1985 Domaine Mugneret-Gibourg Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru

Palish amber-red. Aromas of fig, clove and pungent minerals suggest a wine that's in decline. But then surprisingly sweet and alive in the middle palate, with strong acidity giving the wine a penetrating character. The tannins clash with the acidity on the finish; this bottle was past its best. I subsequently opened the last bottle of this wine from my own cellar in August and it had a fuller red color and still possessed strong minerality and red fruits, but an imperfect cork dried the tannins. I would not be at all surprised if better bottles of this wine are still out there. (the bottle had a very low fill but the cork appeared to be sound; Marie-Christine gave birth to daughter Lucy on October 7)