1970 Taylor

[winesecretary]

Bottled 1972 by Justerini and Brooks. Fill level above base of neck. Cork came out pretty much in one piece. Disconcerting scent of rubber and prune on nose of decanting sample- is this in fact Chateau de Beaucastel 2004? But no. 30% opaque, garnet juice, fabulous legs. Given an hour or two to breathe, very herbaceous on the mid-palate, thyme and rosemary and sage, still a hint of rubber, very little red fruit character, a bit of mint, before the prunes return on the finish. Mid-length. Very little heat. When the glass is empty it smells still of (very specifically) pruneaux fourees d'agen. An only slightly qualified pleasure to drink but on this showing (and my more recent experiences suggest this wine is becoming more variable) one to drink up over the next five years. Which is fair enough, given that's it's 49 years old.