Still a spectacular wine, the 1961 defies mortality. It has been at its peak for nearly 15 years, yet it shows no signs of losing its fruit and drying out. The color is a dark garnet with orange/amber at the edge. The great Bordeaux unmatched for complexity. Sweet notes of dried fruits, herbs, tobacco, smoke, and roasted meats are followed by an opulently-texture, thick, nearly viscous wine with high glycerin, ripe, jammy fruit, and an intoxicating combination of glycerin, extract, and suppleness. The wine holds in the glass without cracking up, and has a good 40-45 second finish. There is no telling how much longer this 1961 will retain its magic, but it is still a classic. Antcipated maturity: now-2010.
Robert Parker
95