Nils Gustaf Lindgren wrote:
> Hello;
> Well, title says it, really. We had two 1975 in July (Cos d´Estournel and
> Leoville Poyferre), of which the latter drank fairly well but the first was
> closed, with little zip and at that age without much hope of opening up. I
> followed the discussion concerning Lafite, were the 1975 figured
> prominently, and got the distinct impression that 1975 was not a terrific
> vintage.

Nils,
'75 was rather a notorious vintage. I recall that it was hailed
early on as a great vintage, but even then it was clear that the
forbidding tannins and high acidity were going to be problematic in many
wines. Over time, many people have given up on the fruit ever
outlasting the tannins and periodic tastings have revealed many lean,
mean wines. HOWEVER, the best '75s have proved to be worth the wait and
many are drinking well now. The question, as always, is separating the
wheat from the chaff. Recently touted '75s have been:

Cos, Haut-Marbuzet, Lynch-Bages, Pichon-Lalande, Ducru,
Léoville-Barton and Las Cases, Talbot, Haut-Brion, La Mission,
Canon, Troplong-Mondot

As always, provenance is all. Bottles that have been cellared in a cool
cellar may be less open than ones coming from a slightly warmer one.
I've noticed that quite a few '75s are finding their way to auction,
possibly because their owners have either run out of patience or life

Mark Lipton