Chateau Cissac Haut Medoc, 1970

The 40 year-old Chateauneuf worked just fine for me last night so I decided to push back even deeper for a 55-year-old Bordeaux. This 1970 Cissac is no longer the full bodied youngster we drank during the 1980s, but it is still a decent drink and a good accompaniment for birthday leftovers.

Not much ullage and an intact cork. Bouquet a bit muted, some cigar box. Tertiary flavors as well but great balance and smooth mouth feel. Cherry-like acidity, currant-like fruit.

I bought several bottles of this ($10) at Gold Standard Liquors on Rush Street in Chicago in the early 1980s. It was already mature enough to drink at the time with tannin and acidity to suggest long-term aging.