Wine Spectator: Medium garnet; cedary nose, with green tea nuances and cranberries emerging; firm, lively and tannic, with concentrated though unevolved fruit flavors; a big wine, with much p...

Wine Spectator: Medium brick-red. Aromas of coffee, prune and milk chocolate. Full-bodied and medium sweet, with a licorice, berry, custard and cream character. Firm and racy. Long and delici...

Wine Spectator: A lean wine, with good grip but not much flesh. The cedar and cherry flavors are light and spicy.--Ducru-Beaucaillou vertical. Drink now through 1995. (TM)

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: One of the Medocs most successful 1978s, this wine has reached full maturity, but it reveals no signs of an early demise. The color is a dark ruby/garnet with only slight ambe...

About this Wine: "Deep dark ruby in color, the aromas reflect classic Rutherford notes of black cherry and currant, with licorice, loam and dried herb components. The wine is medium to full bo...

Wine Spectator: Quite rich, balanced and still young. Sweet cherry and light cedar aromas give way to firm, spicy flavors accented by licorice notes.--Ducru-Beaucaillou vertical. Drink now th...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: No doubt this vintage of La Mission-Haut-Brion was probably overlooked once the highly publicized 1982 vintage was conceived, but this wine has always been, in my opinion, one...

Wine Spectator: Youthful ruby color, with a garnet edge. Floral and perfumed, with a berry undertone on the nose. Medium-bodied, with fine tannins and a pretty, straightforward fruit aftertas...

Wine Spectator: All in harmony. Deserves its reputation. Dark ruby. Smoke, black truffle, berry and cherry. Full-bodied, velvety and fine.--Bordeaux retrospective. Best after 2005. (JS)

Wine Spectator: This slightly bad bottle tastes much fresher than it looks. Fresh blueberries have a hint of bark and fresh mushroom. Medium-bodied, with velvety tannins and a ripe fruit and ...

Wine Spectator: Firm, chewy, nicely packed with bright berry and currant flavors that last through the spicy finish. Has a nice sense of spreading on the finish.--1982 Bordeaux horizontal. (H...

Wine Spectator: At its peak. Medium-dark ruby, with an amber edge. Cherry, coffee and cedar aromas. Medium-bodied, with sweet berry flavors and caressing, velvety tannins. Delicious, but slig...

Wine Spectator: This Ducru '82 has always been a beauty. Dark ruby in color, with a slight amber edge. Very fresh and floral, with loads of berry and rose character. Medium-bodied, with a goo...

Wine Spectator: Not as impressive as it once was; nonetheless, a rich and caressing wine. Sweet berry flavor, with hints of tobacco and raisin. Medium- to full-bodied, with velvety tannins an...

Wine Spectator: Slightly simple. Dark ruby-garnet color, with an inky center. Ripe berry, oyster and mushroom aromas. Medium-bodied and velvety in texture, with good fruit flavors and a mediu...

Wine Spectator: Not up to today's standard for this estate, but it's a friendly wine with lovely cassis and berry aromas and flavors, medium body and a light fruity finish. Drink now.--The Bo...

Wine Spectator: Slightly simple and sweet, but still very good. Deep purple, with fresh violet and berry aromas, full-bodied, with very sweet fruit flavors, full tannins and a medium finish. ...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: The dark ruby/garnet-colored 1985 Gruaud-Larose has evolved beautifully. It exhibits a lovely, sweet, fragrant bouquet of berry fruit, truffles, earth, and smoky oak. On the p...

Wine Spectator: A fabulous wine; one of the first great Las Cases. Full-bodied and rich, with the tannins extremely well integrated into an impressive background of fruit. Give it time.--Cabe...

Wine Spectator: Rich and ripe wine. Dark red color with an amber edge. Loads of meat, berry and tobacco character on the nose. Very rich. Full-bodied, with soft, velvety tannins and a long, u...