On Sep 17, 3:43*pm, "Bill S." > wrote:
> Notes from a very memorable tasting dinner of 1961 Bordeaux, arranged
> by the redoubtable Albert Givton. Albert tends to collect wines on
> release and keep them in a very cool cellar (10 C, or 50 F.), which
> means that they age imperceptibly, and wines from his cellar are very
> likely to be in fine shape when 90% of the rest of the bottles in
> existence, cellared at significantly higher temperatures, are dead
> ducks..

> Pape Clement (Graves)– as we moved to the left bank things immediately
> picked up in terms of colour. Sweet fruit and tobacco in the nose,
> sweet entry, some savory notes on palate also finishing sweet, but
> marred, for me, by a definite note of charred wood at the end. C’est
> dommage!

I still have one bottle of 61 Pape Clement. It was holding well a few
years ago and decent. However I did not consider it a top 61.

> Malescot St. Exupery (Margaux) – earth, a hint of wood and sweet fruit
> in the nose, with nice hints of spice, good length, well structured
> and classy.

I still have a bottle of this, and it was very good a few years ago,
and likely still is. It perhaps lacks the complexity and class of the
top 61s.

> Leoville Barton (St. Julien) – Lively wine with excellent fruit in the
> nose, plumy and sweet, that carried through on palate. Delicious wine
> with good length.

I still have one bottle.It was very good a few years ago and likely
still is. It was very well balanced and had plenty of mixed fruit.

> Gruaud Larose (St. Julien) - we had a St. Julien winner with this
> one. *Delightful mature nose with sweet fruit *and cinnamon hints,
> well structured and long.

And then there are the 61 first growths, most of which are still in
top form if stored properly. However Ch. Latour stands out and is
likely the top red Bordeaux of the 1961 vintage, although some might
argue in favor of the 61 Petrus.

I had several bottles of this at one time and still have one. I have
not tasted it for several years, but I am glad to hear that it is
still in top form if well stored. Quite a few critics have liked this
wine.

> Pontet Canet (Pauillac) – another classy wine with plenty of stuffing,
> some nice cocoa in the nose and good length.

I tasted this about 15 years ago, and it was fairly classic and
intense then.