Excuse the mildewed label, but this
super cuvee from Chateau Tirecule la Graviere was the second RP100 wine I
bought (Lafite 1982 was bought in 1998). It is from Monbazillac,
geographically an eastward extension of the Bordelais vineyards. It was also
the second RP100 wine I tasted, and the first one (tasted in the same occasion)
was not even from France (it was a Brunello). Lafite 1982 was much later. That
occasion with two 100 Parker point wines was a farewell dinner for an
ex-President of the Club, who was also a Wine Society member.
This wine is gorgeous; an orange gold
colour, unctious with orangey notes, balanced with a long sweet acid finish. It
outshone the Brunello, being the more appreciated RP100 wine that night. I
think I also brought along a bottle of Vin de Constance, which we tasted
before this. There were many great wines that night including Grange and Lafite
1983 (which could have been a spoilt bottle). Whatever happened to the Lafite,
there were ample stars in the dessert wines department.