Older Chinon can be a treat, but most people drink it young. For some wines it's a shame... Santiago and I were treated to an 89 Baudry "domaine" wine a few years ago that had miles in front of it, and was awfully good.
When Henri Lambert retired and the business was taken over by son Pascal, in the old tradition he left a stock of wines to supplement things for a few years. I bought this 86 in the early 90s as from Pascal at the domain and have stored it properly since. The fill was still very high and the long cork perfect. We decanted but did not leave to breath. Everyone knows its bad to let wine breath. :)
Somewhat brickish color but still deep. Very distinct nose of red fruit, hay, mushroom. Perfectly silky mouth feel, and very typical cabernet franc but with completely resolved tannins, deep fruits, grass, tobacco. A nice acid balance that made it very refreshing in that good Loire way. No sign of brett. (Domaine Lambert has been afflicted with some runaway brett problems in recent years, certainly not the only ones in Chinon!) Not immensely long, but a very pleasurable drink.
-E