Château de Ricaud Haut-Louipac 1929

Tasting note: Château de Ricaud Haut-Loupiaс 1929

(Loupiac, Bordeaux, France)

Appearance

Deep mahogany colour with amber reflections and a slight lightening of the rim. The colour betrays the age, but the clear brilliance indicates careful ageing. Slight sediment formation, typical of a wine almost 100 years old.

Nose

A fascinatingly complex bouquet that bears the decades with dignity:

• Tertiary aromas: overripe dates, boiled figs, honeycomb and candied orange peel.

• Oxidative nuances: Noble sherry notes, roasted almonds, old leather and a hint of tobacco.

• Traces of botrytis: A subtle mushroom spice (noble mould) and a hint of saffron, reminiscent of its origins in damp autumn days.

Palate

A time traveller with surprising freshness:

• Sweetness & fruit: The former sweetness has changed to a molasses-like depth - honey cake, sultanas and a hint of balsamic vinegar.

• Acidity & structure: The acidity is restrained, but still present enough to lend balance to the dense texture. The alcohol (probably originally 13-14%) is fully integrated.

• Texture: Silky and slightly oily, with a mineral undercurrent (chalk?) that hints at its Rheingau origins.

Finish

Long-lasting and meditative, dominated by notes of roasted walnuts, caramel and an earthy spiciness (truffle?). The final bitterness is reminiscent of dark chocolate - an elegant finish.

Overall rating

A historic jewel that epitomises the elegance of the Loupiac terroir and the magic of the 1929 vintage. Although 1929 is considered an outstanding year for sweet wines in Bordeaux, this wine is a rarity today. It surprises with its lively complexity, but also shows the limits of longevity: the acidity slowly disappears and oxidative development dominates.

Drinking window: At the peak of its maturity - a wine for contemplative moments, not for powerful fruit.
Recommendation: Decant carefully (sediment!), serve at 10-12°C with goose liver terrine, Roquefort or on its own as a reflective wine.

Note: The quality depends heavily on the storage history. If the provenance is intact, a rare window into the wine world of the pre-war period. 🍷🕰️

Loupiac, often overshadowed by Sauternes, proves here that even "small" appellations can produce wines of the century. A drink for historians and romantics alike.