Patriarche Père et Fils — Beaune Patriarche 1953

Opened for my father's 70th birthday, the 1953 Beaune from Patriarche Père et Fils was one of four wines from that vintage I pulled from the cellar for the occasion. Of the four, a Volnay from Mommessin and the Cassevert (second wine of Château Grand Mayne) were no longer drinkable, but this Beaune from the well-known Burgundian négociant was surprisingly good. Especially with respect to colour and on the palate, it still showed remarkably well for a wine of nearly seventy years of age. That said, the greatest surprise of the evening turned out to be a simple Bordeaux Supérieur from an unknown négociant, which was still really enjoyable.