Le Pin 1985

Tasted alongside Petrus 1985 there is no competition - Jacques Thienpont hit a home run in this vintage whilst Petrus missed the ball. It has one of those ethereal, "melted" bouquets that has retained a sense of warmth, as if you can inhale that distant summer. The savoury aspect is more noticeable than previous bottles, but it remains immensely complex and engaging, dried rose petals and sous-bois notes emerging with continues aeration. The palate is beautifully balanced with fine tannins, a sensual rounded body with velvet tannins. It does not mess about, delivering waves of plush dark cherry and wild strawberry from the word go and never letting up, the finish so lavish you never want it to end. This is the best bottle of Le Pin 1985 that I have encountered. Tasted December 2013.

A secxy tart of a wine, this open-knit, expensive , fleshy wine offers up sumptuous notes of smoked herbs, melted caramel, expresso, jammy black currant and cherry fruit and plenty of licorice. Very sweet, round, and luscious in the mouth with an unctuous texture, no obvious tannins, and a silky-textured, lush finish, this fully mature Le Pin should continue to drink well for 5-10 more years. Anticipated maturity :now-2012.