1978 Siran
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Tasting notes
The 1978 Siran is a wine that I have encountered two or three times in recent years. It is very typical of the vintage on the nose: austere and lacking fruit intensity, certainly the 1988 bestowed with more fruit. There is something here that reminds me of a dusty attic full of old tea boxes. The palate is medium-bodied with dry tannin. There is a sense of cohesion but it feels a little hollow and green towards the finish. I recollect this being better out of double magnum as you would expect, otherwise regular 750ml bottles ought to be consumed sooner rather than later. Tasted at the vertical retrospective at Château Siran.
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Neal Martin
Neal Martin
More reviews and scores
The 1978 Siran was poured from a magnificent double magnum, although to be honest, size did not seem to make too much difference since my note was very similar to the bottle tasted two years earlier: the bouquet rather musty with potent earthy, tobacco scents, a touch of pine later but the fruit ebbing over the horizons. The palate is medium-bodied with lightly spiced red fruit laced with Christmas cake and cloves, though it seems to attenuate towards the finish. As I remarked before, it is still drinkable but constitutes a survivor rather than a Margaux that has evolved. Tasted at the Académie du Vin dinner.
Tasted at the vertical at the château, the 1978 Château Siran did not quite possess the same clarity as the 1961. The nose is a little musty and earthy at first, quite strong cedar and leather scents dominating, rather denuding this of Margaux-like typicité. The palate is medium-bodied with dusty red berry fruit, a touch of spiciness on the front palate, though very foursquare and lacking some fruit towards the finish. It has lasted well over the course of 30-odd years, however unlike the 1961, this is a "survivor" rather than a Margaux that is full of vim and vigor. Drink up. Tasted February 2016.
About the producer
In the south of Margaux, this property has 36 hectares of vines. There’s an unusually large proportion of Petit Verdot (13%) in the vineyard, something which the team feels adds finesse, concentration and a spicy finish to the wine.