Stock: 2 in Stock

Pauillac 5th Growth Classification

​Château Croizet-Bages, a fifth-growth estate in Bordeaux's Pauillac appellation, has a history dating back to the 18th century. The 1981 vintage, while not among the most celebrated years in Bordeaux, offers a unique opportunity to experience a mature expression of this estate's wine.​

Specific tasting notes for the 1981 Château Croizet-Bages are limited, reflecting the vintage's modest reputation. However, given the wine's age, it's likely to exhibit tertiary aromas such as leather, tobacco, and earthy notes, with softened tannins and a harmonious palate. It's important to note that individual bottle conditions can vary, especially with wines of this age. …
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Price: £79.95
Stock: 12 in Stock

St Julien, 2eme Growth Classification

The 1981 Ducru Beaucailiou has a very intense red; nose of berries, nice claret bouquet; good fruit on the palate, broad; initially quite green - not a great vintage but quite acceptable.

Château Ducru-Beaucaillou, located in the renowned Saint-Julien appellation of Bordeaux, France, is an iconic estate celebrated for its exceptional wines and illustrious history. Dating back to the 18th century, this historic property has been meticulously tended by generations of the Borie family, who have upheld a tradition of excellence in winemaking. Situated on gravelly soils along the Gironde River, …
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Price: £149.00
Stock: 1 in Stock

St Julien 2me Growth Classification

A deep tawny rim with a mahogany core. This has a delightful nose, very good intensity with notes of cooked meats, roasted chestnut, toffee and a touch of marzipan. It smells as if it is from a hot vintage! After five minutes in the glass, it become a little muffled but develops a touch of mint. The palate certainly has more fruit concentration than the 1980, a rounded texture, quite sharp acidity with notes of sour cherry, a touch of leather and a dry, rather gamey, but attenuated finish. Not bad for a 1981.

Château Léoville Poyferré is a prestigious wine estate located in the Saint-Julien appellation of Bordeaux, France. …
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Price: £165.00
Stock: 6 in Stock

Pauillac 1er Grand Cru Classe

The 1980 Château Latour from Pauillac, one of Bordeaux’s First Growth estates, comes from a less celebrated vintage. The 1980 growing season was challenging due to a cooler and wetter summer, resulting in less-than-ideal conditions for ripening. However, Château Latour is known for its ability to produce outstanding wines even in difficult years and the 1980 vintage is one of the top wines from the vintage, although lighter and less structured compared to more renowned vintages.

Tasting notes for the 1980 Château Latour: The wine is predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon, with smaller amounts of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot typical of Latour’s blend. …
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Price: £495.00
Stock: 1 in Stock

Paulliac 1er Cru Grand Classe

The 1980 Château Mouton Rothschild is a fascinating example of how even First Growth estates navigate the challenges of difficult vintages. This particular year was marked by variable weather across Bordeaux, including a wet spring and cool summer, which led to uneven ripening and modest fruit concentration. As a result, wines from the 1980 vintage, including Mouton Rothschild, are generally considered less powerful and less age-worthy than those from more acclaimed years. Yet, despite these hurdles, Mouton’s reputation and meticulous winemaking ensure that even its weaker vintages hold interest. …
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Price: £335.00
Stock: 1 in Stock

Saint-Emilion Grand Cru

Château Cormeil-Figeac is a family-owned estate located in the Saint-Émilion appellation of Bordeaux, France. Situated between the renowned Châteaux Figeac and Cheval Blanc, the estate benefits from an exceptional terroir. Currently managed by the fourth generation of the family, Victor and Coraline Moreaud, the vineyard spans approximately 10 hectares with vines averaging 45 years of age. The vineyard is planted with 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc.

Tasting Notes:
Expect a garnet coloured wine with aromas of red berries (cherry, raspberry), dried herbs, earthy notes, hints of cedar and tobacco. …
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Price: £69.00
Stock: 3 in Stock

St Estephe 5th Growth Classification
Magnum

Château Cos Labory, a fifth-growth estate in Bordeaux's Saint-Estèphe appellation, has a history of producing robust and age-worthy wines. The 1979 vintage experienced a cool growing season, leading to wines that were initially graceful and well-balanced but have since declined, often exhibiting lean tannins and diminished fruit. ​


After over four decades, the 1979 Château Cos Labory may present pronounced earthy and leathery notes, with a reduced fruit presence. Proper decanting is recommended to separate any sediment and to allow the wine to breathe, potentially unveiling subtle nuances that have developed over time. …
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Price: £129.00
Stock: 2 in Stock

Pauillac 5th Growth Classification

1979 Château Croizet-Bages – A Mature Pauillac from a Classic Era
Château Croizet-Bages, a fifth-growth estate in the Pauillac appellation, is known for producing Cabernet Sauvignon-led wines that offer a more approachable and elegant expression of the region. The 1979 vintage in Bordeaux was a moderate to good year, producing wines that were medium-bodied, well-structured, and capable of aging for several decades. While overshadowed by the more powerful 1978 and 1982 vintages, 1979 Bordeaux wines have proven to age gracefully, particularly from well-regarded estates.

