WTN: 1959 Ch. Tristan

Hosting a party for Betsy next week, but on her actual birthday we just had dinner at Harper’s on Main. We shared mushroom toast with egg, chicory/little gem salad, duck breast with turnips and sweet potatoes, bavette with bearnaise sauce. I had dropped off bottle of 1959 Ch.Tristan (Pomerol) earlier. I had low expectations for this 3rd tier- who am I fooling, nth tier- Pomerol. Decanted and served,it actually was a decent aged claret. Redder fruit (raspberry and cherry), a little cocoa, herbs. Alive but with a little ashtray beginning to show. Moderate acids, no tannin noticeable, modest length. A B- overall, but I was happy with it as a celebratory wine.


Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent wine, B a good wine, C drinkable. Anything below C means I wouldn't drink at a party where it was only choice.Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivity, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.

I've never before heard of Château Tristan but it's a name which inspires confidence with this Wagnerian.

Me too Tim.

I had a Tristan but Isoldit?

1959 was a stupendously good year. I have never tasted a bad wine from that vintage. The 1961 vintage overshadowed it, but given the choice I'd opt for a 59. Unfortunately, a lot of the 59s were drunk up while owners waited for their 61s to come on line, so it is hard to find them today. And at this remove, storage conditions and history become a huge consideration.

Dammit, Bill, you took the pun right out of my mouth!