{"product_id":"1985-chateau-balestard-la-tonnelle","title":"Chateau Balestard La Tonnelle Saint-Emilion 1985 AOC 0,75l","description":"\u003cp\u003eFew wine labels carry a poem. Balestard La Tonnelle's does: a verse attributed to François Villon in the fifteenth century which praises the wine of Balestard by name, making this one of the earliest recorded vineyard names in Saint-Émilion. The tonnelle itself is the squat stone tower still standing among the vines.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe estate has belonged to the Capdemourlin family for generations and sits on the limestone plateau north-east of the town. The wines are Merlot-led with Cabernet Franc, and the reputation is for weight and structure rather than finesse — sturdy, dark-fruited Saint-Émilion that has traditionally rewarded keeping.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e1985 is one of the more charming Bordeaux vintages of the decade. A bitter January was followed by a warm, dry, settled summer and autumn, giving ripe and approachable wines on both banks. Forty years on those wines are fully mature, and this is a bottle you open for the date on it, with tannins long since resolved into something soft and earthy.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eProducer:\u003c\/strong\u003e Château Balestard La Tonnelle\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eVintage:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1985\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAppellation:\u003c\/strong\u003e Saint-Émilion AOC\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFormat:\u003c\/strong\u003e 75cl\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRegion:\u003c\/strong\u003e Bordeaux, France\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eStyle:\u003c\/strong\u003e Red\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhere it is likely to be now.\u003c\/strong\u003e Balestard has always been among the sturdier Saint-Émilions and 1985 was a ripe year, so a well-kept bottle should still be holding — mature, earthy and soft rather than fruity.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWho it suits.\u003c\/strong\u003e Good for a forty-first birthday for someone who reads; the Villon verse on the label gives the bottle a story that lands without any wine knowledge at all.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition.\u003c\/strong\u003e No detailed condition grading came with this bottle, so we inspect and photograph it ourselves — label, capsule and fill level — and confirm the report to you before the bottle ships.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProvenance.\u003c\/strong\u003e Bought to order from a professional European merchant. We check fill, label and capsule when the bottle reaches us and photograph it before it ships.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDelivered in 7 to 10 working days, tracked. Transit cover can be added at checkout.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eSold as a collectible item, as seen. No guarantee is given on drinkability.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c!--anno-tpl-3--\u003e","brand":"Château Balestard La Tonnelle","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":58378595729752,"sku":"ANNO-002244","price":179.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1009\/6505\/6856\/files\/Chateau-Balestard-La-Tonnelle-Saint-Emilion-1985-AOC-075l.jpg?v=1790690399","url":"https:\/\/anno.wine\/products\/1985-chateau-balestard-la-tonnelle","provider":"ANNO","version":"1.0","type":"link"}