Chicago '10: The ceremonial tasting of 1986 Gruaud Larose

[JimHow]

At the first BWE convention, held in Chicago in February 2001, we met Stefan and Lucie, aka Bill and Jan from the lone star state of Texas.

One of my fondest memories of that convention was watching Stefan "test" the wines before the Saturday night convention dinner.

Stefan brought a couple bottles of 1986 Gruaud Larose, one of my favorite wines, a wine that is a great example of St. Julien from the golden decade of the eighties. Only one of the bottles was consumed that Saturday night nine years ago. The other one will be present for the Saturday night dinner next week... a relic from a legendary weekend. Now Stefan advises me that he has located a second bottle of the 1986 Gruaud Larose in his cellar. I look forward to a ceremonial toast of this great BWE-type-of-wine next week in memory of that first epic convention in Chicago nine years ago!

[SF Ed]

I came close - one of the bottles I shipped out for Saturday night is a 1982 Gruaud Larose. Sounds like that will be a well represented estate!

SF Ed

[JimHow]

Nice! Two of my favorite Bordeauxs are the '82 and '86 GL.
The '82 GL is one of the most multi-layered wines ever....

[Rick]

Jim - I second your emotions on the GL

The 86 GL is in my top10 wines.......everyone has been just outstanding
We had the 82GL at a recent BWE convention if I am not mistaken....maybe South Beach
as i recall it was one of my favorates

rick

[JimHow]

Yes Rick, Stuart provided several bottles of '82 GL in Miami. An immensely beautiful and complex wine. They just dint make 'em like that anymore....

[dstgolf]

Re: GL

I think they have one of the better wines in 2006. It's surprisingly drinking very well at this time. I'd certainly recommend it as one of the few 2006 worth looking for if the price is right.