82 Lafite

Dinner at Petrus.

Krug Grand Cuvée, 3rd generation, en demi-bouteille - very caramelized nose, with honey and Chinese salted plum on the nose. Good acidity and minerality on the palate, and very big on the palate. Later on we got marmalade, cotton candy, and Chinese licorice on the nose.

1982 Lafite-Rothschild - first taste of filtered dregs from bottle 30 minutes after decanting, showing lots of smoke, grilled meats, cigar smoke, leather, and almost a hint of brett. Acidity was slightly on the high side, but sweet fruit started to show. Double-decanted back into bottle 1 hour and 40 minutes ater first decant, and served 2 hours and 40 minutes after initial opening. Smoke was still front and center, and cedar notes started to show up. Pretty soft on the palate. Some cassis notes showed 3 hours after initial opening. About 3 hours and 40 minutes after opening the nose softened so it was no longer punchy with lots of smoke, and more fruit showed up at around 4 hours. After 4 hours and 40 minutes we had good balance between the smokiness and the fruit, and was a little peppery. Some 5½ hours the body got lighter and acidity became dominant, and it was clear the wine was going downhill.

Full post on dinner is here.