Monday Magdelaine

1981 Magdelaine
Pristine appearing bottle with a fill into the neck (sourced at WineBid last year)… Beautiful, expressive and intensely herbal bouquet with cranberry fruit, poblano pepper, and firm ferric notes. Tangy, bright palate with an excellent attack with a light yet present finish that is all graphite and black tea. Definitely a leaner, lighter and brighter signature here, but plenty of interest and presence. Tasty and true. Love the graphite notes especially.

vintage?
Sounds great in any case

Vintage added (the risks of cutting and pasting text from CT). Didn’t mean to make it a guessing game, but maybe the descriptors gave some idea.

1981 makes a lot of sense- description in same territory as a '81 L'Evangile last week. I had thought 1981 fading a bit 10-15 years ago, but have had several quite fresh ones in last couple years. Bordeaux can last!

My first really convincing 81 was a Pichon Lalande, but I chalked that up to the chateau, who could do no wrong in that era (I wonder how their 84 was?).

Then at your place nearly 8 years ago, there was a terrific bottle of the 81 l’Evangile that I believe John brought. At any rate, I recall him telling us about how 1981 was on track to be the vintage of the century until bad weather in the Fall ruined the harvest, but that’s some right bank estates got their fruit in before the weather when completely south. I’ve keep an eye out for 81 Right Banks since.