WTN: My Favorite French Wines

Since I was lucky enough to be in the retail business back in the early 1970's, I had the opportunity to pick up so many of the first and second growth French Bordeaux's.
Two of them still stick out in my mind, even some 30 years later.

1934 Mouton Rothschild Tasted circa 1979
I was a little concerned that I might need to decanter this wine before tasting. Generally I am not a big fan of decantering, except when there is a lot of sediment or with
some old vintage Ports. When I opened this one, I was really surprised that the cork was still moist and it looked almost new. I poured just a little and I was taken back by
both the vibrant rich purple red color and the rich amazing aroma/bouquet.
The first taste was like velvet. It was so soft and round, yet it still had a hint of some very matured tannins, along with all the beautiful things you expect from a French Bordeaux.
The finish to this wine was just a perfect as the first sip.

1961 Lafite Rothschild Tasted circa 1984
I had been waiting for a long time to taste one of the possible "Vintage of the Century" I wasn't disappointed. It poured a deep deep red and brilliantly clear. The wine almost
just melted into the glass with legs that almost never disappeared. Once my nose was inside the glass, I felt as though all the efforts of an expert wine maker, taking those great valid
grapes blending them into perfection was right there for me to enjoy! The wine covered every part of my tongue and every part was so pleased.
The finish was almost bigger than the start. I only wished I would have saved more of this wine.

Welcome to the forum Ron.We hope to see a lot of you around here. I can only guess at the pleasure you got from your experience with those two great wines. Most people will never have that kind of opportunity,

Bob, thank you for the welcome..

I do feel so fortunate about all the great wines I was able to taste back in 1970 and 1980's. The prices of the great French and German wines were just a fraction of what they
are today. When I purchased my case of Lafite Rothschild 1961 I paid $28/bottle. Last time I saw that wine in an auction, it was asking about $1750.00

...When I purchased my case of Lafite Rothschild 1961 I paid $28/bottle. Last time I saw that wine in an auction, it was asking about $1750.00

I purchased a case of the '75 upon release in '78 for <$30/bottle - still have 3 left.

Mouton and Lafite from fine vintages bid fair to be my favourite wines from anywhere, not just favourite French wines. In the early 60s, I owned a couple of bottles of Mouton 34 (the best of a bad bunch of Bordeaux vintages in the 30s). I remember being very impressed though it didn't blow me away in the manner of Chambertin Cuvée Héritiers Latour 47 drunk at about the same time.

BTW, if I remember rightly, I paid £2.25 (then about $6.30) for these bottles. Same for three Ch. Latour 45, the last of which opened in the 80s was one of my greatest wines experiences.