1966 Clos des Lambrays
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Tasting notes
The 1966 Clos des Lambrays Grand Cru continues to drink very well, and this bottle from my cellar in fact performed even better than when I last tasted this vintage at the domaine. Unfurling in the glass with a striking bouquet of red berries, peonies, Egyptian musk, dried fruits, rich soil tones and cinnamon, the wine is full-bodied, melting and incisive, with a deep core, bright acids and a long, exquisitely perfumed finish. If such a thing as the elusive concept of "transparency" in wine exists, then this wine exemplifies it.
Critic scores
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Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
William Kelley, Wine Advocate
More reviews and scores
Healthy, moderately saturated medium red. Ineffable, slightly high-toned perfume of red berry liqueur, blood orange, quinine and cinders, plus a touch of mushroom. Silky, round and utterly seamless yet still with noteworthy energy to its flavors of red fruits, spices, orange zest and salty minerality. A captivating touch of sweetness carries through the very long finish, where the tannins provide structural support but are virtually invisible. Over a half-century old and totally delicious. I should note that the estate recorked this wine this past July, topping it up with wine from the same vintage and adding a bit of SO2. If this wine is past its peak, it hardly lacks for acidity and should provide pleasure for a while. (11.7% alcohol; 3.54 pH; 4.0 g/l acidity; made from a so-so growing season that benefited from mild Indian summer conditions)
About the producer
Domaine des Lambrays is one of Morey-Saint-Denis’s most famous estates, its history closely tied to the Grand Cru from which it takes its name – Clos des Lambrays.