Above 3 impériales per lot
Details
A 1989 VINTAGE TRIO OF MICHAEL BROADBENT FIVE STARS
VINTAGE 1989 *****
Unquestionably a great vintage and one which brought the decade to a resounding close.
First, The weather conditions. In May, growth was three weeks ahead of normal. Early flowering in excellent conditions, followed by the hottest summer since 1949 and the earliest harvest since 1983. However, though the grapes were fully ripe the tannins were not, though later-picked grapes did have softer tannins, but at the expense of acidity.
When youthful, the wines almost without exception were extraordinarily appealing. I personally thought we were in for another '85 but with extra dimensions; perhaps even an early developer. In fact what seems to have happened is a sort of reversal of roles, the tannin becoming more noticible, turning the '89 into a much longer-haul vintage than I had anticipated. Nevertheless, many superlative wines.
MB, Vintage Wine
Property of a Gentleman
Recently removed by Christie's from a temperature and humidity controlled, private, below ground level, home cellar.
Château Haut Brion--Vintage 1989impériale (1)
"A wonderful wine. Deep, rich and spicy, sweet, fleshy, well endowed. At the '10-year' tasting: ruby colour; soft, fragrant, spicy; '89 sweetness and richness, elegant. A slightly tarry, dry finish. 'Richness' is the word, noted again (Tokyo 1999). Two notes in 2000, with almost identical descriptions: medium-deep, maturing, its colour soft and mello; warm, rich, slightly earthy nose and taste. Boquet opening up beautifully; soft mellow repeated, sweet, full, rich, lovely flavour but with teeth-gripping acidity. Most recently, a double magnum: rich, fruity but with a slightly astringent finish already noted. Nov. 2001." MB, Vintage Wine
Château Mouton Rothschild--Vintage 1989impériale (1)
"Rodenstock produced an impériale, prematurely, in September 1995: very dry. But a couple of months later, bottles with wonderful mouth-filling fruit at a tasting I conducted for Goldman Sachs at Christie's in Frankfurt. No longer opaque, a deep, black cherry colour. Superbly fragrant, minty, peppery fragrance and lovely crisp Cabernet flavour. Most recently, this time in Hamburg at comparative tasting of '89s and '82s, I noted its 'legs', fantastic bouquet and, a touch of iodine, lovely mid-palate fruit, its high Cabernet Sauvignon content (about 76 having provided the exclusive Mouton flavour and character. March 2000." MB, Vintage Wine
Château Pichon-Longueville, Lalande--Vintage 1989impériale (1)
"Most recently, still deep but mature looking; marvellous, rich, ripe fruit on the nose and palate. Fleshy, even plump, soft tannins. Last noted at a vertical for France in Your Glass, at Eugénie-les-Bains, Oct 2000." MB, Vintage Wine
Above 3 impériales per lot
VINTAGE 1989 *****
Unquestionably a great vintage and one which brought the decade to a resounding close.
First, The weather conditions. In May, growth was three weeks ahead of normal. Early flowering in excellent conditions, followed by the hottest summer since 1949 and the earliest harvest since 1983. However, though the grapes were fully ripe the tannins were not, though later-picked grapes did have softer tannins, but at the expense of acidity.
When youthful, the wines almost without exception were extraordinarily appealing. I personally thought we were in for another '85 but with extra dimensions; perhaps even an early developer. In fact what seems to have happened is a sort of reversal of roles, the tannin becoming more noticible, turning the '89 into a much longer-haul vintage than I had anticipated. Nevertheless, many superlative wines.
MB, Vintage Wine
Property of a Gentleman
Recently removed by Christie's from a temperature and humidity controlled, private, below ground level, home cellar.
Château Haut Brion--Vintage 1989impériale (1)
"A wonderful wine. Deep, rich and spicy, sweet, fleshy, well endowed. At the '10-year' tasting: ruby colour; soft, fragrant, spicy; '89 sweetness and richness, elegant. A slightly tarry, dry finish. 'Richness' is the word, noted again (Tokyo 1999). Two notes in 2000, with almost identical descriptions: medium-deep, maturing, its colour soft and mello; warm, rich, slightly earthy nose and taste. Boquet opening up beautifully; soft mellow repeated, sweet, full, rich, lovely flavour but with teeth-gripping acidity. Most recently, a double magnum: rich, fruity but with a slightly astringent finish already noted. Nov. 2001." MB, Vintage Wine
Château Mouton Rothschild--Vintage 1989impériale (1)
"Rodenstock produced an impériale, prematurely, in September 1995: very dry. But a couple of months later, bottles with wonderful mouth-filling fruit at a tasting I conducted for Goldman Sachs at Christie's in Frankfurt. No longer opaque, a deep, black cherry colour. Superbly fragrant, minty, peppery fragrance and lovely crisp Cabernet flavour. Most recently, this time in Hamburg at comparative tasting of '89s and '82s, I noted its 'legs', fantastic bouquet and, a touch of iodine, lovely mid-palate fruit, its high Cabernet Sauvignon content (about 76 having provided the exclusive Mouton flavour and character. March 2000." MB, Vintage Wine
Château Pichon-Longueville, Lalande--Vintage 1989impériale (1)
"Most recently, still deep but mature looking; marvellous, rich, ripe fruit on the nose and palate. Fleshy, even plump, soft tannins. Last noted at a vertical for France in Your Glass, at Eugénie-les-Bains, Oct 2000." MB, Vintage Wine
Above 3 impériales per lot
Provenance
Acquired by the current owner upon initial commercial release