Jancis Robinson (18.5)

Magnum. Dropped the l’ on the label. 50% Cabernet Franc, 50% Merlot. Aromatic, quite rich and a little raisiny. Sweet and fluid. Pretty. Long and rather floral and perfumed. Dense.

Vinous - Neal Martin (98)

The 1989 Climens has an even more complex bouquet than the 1990 and perhaps the best bottle that I have encountered. Yellow plum, saffron, quince and a touch of Manuka honey soars on the nose. The palate is medium-bodied with a tangy, eucalyptus-tinged entry, very harmonious and long. Surfeit with energy, this is a fabulous Climens that deserves a place in your cellar or preferably on your dining table. Tasted at the Climens vertical at the château in April 2022.

Immerse yourself in the refined pleasure of the Croque Michotte 1989, an elegant embodiment of Saint-Émilion craftsmanship at its finest. This distinguished Bordeaux wine boasts impeccable pedigree, originating in a Grand Cru estate in the heart of Libourne, France. The Croque Michotte vineyards have been producing unique, traditionally-made wines since 1906, under the careful guardianship of the Carle family.

The 1989 vintage masterfully blends Merlot, Cabernet Franc and a whisper of Cabernet Sauvignon, and was aged in French oak barrels for 24 months. The maturation process grants it a distinctive depth, harmonising its dark berry fruit notes with undercurrents of spices and soft tannins. Its appeal extends beyond the taste, presenting a rich ruby hue that truly rounds off the sensory experience.

Poised between old-world charm and modern viticulture, the Croque Michotte 1989 offers a taste journey illuminating the exceptional calibre of French winemaking.

Wine Spectator (92)

Delivers lots of tanned leather and spices, with very ripe fruit, from dried strawberry to raisin, turning to jam. Full-bodied, offering a very fresh palate of exotic fruit, currant and raisin as well as silky and polished tannins. So long and beautiful. Why wait? But it has a long life ahead. There is a lot of bottle variation in this wine due to TCA issues, but this is a beauty.¿'89/'99 Bordeaux blind retrospective (2009). Drink now. -JS

Vinous (100)

The 1989 Haut-Brion commenced one of the most spectacular dinners that I ever attended, this representing one of the best bottles of a dozen tasted over the years. Deep in color with thin bricking on the rim, the haunting bouquet has heart-rending delineation – as profound as it has ever been. Scents of black olives intermingle with graphite, clove and cherry liqueur, underneath subtle gravel scents becoming more vocal with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied and maybe not as powerful as it was a few years ago. Yet it is ineffably complex with layers of pure dark berry fruit, black olive, cloves and crushed violets. This particular example was one of the most youthful that I have encountered. The finish is so effortless and yet it changes constantly in the glass, revealing new facets, some attendees noticing a touch of greenness after 30 minutes although I could not detect that myself. It is an awe-inspiring Haut-Brion that is only just beginning to demonstrate the ethereal heights it can achieve. Tasted at the International Business & Wine First Growth Dinner at the Four Seasons.

Vinous (100)

The 1989 Haut-Brion commenced one of the most spectacular dinners that I ever attended, this representing one of the best bottles of a dozen tasted over the years. Deep in color with thin bricking on the rim, the haunting bouquet has heart-rending delineation – as profound as it has ever been. Scents of black olives intermingle with graphite, clove and cherry liqueur, underneath subtle gravel scents becoming more vocal with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied and maybe not as powerful as it was a few years ago. Yet it is ineffably complex with layers of pure dark berry fruit, black olive, cloves and crushed violets. This particular example was one of the most youthful that I have encountered. The finish is so effortless and yet it changes constantly in the glass, revealing new facets, some attendees noticing a touch of greenness after 30 minutes although I could not detect that myself. It is an awe-inspiring Haut-Brion that is only just beginning to demonstrate the ethereal heights it can achieve. Tasted at the International Business & Wine First Growth Dinner at the Four Seasons.

