1982 – a royal prince and a Jimmy Watson winner part two

The 1982 tasting line up:

Cape Mentelle Cabernet Sauvignon 1982: Mint dominant with tomato bush, cedar, black currant and spice aromas joined with black olive on the palate.  There is charm and elegance to the body and alcohol and the tannins are powdery fine along the menthol length.

Mount Mary Cabernets 1982: Ever so smooth with cigar box, black currant, pepper and spice and leather. The oak is very fine, the fruit still fresh although there is some forest floor countering the sweet cedary finish. A Cabernet that is still holding onto its youth while gracefully ageing. While not as big hearted as the Bordeaux duo, this is a Cabernets that has more of a gentle but very polished heart.

Chateau Mouton Rothschild 1982:  Still heart warmingly rich with lashings of cassis, cinnamon, tobacco, earth and mocha chocolate with a hand full of dried herbs.  It is incredibly more-ish in its generous fruit and long, long length. Not a hair out of place, nor a harsh edge to be found in the very fine tannin grip.  This vintage is one to keep on giving for another decade.

Chateau Du Cru Beaucaillou 1982:  There is such life to this wine after three decades. It reminds me of blackcurrant pastilles with cinnamon and soft leather.  Smooth and savoury, rich and poised. The tannins are fine and powdery but still poignant. The long length and the sweet fruit and coffee linger with the pastille on the finish.  There is no doubt that this wine still has a way to go in its journey.

Wynn’s John Riddoch Cabernet Sauvignon 1982:  A resonant wine that simply keeps giving. Still youthful with surprisingly less in the way of tertiary character showing than expected.  There is more than a sneaky spoonful of caramel with blackfruit, chocolate and cinnamon.  As you would expect though, the oak has smoothed out somewhat since its youth. It is big, still firm and juicy, although, beside the other wines seems more muscular than elegant.