With just 12% alcohol, the 1977 Chateau La Mission Haut Brion, with a Graves Appellation, scored 17 Dionysian points on their scale of 20. It was ruby-brick, decanted half an hour before drinking, and it continued to open for another full hour. At 38 years old, this lesser vintage held up with class. We drank it with my daughter who was born that year; both have matured well.
Leather, Cavendish tobacco and plum notes were lovely. It was smooth and easy to drink; wish I had some more. Sonoma’s Dionysian Barry Larwence would have loved this one.
The wine was the feature item of dinner, so a simple meal was paired with it. Cheese steaks. Even though new vintages of La Mission cost hundreds of dollars, it was just $19 back in 1981 when I got it. Easily worth $550 today. This time, the meal was used to highlight the wine. In vino veritas.
Veggie fries, broccoli and cauliflower with the onion-cheese steak married with the complex old Bordeaux flavors. Age some wine. Bordeaux is already three years old when you get it. It’s best between 10 and 25 years old.
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