My parents are clearing out their house, and this was tucked in a closet for the last couple decades – being the biggest wine fan in the family, they sent me home with it. Cork was plenty wet and came out with a nice tug of the Durand, decanted for sediment (there was a lot).
Only thing I could detect on the nose for the first 10 minutes was iron, then came some vanilla, maple syrup, and eucalyptus.
On the palate, there's just a tiny bit of fruit left, more cherry than any of the darker fruits. Tannins still present, chewy especially in the cheeks, and medium acid.
As I understand it, this was a "grocery store wine" for the times, so I'm thoroughly impressed by its longevity. 87-88 points.
Next up I'll see if the 1980 Chardonnay from the same producer has survived.
by kasuddarth