The 1985 vintage produced brilliant wines from a growing season of extremes. Winter was very cold which caused some damage from frost, but the flowering was even, early and consistent. The ripening period through summer was quite hot but the harvest took place under ideal conditions and both the left and right banks excelled. This is a vintage that combined quantity with quality, and the wines range from ripe and opulent to elegant and refined. Generally, the wines are balanced, age-worthy, and expressive of their individual terroirs.