1981 Grange is a very good wine and will be in full stride at age 40. Wine Searcher suggests it is available within your price threshold
brodie
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Thanks. I tracked that down too - living in Pittsburgh makes a W-S Pro account something of a necessity.
1981 Pegau has been extraordinary the couple of times I’ve had it, even more than the terrific Beaucastel.
Schweeeet… wife’s birth year and have both of these on deck for July!
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Beaucastel—another vote for that one n
'81 Yquem is very good.
Funny that most , not all, writers forget about Chateauneuf-du-Pape … even negoc. bottles can be fine, not only Beaucastel, Pegau , Rayas … many can be found for 100-200 … ![[dance-clap.gif]](/uploads/db3686/original/2X/8/835ce082e2fa9c96c4b7f96406bf6e9a0db882ff.gif "[dance-clap.gif]"){kind=small}
Rioja is 2nd choice ![[wink.gif]](/uploads/db3686/original/2X/0/04707e6a7bbb03e0153e349d8a9270d30e1e9525.gif "wink"){kind=small}
+1 ![[winner.gif]](/uploads/db3686/original/2X/0/07ec25c9fd71159fe15d7f1ba5fad64e91238d0e.gif "winner"){kind=small}
The '81 Bosconia GR is still probably the best “post-1964” vintage RLdH wine that I’ve tasted. I’d go for that one without hesitation. That being said, the '81 Tondonia Blanco GR is underrated, and (in my opinion) not far behind the Bosconia in quality. Both of those will continue to be in their aging sweet spot for at least another 20 years (and will probably easily outlive me).
Michael
Gruaud Larose was particularly good in '81, though I haven’t had one since the 90s.
1981 Lopez de Heredia Bosconia Gran Reserva. Get as much as you can, when you can.
It’s the best Pégaü ever made I venture!
Overall 1981 in Châteauneuf is at least the equal of 1978 in my opinion, yet for whatever reason much less talked about.
Perhaps because '81 wasn’t such a great vintage elsewhere, while '78 was very strong in many regions.
81 Beaucastel was fabulous several years ago. LdH was also good. Another good one I didn’t see mentioned was Grange.
I had an '81 Clos des Mouches a few weeks ago that was outstanding.
What color and from whom? (Pedantically I might also ask in which commune, as there is also a Clos des Mouches in Meursault)… I’m assuming Drouhin and red, but correct me if I’m wrong!
Still tasty!
1981 La Conseillante is a particular favorite, though.
yessir Drouhin, Beaune, and red.
But you’re right I should have specified. In my mind there is just one bottling of Clos des Mouches. But I’m sure if I ever tried the white it would change my mind on that!
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