Chateau Prieure Lichine Margaux 1982

Chateau Prieure-Lichine Margaux 1982 is a Fourth Growth (Quatrième Cru Classé) Bordeaux red blend from the celebrated 1982 vintage, bottled at 750ml with an ABV under 13.5%. Both Wine Spectator and Wine Advocate scored this wine 89 points, reflecting the outstanding quality of the 1982 harvest across the Médoc.

Quick Facts: ABV: <13.5%  |  Origin: Margaux, Bordeaux, France  |  Vintage: 1982  |  Classification: Quatrième Cru Classé (1855)  |  Producer: Château Prieuré-Lichine

Production & Heritage

Château Prieuré-Lichine traces its roots to a medieval Benedictine priory in the Margaux appellation. The estate was purchased in 1951 by Alexis Lichine, the legendary wine merchant and author often called the "Pope of Wine," who spent decades improving the vineyards and elevating the property's reputation. The blend is built on a Cabernet Sauvignon base with Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot, and the 1982 was fermented in glass-lined cement vats, with each parcel and variety kept largely separate to preserve individual character. The 1982 vintage was so prolific that Lichine received a rare one-time waiver to produce roughly 90,000 gallons under the Margaux appellation—far exceeding the estate's normal allotment of approximately 55,000 gallons.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with aged tobacco and cassis, layered with coffee bean and grilled meat. Secondary notes of cedar, cardamom, and cigar box develop as the wine breathes, eventually revealing an earthy, balsamic complexity.

Taste: On the palate, crushed berry fruit leads the entry, followed by red cherry at mid-palate interlaced with moderate cedar and warm tobacco. Hints of new oak provide structure without dominating, and the overall impression is of a mature wine with integrated tannins and gentle spice.

Finish: The finish is medium in length with a leathery, slightly smoky character. Balsamic and earthy tones linger as the wine gradually fades, typical of a well-aged Margaux.

How to Drink Prieuré-Lichine 1982

A wine of this age and provenance is best served at cellar temperature (60–65°F) in large-bowled Bordeaux glasses. Decanting for 30 to 60 minutes can help the wine open, though at over four decades old, monitoring it closely in the glass is advisable—extended aeration may cause it to fade. This is not a cocktail wine; it should be enjoyed on its own or alongside food to fully appreciate the vintage's character.

Best For

• Celebrating a milestone anniversary tied to the 1982 birth year
• Gifting a serious Bordeaux collector exploring Fourth Growth estates
• Hosting a comparative tasting of 1982 Margaux wines
• Pairing with a formal dinner featuring roasted lamb or aged cheeses

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Prieuré-Lichine 1982 taste like? It presents mature crushed berry and red cherry fruit wrapped in tobacco, cedar, and leather, with earthy and balsamic notes on the finish. The tannins are well-integrated after decades of bottle aging, giving the wine a soft but structured feel.

How does Prieuré-Lichine 1982 compare to Château d'Issan 1982? Both are Fourth Growth Margaux estates from the same exceptional vintage, but Prieuré-Lichine tends toward a slightly more robust, tobacco-driven profile due to its higher Cabernet Sauvignon proportion. Château d'Issan's 1982 is often described as more delicate and floral, reflecting its higher Merlot content.

Is Prieuré-Lichine 1982 still good for drinking? At over 40 years of age, this wine is fully mature and should be consumed soon rather than cellared further. Proper provenance and storage conditions are critical—bottles stored in temperature-controlled environments will show far better than those with questionable histories.

Where is Prieuré-Lichine made? Château Prieuré-Lichine is located in the commune of Cantenac within the Margaux appellation of the Haut-Médoc, on Bordeaux's Left Bank in southwestern France.

What foods pair well with Prieuré-Lichine 1982? Roasted rack of lamb with herbs complements the wine's cedar and tobacco character. Aged Comté or Gruyère cheeses mirror its earthy depth. Duck confit works well against the wine's soft tannins, while beef tenderloin with a mushroom jus echoes the balsamic and earthy finish. Avoid heavily spiced dishes that could overwhelm the wine's mature subtlety.

What sizes does Prieuré-Lichine 1982 come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle, though magnums (1.5L) and half-bottles (375ml) were also produced for the 1982 vintage, as was common practice for classified Bordeaux of that era.

Is Prieuré-Lichine 1982 worth the price? As a Fourth Growth Margaux from the legendary 1982 Bordeaux vintage, this wine positions in the mid-tier of collectible Left Bank Bordeaux—more accessible than First or Second Growths yet carrying the prestige of an iconic year. Value depends heavily on storage provenance, as condition dramatically affects the drinking experience at this age.

Why Prieuré-Lichine 1982?

The 1982 Bordeaux vintage is widely regarded as one of the defining harvests of the twentieth century, and Prieuré-Lichine captured that quality with a wine that earned 89 points from both Wine Spectator and Wine Advocate. Alexis Lichine's hands-on stewardship and the rare production waiver he secured for this vintage underscore just how extraordinary the growing season was. The decision to ferment each vineyard parcel separately in glass-lined cement vats preserved the individuality of the estate's diverse terroir across the Margaux appellation. For collectors and Bordeaux enthusiasts, this bottle represents an increasingly rare opportunity to taste a mature Fourth Growth from one of the most celebrated vintages in modern wine history.