Now at over 40 years of age, …
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Price: £89.00
Stock: 12 in Stock

Sauternes
Sweet White Wine

The 1979 Château La Tour Blanche Sauternes, a Premier Cru Classé from the Sauternes appellation, exemplifies the estate's commitment to producing refined and age-worthy sweet wines. Crafted predominantly from Sémillon, with smaller proportions of Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle, this vintage reflects the favorable conditions of the 1979 harvest, which allowed for the development of noble rot (Botrytis cinerea), essential for the concentration and complexity characteristic of Sauternes wines.

In the glass, the 1979 La Tour Blanche displays a golden yellow hue, indicative of its maturity. The nose reveals an intense exotic expression with notes of pineapple, …
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Price: £119.00
Stock: 1 in Stock

Pauillac 5th Growth Classification

Château Lynch-Moussas, a fifth-growth estate in Bordeaux's Pauillac appellation, has a storied history dating back to the 18th century. The 1979 vintage, while not among the most celebrated years in Bordeaux, offers a unique glimpse into the evolution of this estate's wines over the decades.​

Specific tasting notes for the 1979 Château Lynch-Moussas are scarce, reflecting the vintage's overall modest reputation. However, given the wine's age, it's likely to exhibit tertiary aromas such as leather, tobacco, and earthy notes, with softened tannins and a harmonious palate. It's important to note that individual bottle conditions can vary, especially with wines of this age. …
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Price: £99.00
Stock: 3 in Stock

Chateau Prince Larquey

Bordeaux, in the south-west of France, needs little introduction to anyone with an interest in wine. One of the world's most prolific wine regions, it also manages to rank among the most famous and prestigious. The secrets of Bordeaux's wine success (other than magical Bordeaux Blend) are its three trump cards: diversity, quality and quantity. The majority of Bordeaux wines are the dry, medium-bodied reds that made the region famous.
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Price: £69.00
Stock: 9 in Stock

Chateau Balan

Bordeaux, in the south-west of France, needs little introduction to anyone with an interest in wine. One of the world's most prolific wine regions, it also manages to rank among the most famous and prestigious. The secrets of Bordeaux's wine success (other than magical Bordeaux Blend) are its three trump cards: diversity, quality and quantity. The majority of Bordeaux wines are the dry, medium-bodied reds that made the region famous.
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Price: £69.00
Stock: 4 in Stock

Pauillac 5th Growth Classification

Château Batailley, a fifth-growth estate in Bordeaux's Pauillac appellation, has a longstanding reputation for producing robust and age-worthy wines. The 1978 vintage, while not among the most celebrated years, has matured gracefully over the decades, offering a unique tasting experience for enthusiasts of aged Bordeaux.​

Tasting notes from this vintage reveal a wine that has developed classic aged claret characteristics. Earthy notes, tobacco, and moss are prominent on the nose, indicative of its maturity. On the palate, it presents as quite light and elegant, showcasing the subtlety that can come with extended aging. …
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Price: £89.00
Stock: 2 in Stock

Haut-Medoc, 5th Growth Classification

The 1978 Château Belgrave hails from a vintage that saw a cool, wet spring followed by a hot and dry summer, leading to uneven ripening across Bordeaux. As a fifth-growth estate in the Haut-Médoc, Château Belgrave has long been known for its classic Bordeaux blends, primarily composed of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, with smaller portions of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. While some 1978 Bordeaux wines showed promise in their youth, their longevity has varied depending on storage conditions and individual château vinification styles.

At nearly 50 years old, the 1978 Château Belgrave has likely developed complex, aged characteristics, with earthy, leathery, and dried fruit notes taking center stage. …
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Price: £79.95
Stock: 2 in Stock

Pessac-Léognan
Level top shoulder or better
96 Robert Parker

The 1978 Château La Mission Haut-Brion is widely regarded as one of the standout Bordeaux wines of its vintage. Hailing from the Pessac-Léognan appellation in Graves, this wine exemplifies the estate's reputation for producing deeply structured and long-lived reds. Notably, Robert Parker awarded it a score of 96 points, describing it as "one of the top ten wines of the vintage" and a strong contender for "the" wine of 1978.

In the glass, the wine displays a dark garnet color with minimal lightening at the rim, indicating its maturity. The bouquet is rich and complex, offering aromas of truffles, charcoal, scorched earth, black currants, plums, figs, and crushed rocks. …
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Price: £895.00
Stock: 6 in Stock

Pessac-Leognan Cru Classe

With a vibrant medium garnet colour the 1978 Pape Clement shows a lifted bouquet of spice, graphite, subtle tobacco and dried herbs. On the palate blackcurrant, plum and sour cherry interwoven with subtle dried herbs, tobacco and earth. Smooth and seamless mid-palate with lively acidity and a long and satisfying finish with hints of menthol and fine grain tannins. At its peak now.

About Chateau Pape Clement Château Pape Clément, located in the Pessac-Léognan appellation of Bordeaux, France, is one of the oldest Grands Crus vineyards in the region, with a history dating back to the 13th century. …
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Price: £89.95
Stock: 1 in Stock