Bordeaux Region Report

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

Cantenac (Margaux) 3me cru classe

The 1982 Château d'Issan is a beautifully matured Third Growth Margaux, offering a refined expression of one of Bordeaux’s most historic estates. From an outstanding vintage, this wine has aged gracefully over more than four decades, developing deep complexity and elegance.

With a garnet hue and amber edges, this wine presents an evolved bouquet of dried roses, sweet blackberry, red currant, and a touch of herbs. The palate is medium-bodied and refined, with flavors of blackcurrant, bergamot, and mint, supported by softened tannins and a silky texture. Though past its peak fruit intensity, it remains harmonious and balanced, offering an engaging drinking experience. …
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Price: £149.00
Stock: 1 in Stock

Margaux
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1982 Château du Tertre is a fine, fully mature expression of Margaux from one of Bordeaux’s most celebrated vintages. After more than four decades in bottle, it has transitioned from youthful power to a wonderfully graceful, aromatic style, where perfume, finesse and subtle complexity are the defining features.

In the glass, it shows a pale brick-garnet colour with a wide, amber-tinted rim. The bouquet is delicate yet intricate: dried redcurrant and cherry, cedar and pencil shavings, with notes of cigar box, leather and autumnal undergrowth. Classic Margaux florals—dried rose petal and a touch of violet—hover in the background, adding lift and elegance. …
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Price: £129.00
Stock: 5 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: 22 in Stock

Pessac Leognan

1982 Château La Louvière comes from the legendary 1982 Bordeaux vintage and offers a beautifully mature expression of Graves. After more than forty years in bottle, this classic claret has shed its youthful firmness and settled into a gracefully evolved, savoury style, where minerality, tobacco and gentle fruit all sit in harmony.

In the glass, it shows a brick-garnet core with a broad, fading rim. The nose is refined and quietly complex: dried blackcurrant and red cherry mingle with cedar, cigar box, graphite and cool earth. Hints of roasted herbs, leather and a touch of smoke reflect its Graves origins, giving the bouquet a distinctly classical, old-school Bordeaux charm. …
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Price: £89.95
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: £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: £99.00
Stock: 1 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: 8 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

Pessac Leognan Cru Classe

1981 Château La Mission Haut-Brion offers a beautifully classical expression of mature Graves from a more understated, old-school Bordeaux vintage. Now over forty years in bottle, it has moved into a fully evolved phase where complexity, savoury depth and refinement take precedence over power, showing the estate’s hallmark gravelly elegance.

In the glass, it displays a brick-garnet core with a wide, amber-tinted rim. The nose is refined and deeply tertiary: dried redcurrant and soft cassis mingle with cedar, cigar box, pipe tobacco and cool earth. Signature smoky, mineral notes of warm stones and faint embers drift through the bouquet, …
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Price: £245.00
Stock: 6 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

Chateau Larcis Ducasse

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1980 Bordeaux – Château Larcis Ducasse (Saint-Émilion)

A fully mature Right Bank claret showing classical, savoury finesse over fruit weight. Garnet core with a broad tawny rim. The nose is gentle and tertiary: dried redcurrant and plum, cedar and pencil shavings, tobacco leaf, bay, leather and a touch of sous-bois. Mid-weight, silky palate—lively acidity carries redcurrant, dried cherry and earthy spice; tannins are fine and resolved. Finish is tapering and elegant with cedar, leaf tobacco and a hint of dried rose.

Producer note: Historic limestone-coteau estate on Saint-Émilion’s south-facing slope; traditional élevage emphasises mineral lift and aromatic polish rather than brawn. …
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Price: £99.00
Stock: 1 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

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: 8 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