One of the all-time great classics, the 1981 is fully mature and should be consumed. It's a big, sweet, candied fruit bomb offering notes of smoke, pepper, dried herbs, truffles, leather, cedar, as well as black and red currants. Full-bodied and opulent, it is one of the most delicious, complex, and stunning Beaucastels ever made. Anyone who has magnums of this wine has the equivalent of liquid gold.

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A giant of a wine. Decant a few hours before serving if you want to drink it now. Deep in color, with super-ripe game, chocolate and tobacco aromas. Full-bodied, with a thick, massive fruit structure and tons of tannins. Has a gigantic finish

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Although a little thin, this wine still performs well even after 30 years, especially after opening up. I disagree with some reviewers, however, in that I don't think it has a lot of life still ahead of it. The color (medium garnet) is lighter and less intense than you see in newer vintages, but with little rim variation. Opens with that classic Beaucastel earthy/barnyard nose, with hints of iodine/menthol, blackberry, mushroom, caramel, leather and tobacco, although the earthy and iodine hints dissapate as the wine opens up. Tannins are pretty much gone and the fruit is not real forward with Blackberry, Black currant (cassis), Cherry, Cinnamon, Raisin/Dried Fruit. Light/Medium bodied. Mouth feel is soft, little (smooth) tannin, silky texture. Short finish.