1986 La Lagune

[DavidG]

Was in MacArthurs picking up some 2016s today and saw a bunch of the 1986 La Lagune for $70. Took one home to give it a try. Cork soaked 2/3 of the way up, no signs of leakage and base neck fill. Lots of tobacco leaf and cigar box on the nose, medium body, cassis, cherry and tea make for a nice complex mix, good balance, a bit on the acid side of perfect, medium finish. Excellent.

No idea if $70 is competitive, but they have plenty left.

[Comte Flaneur]

That sounds like a bargain David.

I think there was a very positive note on this on W-B quite recently.

[DavidG]

I posted on WB too.

If it’s a good deal, move quickly or the Berserkers will clean them all out.

[jckba]

Thanks David, I just picked up a case and there are 18 btls left. Btw they also have the 2009 La Lagune listed for $79.99/btl online which makes this back vintage ready to drink treasure seem like a fortuitous pricing error.

[stefan]

I put in an order for a case. Not sure I will get it as I saw this post late.

Thanks, David, but why the heck did you post this on WB?

[Jay Winton]

BWE enabled again, ordered 2-will see if I get them. Confirmed! 2 left

[jckba]

It looks like the site is real time as it updates post sale so my guess is that unless someone picks them off the shelf when they open in 10 minutes, all of our orders will get confirmed.

[stefan]

Hmm, Mr Vino. Mine is not yet confirmed, but the stock now says 4 left and said 18 when I was shopping, so maybe it is OK.

BTW, what do you think of the 86 LL, Jay? I consider it the fifth best LL of the 1980s, which means it is awfully good. I order the 1980s 82, 89, 85, 83, 86, 88, 81, 87, the first six of which are very good even now. I have not had 84 or 80 since shortly after release but would be surprised if either is good now. I drank the 81 only once, courtesy of Ian, and immediately regretted passing on it early on.

[DavidG]

Email confirmation from Macarthurs usually comes a day or two after I place an online order. It still says 2 left so you're all probably good.

[JimHow]

I ordered one of two 1983 Lafites that were in stock at MacArthur’s a couple months ago but then I got an email saying somebody had come in the store and bought them both off the shelf.

[jckba]

Just got my confirmation and followed it up with a nice conversation with their shipping manager John Paez. I generally balk at older wine purchases of unknown provenance but when someone whose palate I trust can confirm that it has been properly stored, that's when I jump so thank you once again David!

[Chateau Vin]

BWE enabled again, ordered 2-will see if I get them. Confirmed! 2 left

+1...Zero left...

[stefan]

All is well; I got my case. Shipping was a bit of a problem since they are not using FedEx right now, but we worked something out.

[Blanquito]

Big fan of the 86, but I’m saving my powder for the 85 (which I’ve found here and there for ~$70 all-in at auction). But thanks for the heads up, David.

[stefan]

Um. You should buy both, Patrick. My big mistake was not buying enough wine when I was your age. If I had I would have been able to drink free all my life like You Know Who. Now I have to play catch up. Can't you use your 457 to buy wine? Or use your tax refund?

[Jay Winton]

Hmm, Mr Vino. Mine is not yet confirmed, but the stock now says 4 left and said 18 when I was shopping, so maybe it is OK.

BTW, what do you think of the 86 LL, Jay? I consider it the fifth best LL of the 1980s, which means it is awfully good. I order the 1980s 82, 89, 85, 83, 86, 88, 81, 87, the first six of which are very good even now. I have not had 84 or 80 since shortly after release but would be surprised if either is good now. I drank the 81 only once, courtesy of Ian, and immediately regretted passing on it early on.

I haven't had the 86. A case of the 88 for $120 was one of my best buys ever. Those days are gone.

[JimHow]

Well done gentlemen. Very well done indeed.

[Blanquito]

It’s all gone at MacArthurs.

[JimHow]

You guys are animals.

[Winona Chief]

I got 2 bottles as well so I guess we know where they all went.

Chris Bublitz

[Chateau Vin]

I got the last two bottles...Courtesy, DavidG. Thanks

[jckba]

I received my case from MacArthurs today and just wanted to thank DavidG one more time for the heads up as the bottles look pristine! Will post a note in a couple of weeks time once I pop one.

[DavidG]

As our fearless leader would say, well done, boys. Well done indeed!

[Comte Flaneur]

stefan did you end up getting any?

[stefan]

I did get a case, Ian. It is on its way to Oregon to be picked up by stefanJr, who promises not to drink more than one bottle of it before we arrived. I just got a notice from UPS that the shipment might be delayed. I hope that does not signify a problem...

[Chateau Vin]

I did get a case, Ian. It is on its way to Oregon to be picked up by stefanJr, who promises not to drink more than one bottle of it before we arrived. I just got a notice from UPS that the shipment might be delayed. I hope that does not signify a problem...

The delay might have something to do with the weather in the midwest...

[Jay Winton]

I drank a bottle of the 86 LL last night. Very good bottle in a good place now.

[jckba]

Le steak salad paired with a 1986 La Lagune from the above MacArthurs stash; beautiful mature claret aroma’s of currant, tobacco leaf, cedar and earthy notes that lead to a harmonious, red fruited and tobacco driven palate that carries good acidity and lingers ever so pleasantly (93 points). Thanks again DavidG!

1986 La Lagune

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[JimHow]

yeah that was a real score you guys got.
you guys were like savage animals that day!

[stefan]

The 1996 La Lagune is indeed excellent. I bought, rebought, and rerebought it. Most of ours is out in Oregon and we are stuck in Texas (sob). But we also have a lot of La Lagune here. so we'll survive.

But tonight I opened a 2017 Domaine Drouhin Dundee Hills Pinot Noir. I have not tasted many 2017 Oregon Pinot Noirs and want to get a sense of the vintage before I make orders.

[brodway]

How do you differentiate between currant and cassis?

[jckba]

How do you differentiate between currant and cassis?

For me, black currant and cassis are pretty much interchangeable and I could have just have easily used that.

[dstgolf]

Guys,

Cassis is French for black currant...la meme chose!!

[brodway]

that is what i thought....thank you for the confirmation....how about red currant? is there a French term for it? rarely pick this up in wines, but sometimes Pinot Noirs can possess this flavor characteristic

[dstgolf]

Just the translation in French...red currant=Groseille or groseille rouge which I get confused with gooseberry=groseillier or groseille à maquereau

[Jay Winton]

I thoroughly enjoyed both bottles I bought.