12 bottles per lot
Details
Château Haut-Brion--Vintage 1989
Pessac (Graves), 1er cru classé
In original wooden cases
Tasting Note: "A wonderful wine. Deep, rich and spicy, sweet, fleshy, well endowed (November 1990). The following spring, alongside La Mission, superb. Not tasted for another nine years, less deep of course, fairly well developed; a singed, toasted, ripe nose and flavour: 'roasted coffee beans'. A touch raw and earthy (in a blind tasting of '89s in 1998). 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 mellow; warm, rich, slightly earthy nose amd taste. Bouquet 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. Last tasted at the Eigensatzs' Hotel Eden-Parcc in Bad Schwalbach, Nov 2001 ***(**) 2010-2025. M.B.
Haut-Brion has been the most consistent first-growth over the last decade, producing top-notch wines, even in such tough years as 1987, 1993, and 1994. The 1989 is one of a handful of truly profound wines from a vintage that tends to be overrated, save for the Pomerols, a few St.-Emilions, and some overachievers in the Medoc. However, 1989 was an extraordinary success for Jean Delmas, the administrator of Haut-Brion and La Mission-Haut-Brion. The prodigious 1989 Haut-Brion is one of the greatest first-growths I have ever tasted. It has always reminded me of what the 1959 must have tasted like in its youth, but it is even richer and more compelling aromatically. The wine exhibits an opaque ruby/purple color, as well as a sweet nose of jammy fruit, tobacco, spicy oak, minerals, and smoke. Fabulously concentrated, with huge levels of fruit, extract, and glycerin, this wine is nearly viscous because of its thickness and richness. Low acidity gives the wine even more appeal and adds to its precociousness. The wine has not budged in development since it was first bottled, although it has always provided thrilling drinking because of its voluptuous texture. It needs another 5-6 years of bottle age before it will begin to develop Haut-Brion's fabulous fragrance. Expect it to hit its plateau of maturity around 2003-2005 and drink well for 15-25 years. Robert Parker, Wine Advocate #109, Feb 1997
12 bottles per lot
Pessac (Graves), 1er cru classé
In original wooden cases
Tasting Note: "A wonderful wine. Deep, rich and spicy, sweet, fleshy, well endowed (November 1990). The following spring, alongside La Mission, superb. Not tasted for another nine years, less deep of course, fairly well developed; a singed, toasted, ripe nose and flavour: 'roasted coffee beans'. A touch raw and earthy (in a blind tasting of '89s in 1998). 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 mellow; warm, rich, slightly earthy nose amd taste. Bouquet 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. Last tasted at the Eigensatzs' Hotel Eden-Parcc in Bad Schwalbach, Nov 2001 ***(**) 2010-2025. M.B.
Haut-Brion has been the most consistent first-growth over the last decade, producing top-notch wines, even in such tough years as 1987, 1993, and 1994. The 1989 is one of a handful of truly profound wines from a vintage that tends to be overrated, save for the Pomerols, a few St.-Emilions, and some overachievers in the Medoc. However, 1989 was an extraordinary success for Jean Delmas, the administrator of Haut-Brion and La Mission-Haut-Brion. The prodigious 1989 Haut-Brion is one of the greatest first-growths I have ever tasted. It has always reminded me of what the 1959 must have tasted like in its youth, but it is even richer and more compelling aromatically. The wine exhibits an opaque ruby/purple color, as well as a sweet nose of jammy fruit, tobacco, spicy oak, minerals, and smoke. Fabulously concentrated, with huge levels of fruit, extract, and glycerin, this wine is nearly viscous because of its thickness and richness. Low acidity gives the wine even more appeal and adds to its precociousness. The wine has not budged in development since it was first bottled, although it has always provided thrilling drinking because of its voluptuous texture. It needs another 5-6 years of bottle age before it will begin to develop Haut-Brion's fabulous fragrance. Expect it to hit its plateau of maturity around 2003-2005 and drink well for 15-25 years. Robert Parker, Wine Advocate #109, Feb 1997
12 bottles per lot
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