Poll: So I drank three 1980s Medocs, which do you think I enjoyed the most?

[JimHow]

Going into a busy 2026 and I'll be fasting from wine again after the new year with a big murder trial on the horizon, so I decided in the past week to splurge a bit and uncork some beauties from the 1980s. All three were absolutely gorgeous, but there is one that I would pick if I had to pick a favorite. Can you guess which one?

1985 Leoville Barton
1981 Leoville Las Cases
1983 Pichon Lalande

[RPCV]

I've had all these wines several times. Reminder, only good bottles....That said, the '85 LB is wonderful and very conistent.

[stefan]

Were all bottles in tip top shape? If all were, I would say Pichon Lalande.

[Comte Flaneur]

Were all bottles in tip top shape? If all were, I would say Pichon Lalande.

Seconded

[JimHow]

I thought all three bottles were in great shape, very pleased with the services at GRW Wine Collection.

[ericp]

It's a trap!! Which means Jim loved the 81 LLC

[Nicklasss]

I’m not the biggest fan of the Comtesse, but the 1982, 1983 and 1996 are the ones i prefer.

My vote to the 1983 Pichon Comtesse de Lalande.

[JimHow]

Wow, except for the 1990, I’m hard pressed to remember a Pichon Lalande that did not thrill me, including this 1983.

[greatbxfreak]

For sure, JIm enjoyed the 1985 Léoville Barton most!

[JoelD]

I voted for the Lalande but I wouldn't be surprised if the never ready Las Cases was in perfect form in 1981 for you. Of the three, that's the one that I've never had.

[JimHow]

Ha you guys know me well, I started this poll because I was absolutely blown away by the gorgeous 1981 Leoville Las Cases. You are absolutely correct, Joel, we all love LLC, but almost always come away with the disappointment that it is not ready. Well, this wine was in just a perfect spot, the ever so rare LLC that has aged beautifully but not on a downward slope. I was in heaven drinking it, it was fun to FINALLY get to know the greatness of a mature LLC after all these years of searching! I had a 1962 LLC once that was a similar experience but dare I say it, the tannins were still pretty strong. The tannins in this 1981 LLC were completely resolved, it was just classic tobacco, leather, a heavenly St. Julien.

Not that the others were any slouches! All of these bottles were in pristine condition, as well as the 1988 Lynch Bages I had a couple weeks ago. Like everyone else I expected the 1983 Pichon Lalande, which I drank last, to be the winner, but it was about half way through that bottle that I thought to myself that I liked the 1981 LLC best. I must say, however, the '83 Lalande really opened up in the second half of the bottle and by the end it was neck and neck with the LLC and might have surpassed it if there was more to drink.

And the 1985 Leoville Barton was everything you expect, a little more medium bodied than the other two, but the epitome of class, everything we look for from 1980s St. Julien.

It has been a month of 1980s Bordeaux heaven!

Bobby DeNiro's lawyer Laurent Drogin and his wife are coming over for our Christmas dinner again this year, we were exchanging emails tonight, looks like we are going to be uncorking some more 1980s Bordeaux on Christmas Day!

As I mentioned elsewhere I'll be fasting from wine through most of January and February because of a big murder trial, I don't drink during these trials, only in epically excessive quantities after the trials are over. I wanted to get some good Bordeaux in in this window following my annual pre-annual-physical bloodwork monthlong fasting and the upcoming new year fast. I never fail to be in awe how well these blood work numbers show up with four weeks of abstention, but nonetheless I do think my doctor is right, everything in moderation... one of my 21 goals for the new year.

I'll be in Hanoi, Vietnam, in eleven days through New Year's, then on to Bangkok, we'll be doing some videos on the unveiling of my new web page, jimhowaniec.com, featuring, we'll have a YouTube channel, Anthony Bourdain-like travel videos, a page devoted to ongoing murder cases, my novel and short story writings, music, French wine region videos and an integration of BWE into the site, a political page featuring weekly opinion articles, a talk show program on the local cable station on "the topics of the day," from national, state, and local politics, to the arts, to book and movie reviews, and space, and legal/constitutional issues, and something called "Thuy's Corner." Stay tuned!

But back to 1980s Bordeaux....

Man... It does not get any better....

Ratings:

1988 Lynch Bages: 100 points
1981 Leoville Las Cases: 97+ points
1983 Pichon Lalande: 97 points
1985 Leoville Barton: 97 points

[Nicklasss]

Ericp was right! Good job Jim, you got most of us. At the same time, the 1981 LLC won by a hair, i’m happy my favorite Saint Julien won.

It is sad that almost no 80’s Bordeaux are available in Québec and when some appear, they are insanely expensive.

[DavidG]

But back to 1980s Bordeaux....

Man... It does not get any better....

Ratings:

1988 Lynch Bages: 100 points
1981 Leoville Las Cases: 97+ points
1983 Pichon Lalande: 97 points
1985 Leoville Barton: 97 points

Man, you are drinking really, really well!

I voted for the Pichon Comtesse because it was my favorite of the three, but it’s been years.

[JoelD]

Was this LLC similar to the 1962 out of half bottle that I opened at the 2024 DC Thursday dinner? Or are you referring to a previous bottle?

That was sublime. I think that was one of my top 10 wines of the year in 2024.

[JimHow]

Oh that's right, I completely forgot about that one. I drank the 1962 LLC from a 750ml about ten years ago. It was great then, if just a bit tannic.

[Claudius2]

Guys
I voted for the Pichon Comtesse 83 but I have not tried it for a few decades. It was really good at around twenty years. However, the 85 Barton was the WOTN at a vertical from 82 to 2005 I went to a few years back. Burgundy like, soft, red and dark fruit, intense despite a light colour and Low tannins. Not tried the 81 LLC but this wine generally shows well even after some decades.

Cheers
Mark