Palish light-medium red. A strong element of freshly cut white mushroom complicates but does not overwhelm the very fresh, energetic aromas of blueberry, blackberry and spices. A juicy, spicy midweight with lovely floral/spicy lift to its intense dark fruit, mocha and earth flavors. Wonderfully expressive, balanced wine with a subtle, slowly mounting finish featuring perfectly integrated tannins and piquant notes of licorice and spices. Thierry Brouin made this wine with about one-third whole clusters (for the first time), which he says gave it greater silkiness of texture and sweeter tannins, not to mention accents of pepper and eucalyptus. This beautifully balanced, refined 1985 displays the suavity of the vintage’s best examples as well as remarkable fruit retention. (13.3% alcohol; 3.51 pH; 4.0 g/l acidity)Vinous Media | 94 VM I had tasted this several times over the years with unpressive results as most recent bottles seeming a bit tired and/or advanced and meriting 88 points or so. However the most recent bottle was opened at the domaine itself and it was a completely different experience with its expressive and complex nose of sous-bois, truffle, forest floor and earth. There is still plenty of energy to the lightly mineral-inflected middle weight flavors that retain good power and punch on the beautifully complex and lingering finish where a touch of austerity arises. This isn’t a great Lambrays but it certainly an enjoyable one, provided of course that you can find an impeccably stored example.Burghound | 92 BHAustere orange-tawny colour with a light rim. The nose is very surprising, austere and mineral at first and a little bit muddled but it rapidly cleans up. A little bit dry and tarry and though I am enjoying this bottle it is not delivering all that a grand cru should. The wine did fill out to some extent without really gaining nobility. Drunk over dinner in Shanghai Tasted: October 2019.Jasper Morris | 90 JM
