The Seven Best Wines in the last 75 years?
I am lucky enough to have drunk just one of these. Has anyone reading this had any of them? If so, let me know. Maybe I’ll list my own Top Five.
1945 Mouton Rothschild
From a superb, albeit tannic vintage, this 1945 took a long time to come round but at 60 years old, it was wowing those lucky enough to taste it. With perfect scores from both of the Wine Advocate’s Bordeaux critics, this is a true legend of a Pauillac.
1947 Cheval Blanc
One of the great wines, from one of the greatest ever Bordeaux vintages Called “the wine of the 20th century” by Parker as recently as 2007, it’s perhaps the benchmark against which all others can be measured.
1955 Biondi Santi Brunello di Montalcino
The only Italian wine on the list (Controversial?) This Tuscan property invented Brunello di Montalcino. The 1955 is widely considered the best ever and one of the finest from any time in the last century. Interestingly, they still have a few bottles in the cellar.
1961 Paul Jaboulet, Hermitage La Chapelle
The legend that is Jaboulet’s Hermitage La Chapelle. The finest Syrah ever made? Almost certainly, though the 1978 and 1990 push it hard.
1961 Petrus
Arguably the most famous fine wine label in the world, the tiny Pomerol estate of Petrus. Described by Parker as “one of the most sumptuous, hedonistic bottles of wine anybody could ever consume”, this Petrus is confirmed as an absolute superstar. I once had lunch there with the owner and had a bottle of Latour ’61. (Just saying!)
1962 Domaine de la Romanee-Conti, La Tache
The byword for luxury. The DRC monopole of La Tache sits among some of the most famous and coveted vines in the world; Romanee-Conti, Richebourg and Romanee St. Vivant; and is always in huge demand
1982 Latour
Some say this is the single best wine from the most famous Bordeaux vintage in history. Awash with perfect scores from the critics and one of the few to get a perfect 100 points from both the Wine Advocate’s Bordeaux critics; Robert Parker and Neal Martin. I tasted it in 1984 when still in barrels! (Still just saying, not gloating….)