As with many mature or semi-mature wines, I popped and poured, although this probably could have benefited from some short decanting. The first thing that I thought as I took my first sniff was "is this Bordeaux?" It didn't have that mineral characteristic that I have come to expect in a Bordeaux, although later it did let a little show through. Instead, this seemed like it was equally over-extracted, but it is not weak at all. The color is a deep red, with surprisingly little signs of age. The nose smells of cedar and sweet mint, with some eucalyptus. There is also a touch of spice, perhaps cinnamon or cloves.
On the palate, it seems extremely well balanced, and only mildly tannic. It is soft, pleasurable, and tends to focus mostly on the front of the mouth. The finish is somewhat weaker, and although its possible to still taste the wine, the linger of the pleasure is minimal.
In summary, Le Bon Pasteur seems to work for 1992, and it is a surprise to say the least. I've had maybe one or two 92's over the years, and all I can remember is that I didn't have a desire to seek out another. However, given the price point, I would likely gladly choose the 92 Le Bon Pasteur again. It is ready to drink now, and is as good or better than some of the more recent vintages for the lesser estates.
Tasted with homemade Duck Confit over the course of around 2 hours
