1986 Château Rieussec;
In the neck fill. Golden colour, rich nose, botrytis and honey mixed with tropical fruits. Rich palate, and as so often with Rieussec, lacks the acidity needed, feels a bit flabby and a few sips is enough. 88


1986 Château Suduiraut;
In the neck fill. Dolden, vanilla, apricots, heavy and slightly volatile, model-airplane glue. Fresh acidity, good balance and length, but lacks a lot. I have had some better bottles of this one, but it's never a great wine. 86


1988 Château Suduiraut;
In the neck fill. Golden, vanilla, tropical, botrytis, heavu nose. Fresh, apricots and tropical notes, has the vintage edgy bitterness that I can never enjoy (same sort of thing with the 89) a bit lean finish, good length. 89

1986 Château Rayne Vigneau;
In the neck fill, golden, elegant nose, apricots, raisins and pineapple. Fresh acidity, fruity, almost tender, elegant body, good length. 90

1986 Château Marquis de Terme;
Ruined by faulty storage.

1986 Château Rauzan-Gassies;
Botton neck fill, garnet, brick rim, drinkable yes, but tiering. 73



1986 Château Brane-Cantenac;
Bottom neck fill, bright ruby, orange rim. Playful, easy, clean, fruity, nice nose, easy going, very likeable, lovely palate. 89





1986 Château Palmer;
Very top shoulder, bad cork, sign of sepage. Ruby, garnet rim, floral, seductive, violets, cassis, youthful feel. Royal Blend from Fortnum & Mason, perfumed, roses. Fresh acidity, very ripe tannins, palate dissapoints a bit after that nose, superb elegance, long, if tender. 94

1986 Château Léoville Barton:
Faulty storage.




Best ever bearnaise!


1986 Château Léoville Las Cases;
In the neck fill, soaked cork. Bright ruby, stunning nose, fresh red berries, cedar, gorgeous and layered, tobacco, leather, cassis. Complex. Fresh acidity, youthful feel, ripe tannins, fruit in a ball still, needs time, extreme length. 97















1986 Château Grand Puy Lacoste;
Bottom neck fill, ruby, "rich" nose, all Pauillac, but not quite what I'm used to from GPL, cassis, bell peppers, leather, some prunes behind. Tobacco. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, slightly dry palate, good, if lean finish. 90