Brushed iron, caramel, salt, dried cherries, tobacco leaf and pressed flowers on the nose with some savoury nuances of earth, leather, beef stock and truffle. Mouthwatering and vibrant, seductive and sharp at the same time. Lively and exciting with great acidity that really sustains the wine with elements of strawberry and red cherry. Some bitter, sharp, minty elements as well - lots going on here. Tannins are a touch grainy but give texture and bite with a spicy plum accent and smoky, charred touches on the charged finish.

Very inconsistent in over a dozen tastings, this wine has never fully lived up to the expectations I had for it prior to bottling. This was a period when Christian Moueix and his conservative oenologist Jean-Claude Berrouet were, in my opinion, doing entirely too much fining and filtration, often killing much of the texture and flavor in too many wines that tasted great out of cask. Obviously things changed, but we still have great vintages like this that are perplexing and not what they should be. The wine still shows a nice plum, mulberry, herbaceous, coffee-scented nose with some cedar and spice box. In the mouth, it is medium-bodied with surprising acidity and moderate tannin. The finish is a bit short. After tasting through much of a case, and never seeing the wine live up to my expectations, I am convinced now this wine is in decline, somewhat unusual for a well-stored 1982. Anticipated maturity: Drink up. Last tasted, 11/02.

Medium red. Aromas of raspberry, minerals and menthol. Dense and minerally, with a creamy, old-viney texture; spreads out nicely to coat the entire palate. The finish initially was sweet and suave, but a green edge gave the wine a faint tannic dryness as it opened in the glass.

Deep crimson. Spicy, sweet and lovely. Mellow, round, full and long. Not spittable. (JR)