Chateau Leoville Poyferre 1982

WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Just beautiful, and much better than the previous bottle. Fully mature and in the sweet spot, the wine is soft, elegant, nuanced, and complete. Showing great secondary characteristics, with freshness and layers of ripe, mature dark, red fruits, this is in the zone. Well-stored bottles can age for at least another 10-15 or more years."

WINEADVOCATE: "There is no question that Leoville Poyferre was not making wines at the level of quality they have since 1990. That said, the 1982 is a great wine, no doubt because of the vintage rather than the winemaking at that time. A brilliant effort, it boasts a dense purple color as well as a sweet, flowery bouquet revealing plenty of creme de cassis, plum, and cherry notes, stunning concentration, a boatload of power, sweet tannins (the sweetest and easiest to taste among the St.-Juliens), and a long finish. Although close to full maturity, it has at least 20-25 years of life remaining. Release price: ($130.00/case)"

ROBINSON: "Restrained on the nose, then becoming more exotic. Ripeness and freshness embrace. Utterly smooth and still going strong. Surprisingly dense but also has charm and elegance. Wonderful. (JH)"

ANTONIO GALLONI: "Bright medium ruby. Refined, floral aromas of black- and redcurrant, minerals and graphite; at once very ripe and subdued. Juicy, precise and penetrating; not hugely fleshy but stylish and elegant. Finishes with lovely grip and clarity. Nicely understated for the vintage."

WINESPECTATOR: "A gorgeous wine, and still holding back. A beautiful, perfumed red, with cherry, floral aromas. Full-bodied, very velvety, with a lot of fruit and a lovely structure. Will improve.--1982 Bordeaux horizontal. Drink now through 2010. — JS"