With the fill at shoulder level, not much was expected. However, the 1937 Chateau Haut-Brion scored 19 points on the Dionysian 20-point scale.
The only Premier First Growth from Pessac in Graves, had a fading red-brick color with golden brown edges. I assume it had between 12% to 13% alcohol although the additional label says “table Wine” and 12% . The top half of the cork crumbled and we replaced the remaining part upside down. The wine was soft after decanting. It had tobacco, leather and dried rose petal with lingering hints of cedar. Amazing.
It was served with a simple French cheese course after dinner so nothing major could interfere with the experience. I shared one of these some years ago with a Dionysian friend who was born in 1937. God bless him… and the winemaker. I got the wine from Morrell’s in Manhattan, New York about 35 years ago.
Today’s 2010 Chateau Haut-Brion cost nearly $1,000 but I believe I paid about forty bucks for this one. It wasn’t the oldest wine I’ve had, but it held up and provided a unique and quality experience. It was great even without the cheese. In vino veritas.
Everyone should cellar some wines for future drinking. The sediment filled the filtering screen. 78 years old now and may have peaked at least a decade ago.
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