1 dozen bottles per lot
Details
1989 AND 1990 BORDEAUX
Some say it is the exclamation point at the end of an outstanding decade. Others call it the older brother of a formidable duo. Others still describe it as the rock in the center of a triumvirate of great vintages. No matter who you ask, though, 1989 is an exceptional vintage.
1989 started early, with growth in May a full three weeks ahead of schedule, and it didn't stop there. Indeed, the summer of 1989 was drier, hotter and sunnier than any of the previous three decades with one notable exception - 1961. This led to an early harvest of ripe fruit with a bonus to those that waited for the tannins to catch up, creating wines of unprecedented balance.
The 1990 vintage was similarly very hot with a dash of rain in September and produced large crop levels displaying uniform strong quality from top to bottom, left to right. Judging by published commentary on the vintage, '90 seems to have confused people as it performed well from a young age without ever entering a "dumb phase" as many great wines do, leading many to suspect it as vintage for short-term ageing. The 1990 wines drink as well, if not better, than their more expensive counterparts presently.
Standouts of these two vintages offered in this collection include Lafite, Haut-Brion, and La Mission Haut Brion. Here you have the opportunity to acquire the best wines from two of the best vintages in recent history.
Château Haut-Brion--Vintage 1989
Pessac-Léognan, 1er cru classé
Levels: 1.5cm or better
In original wooden case
"Much more primary than the '85, the '89 Haut Brion showed floral notes and smoky blackberry fruit character. On the palate the wine was rich and velvety: approachable and drinking well, yet firm and tannic. Delicious." CC, September 2008.
1 dozen bottles per lot
Some say it is the exclamation point at the end of an outstanding decade. Others call it the older brother of a formidable duo. Others still describe it as the rock in the center of a triumvirate of great vintages. No matter who you ask, though, 1989 is an exceptional vintage.
1989 started early, with growth in May a full three weeks ahead of schedule, and it didn't stop there. Indeed, the summer of 1989 was drier, hotter and sunnier than any of the previous three decades with one notable exception - 1961. This led to an early harvest of ripe fruit with a bonus to those that waited for the tannins to catch up, creating wines of unprecedented balance.
The 1990 vintage was similarly very hot with a dash of rain in September and produced large crop levels displaying uniform strong quality from top to bottom, left to right. Judging by published commentary on the vintage, '90 seems to have confused people as it performed well from a young age without ever entering a "dumb phase" as many great wines do, leading many to suspect it as vintage for short-term ageing. The 1990 wines drink as well, if not better, than their more expensive counterparts presently.
Standouts of these two vintages offered in this collection include Lafite, Haut-Brion, and La Mission Haut Brion. Here you have the opportunity to acquire the best wines from two of the best vintages in recent history.
Château Haut-Brion--Vintage 1989
Pessac-Léognan, 1er cru classé
Levels: 1.5cm or better
In original wooden case
"Much more primary than the '85, the '89 Haut Brion showed floral notes and smoky blackberry fruit character. On the palate the wine was rich and velvety: approachable and drinking well, yet firm and tannic. Delicious." CC, September 2008.
1 dozen bottles per lot