Celebrating birthday with bordeaux this year

Had a birthday dinner last night and opened up two special bottles to mark the occasion.
Started with the 1990 Château Léoville Las Cases alongside côte de boeuf with grilled vegetables and roasted potatoes. The wine was in exceptional condition, showing all the hallmarks of a beautifully aged Bordeaux. The nose was complex with red plums, dark cherries, and cinnamon spice, layered with classic tertiary notes of earthy mushroom, cedar, graphite, forest floor, and a touch of tobacco and leather. At 35 years old, this wine has evolved gracefully and paired perfectly with the beef. It’s drinking in its prime right now and showing exactly why Las Cases has such a stellar reputation.
Finished the evening with 2001 Château d’Yquem. This was absolutely stunning with vibrant notes of ginger, pineapple, red apple, and tropical fruits balanced with luscious honey and waxy texture. As it opened up in the glass, marmalade and apricot notes emerged along with that distinctive botrytis character and delicate honeysuckle aromatics. The 2001 vintage is showing beautifully, still youthful but with incredible complexity. They say Yquem is eternal, and tasting this bottle, it’s easy to believe it will live forever. What a pairing these two vintages made, both from exceptional years in Bordeaux.

I would’ve been surprised if these two bottles didn’t deliver, but I wasn’t expecting that.