Château Grand Puy Lacoste Pauillac 1855 5ième Cru 1947

The colour is almost identical to the 1981, even though 34 years older. Tawny, laced with saline oyster shell notes from the start. Smoked duck, faded rose petals, with the most lovely lilting acidities raising berry fruits against lace tannins. Raymond Dupin was owner at the time, having bought it in 1939, and was just returned from being held as a prisoner of war during WW2 (he fought in WW1 also, so must have had stories to tell around his Pauillac supper table). Things were tough in 1947, with supplies scarce, and yet Dupin made a wine that still has a force of character, and a sense of energy. It’s one of those bottles where you feel that as it has gone on for this long, you’d be hard pressed to bet against it going longer.