Vinography - Picture this: the young Robert M. Parker, Jr. has been selling his newsletter, The Wine Advocate for four years with some success. His notion of applying a numeric score to wines is a novel one, and he hasn’t exactly hit the big time. As per usual, he makes the pilgrimage to Bordeaux in the spring for the marathon of tastings, and by the end of the year he is a bit of a lone loud voice in the crowd, proclaiming the triumph of the vintage amidst more than a little doubt. Within a relatively short period of time he is proven right, and two things are now etched in the stone of the wine world’s collective consciousness: Robert Parker is the most powerful, feared, respected, and reviled critic in the world, and the 1982 Bordeaux is legendary.
Bordeaux 1982 - Wine-Searcher
Vintage quality: Legendary
Current condition: Ready to drink
The 1982 vintage for Bordeaux was and still is considered one of the great vintages. The growing season was idyllic with both budburst and flowering occurring under perfect conditions. The balmy, dry weather continued throughout the summer with July seeing some particularly hot days while August brought cooler ones just before a glorious Indian summer took place in September elevating the vintage. The heat spike late in the day served to ripen Merlot perfectly and a touch of rain led to the perfect conditions for Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. The resulting harvest was not only of sublime quality but was also hugely generous.
The wines were stunning with rich, ripe fruit and the opulence, tannin and complexity needed for serious long-term aging. It is also worth noting that had modern wine-making techniques been available at that time, the vintage is likely to have been even starrier.
On the Right Bank, the wines of Pomerol and Saint-Émilion were superb, with Pétrus enjoying a particularly legendary year. The general consensus is that the wines of Pomerol tended to have a slight edge over the wines of Saint-Émilion, with Château Lafleur producing a stunning turn. However, Saint-Émilion's Cheval Blanc was also brilliant and has acquired a legendary status all to itself.
On the Left Bank, the appellations of Pauillac, Saint-Julien and Médoc also produced exceptional wines, especially from Châteaux Pichon Lalande, Mouton Rothschild and Latour.
However, some of the Left Bank appellations were less successful with both the appellations of Margaux and Pessac-Léognan stumbling, although Château Margaux still produced some fantastic wines.
Overall, the 1982 Bordeaux vintage was extraordinary and is universally considered a legendary year. The best wines should still be drinking superbly now although that window will be coming to a close. The top examples are likely to still carry premium pricing.
Bordeaux 1982 - 7 Flights
Tasting
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