Lot 22
In a Bordeaux State of Mind

12 – 750ml Château Lafite Rothschild (82, 83, 85, 86, 88, 89, 90, 95, 96, 98, 00, 01)
12 – 750ml 1988 Château Latour
8 – 750ml 1983 Château Pichon Longueville Baron
5 – 750ml Château Mouton Rothschild (2 – 1982 and 3 – 1986)
5 – 750ml Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande (1 – 1985 and 4 – 1989)
5 – 750ml 1986 Château Cheval Blanc
4 – 750ml 1985 Château Le Bon Pasteur
3 – 750ml 1982 Chateau Grand Puy Ducasse
3 – 750ml 2000 Château Roc de Cambes
2 – 750ml Château Gruaud Larose (1 – 1966 and 1 – 1986)
2 – 750ml 1986 Château Lafite Rothschild
2 – 750ml 2000 Chateau Grand Puy Lacoste
2 – 750ml 2000 Chateau Le Bosco
2 – 750ml 2000 Chateau La Fleur de Boüard
1 – 750ml 1966 Chateau Meyney
1 – 750ml 1982 Château Margaux
1 – 750ml 2000 Château Terrey Gros Cailloux
1 – 750ml 2000 Château Montrose
1 – 750ml 2000 Château Leoville Poyferré

This magnificent lot of 65 bottles blends established superstars and old friends from the Medoc and St. Emilion with sensational newcomers from Pomerol, Lalande de Pomerol and Côtes de Bourg. This is truly a collection for now and the future.

It is no exaggeration to say that every major vintage of Bordeaux from 1982 to 2001 is represented here, and the number of wines rating 90 points or better is staggering. Even the lovely 1966 vintage is represented by Chateau Meyney from St. Estèphe and Château Gruaud Larose from St. Julien.

Individual highlights are too numerous to mention, but it would be unforgivable to fail to mention the legendary 1982 Mouton Rothschild. One of the greatest Moutons ever made, this wine is dense with ripe fruit and rich tannins. Also an icon, the 1982 Margaux is undoubtedly the finest vintage produced by that fabled property since pre-war years. And the Grand Puy Ducasse is another fine example of this watershed vintage.

In this lot are excellent examples from all of the top vintages from Bordeaux in recent memory. The 1983 Pichon Baron is a wine of smoky complexity with overlays of exotic oriental spices. The 1985 Pichon-Lalande is simply heavenly. The trio of 1986 Cheval Blanc, Mouton and Lafite represents complexity, power and grace.

The newcomers here are led by Château Roc de Combes from the Côtes de Bourg region at the confluence of the Dordogne and the Gironde rivers. The property was purchased in 1988 by Francois Mitjavile, the genius who has put his Château Le Tertre-Rôteboeuf in St. Emilion in stiff competition with the First Growths. Roc de Combes strives to use only the ripest fruit with extended vinification. Maison Mitjavile has another rising star in Roc de Combes. Renowned guru-oenologist Michel Rolland makes the wine at Château Le Bon Pasteur in Pomerol- the ‘85 is balanced and soft. Complement the Pasteur with Le Fleur de Boüard from neighboring Lalande de Pomerol, and enjoy the unique Terrey Gros Cailloux from the center of St. Julien, sitting snugly amongst its famous neighbors.

Perhaps the true highlight of this lot though is in the opportunity for a vertical tasting of Lafite from 1982 to 2001. Granted, the ‘81, ‘84, ‘87 etc. are not here - because they did not make the cut- however, every other outstanding vintage is featured. Starting with the 95 point 1982 vintage, a wine of stunning complexity and grace, moving on to the 1995 that was so carefully selected that only 1/3 of the harvest made it into the final blend and continuing with a succession of the highest quality of vintages Bordeaux has ever seen, this vertical would call forth connoisseurs from around the world for its presentation. The 2000 has the potential to last for ages, but wouldn’t it be fun to place it in this vertical?

Billy Joel may once have put us in a New York State of Mind, but this lot will surely keep you firmly and happily in Bordeaux.

DONORS: Jodi & Bob Dickinson, Pat & Ed Johnson, Barbara & George Trees, Jr. and Evelyn & Hicks Waldron