US ·
The mighty 1982 marks, to some meaningful extent, the end of an era. André Tchelistcheff’s 1938-1971 tenure evokes Beaulieu’s ‘Golden Era’ but the following decade, under the direction of Tom Selfridge, produced as many standouts as any Tschelistcheff decade excepting the glorious 1950s produced here.
The 1982, opened several times at Café Vivant over the past months, leads with aromas of espresso and dark chocolate before sweet dark cherries deepen complexity. The palate is layered and clear, with fruit and savory flavors sharply defined in a way not quite matched by surrounding vintages. A big wine, yes, but so too an instance in which precision keeps easy pace with ambition (size, structure).
Cheers,
Jason
