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Anson: How the 1985 Bordeaux first growths taste now

Jane Anson reports on a rare tasting of 1985-vintage wines from Châteaux Lafite Rothschild, Mouton Rothschild, Margaux, Latour and Haut-Brion, created during a decade of renewal for Bordeaux.

On September 1 1985, Frank J Prial wrote a column in the New York Times entitled ‘Wine; the Baron’s Story’.

In it, he talks about Milady Vine, the autobiography of Baron Philippe de Rothschild at Mouton that was published the year before (easily my favourite book about Bordeaux by the way), and recounts a story about Baron Philippe being stopped for speeding in California and being asked for his driving licence.

‘Don’t have one,’ he told the astonished policeman (recounts Prial). ‘Never did. You see, I am Philippe de Rothschild.’


Scroll down to see Jane Anson’s tasting notes and scores for the 1985 Bordeaux first growths



See Jane Anson’s tasting notes and scores for the 1985 Bordeaux first growths, plus Yquem 1989.


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