1950 Château Latour à Pomerol

A bottle with level well down into the shoulder and provenance uncertain. Did some kind person give me this bottle from my birth year? Did I buy it from Reid Wines or from Bill Baker 's personal cellar? Shocking that I don't know but there's a sticker on the back saying it came from Aulden Cellars via Sotheby's. I opened this no more than 10 minutes before serving with roast duck, Jersey Royals and tiny broad beans. The cork broke but came out in two neat, black cylinders. I didn't dare decant it so stoppered up the bottle with a fresh cork and kept re-stoppering each time it was poured. What a treat! Dark ruby with a yellow rim and lots of sediment at the bottom of the bottle. A wine from another age that tastes almost more like old-fashioned (Rhôneish) red burgundy than like a bordeaux. So sweet. And mushroomy, Rich and rewarding and not at all sickly. Rich and so persistent! Fresh finish. A real pleasure. Just the right side of being too old and evolved. A hint of caramel but the candied-violet sensation that goes on and on is terrific. Such a pleasure to enjoy this on my birthday. And the dregs, tasted far too many days later, held up surprisingly well. (JR)