We celebrated my dad's 75th birthday (albeit belatedly) on the Sunday before Christmas. He actually turned 75 on November 2, but we did not have a chance to get together for a "Birthday Meal" until the 18th.After a delicious dinner, we turned to a nice selection of cheeses and a wonderful bottle of wine. I managed to secure 6 bottles of 1986 Chateau Leoville Las Cases late last year and this was an opportunity to finally taste this classic Claret. It was originally scored 98/100 by Parker (shortly after release) but within a couple of years he had revised his score to 100/100 and if what we tasted that evening was any indicator, not a moment too soon.
This was really one of the greatest red wines that I have tasted in many years.
The great thing about classic Bordeaux, such as this Leoville Las Cases, is the pinpoint clarity, amazing structure, intense but elegant fruit, amazing integration of tannins and other acids and the overall feeling of pure, unadulterated luxury that they leave in one's mouth and brain.
Is it worth the $800.00 or $1,000.00 that it would likely take to secure in today's market? That is certainly a question I cannot answer for anyone else. My dad is worth it and 75th birthdays don't come along every day so, in a nutshell, for this occasion, it was definitely worth it. To be able to share such a magnificent work of art with my Mom and Dad, with my wife and kids and to have created a memory of immense proportions made this pretty good value. In today's world, a fine evening out for 6 people (without a wine of this fantastic quality) would surely have cost as much.
A few days later, my 20 year old daughter shared with me that fact that she "really liked that red wine we had at Grampa's birthday dinner" Yeah..... sure...... maybe once she is finished school and earning her own salary, she will be able to enjoy a few more just like it. I hope she remembers to invite her old man to share in them, though!
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