Vinous (100)

The 1989 Haut-Brion commenced one of the most spectacular dinners that I ever attended, this representing one of the best bottles of a dozen tasted over the years. Deep in color with thin bricking on the rim, the haunting bouquet has heart-rending delineation – as profound as it has ever been. Scents of black olives intermingle with graphite, clove and cherry liqueur, underneath subtle gravel scents becoming more vocal with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied and maybe not as powerful as it was a few years ago. Yet it is ineffably complex with layers of pure dark berry fruit, black olive, cloves and crushed violets. This particular example was one of the most youthful that I have encountered. The finish is so effortless and yet it changes constantly in the glass, revealing new facets, some attendees noticing a touch of greenness after 30 minutes although I could not detect that myself. It is an awe-inspiring Haut-Brion that is only just beginning to demonstrate the ethereal heights it can achieve. Tasted at the International Business & Wine First Growth Dinner at the Four Seasons.

Wine Advocate (93)

The 1989 Château L'Eglise-Clinet continues to shine at 27 years of age and this was certainly a better example than several that I have tasted in the last two or three years. It has a very complex nose, this bottle one of the most backward that I have encountered: red berry fruit, black truffle, crushed violets and sage aromas, a hint of warm tar emerging with time. The palate is extremely well balanced, still quite youthful and structured—a Pomerol that you have to learn to love (although trust me, it is worth the effort). This example suggests that it still has many years ahead, such is its substance and length. This was always a brilliant wine from Denis Durantou, a Pomerol that wears its heart on its sleeve. Long may it shine. Tasted January 2016.

Wine Spectator (98)

Shows the ultraripe, exotic notes characteristic of the vintage, with roasted plum, tobacco and spicy flavors. It's beginning to evolve, but needs until 2000 to really come together.--Latour vertical.

Wine Spectator (98)

Shows the ultraripe, exotic notes characteristic of the vintage, with roasted plum, tobacco and spicy flavors. It's beginning to evolve, but needs until 2000 to really come together.--Latour vertical.

Wine Spectator (95)

Tannic monster. Full-bodied, with masses of superripe fruit and mouthpuckering tannins. Port lovers like me love this stuff. Age it for decades to come.--1989 Bordeaux horizontal. Best after 2006. -JS

A restrained, elegant style of Bordeaux for those who enjoy older claret to be a bit leaner and more austere. Definitely a food wine and one which has finally arrived in its drinking window after a long journey through dormancy.

Wine Spectator (96)

Very ripe, with raisin and dried fruits on the nose. You can smell the sun-dried grapes. Full-bodied, delivering firm tannins and a very fresh palate. Long and flavorful, offering currant, berries and all sorts of dark fruits, but turns lightly earthy and floral. This is a thoroughly complex wine. Just starting to really open into the mature 20-year-old wine it is, but such a great life ahead of it. Muscular.¿'89/'99 Bordeaux blind retrospective (2009). Drink now. -JS

The Wine Independent (100)

The 1989 Montrose, from a very warm, dry year, is made from 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, and 10% Cabernet Franc. Deep garnet-brick in color (holding its color amazingly!) it sky-rockets from the glass with flamboyant notes of black cherry compote, blueberry pie, and blackcurrant jelly, followed by notes of star anise, peonies, crushed rocks, and tar, plus exotic hints of cardamom and cumin seed. The medium to full-bodied palate is rich, opulent, and well structured, delivering firm, grainy tannins and just enough freshness to support the generous, wonderfully pure fruit, finishing long and earthy. This is textbook Montrose.

Wine Advocate (96)

Tasted at the Château Palmer vertical in London, the 1989 Château Palmer has always been my favourite vintage from that decade after the 1983. The first bottle was unfortunately corked. The second was as it should be: the nose tensile with red berries, sous-bois, potpourri and strawberry pastille - lively and energetic. The palate is medium-bodied and vibrant right from the start, silky in texture with plenty of citrus fruit, gently building to a harmonious and detailed finish that lingers in the mouth. This is a magnificent Château Palmer that continues to effortlessly dish out so much vinous pleasure. Tasted May 2015.

Vinous - Neal Martin (100)

The 1989 Petrus is consistent with previous bottles in the sense that it represents the apotheosis of not only the vineyard, but of Pomerol itself. It still provides that almost surreal cornucopia of aromas, red fruit melted with tar, tobacco, hints of camphor and ash, all delivered with astonishing precision. The palate is perfectly balanced, intense yet paradoxically weightless. This example is one of the finest I have encountered in terms of clarity and precision. Ethereal. If you want to taste a genuine 100-point wine then step this way. Magnificent! Tasted at the Petrus dinner at Hide restaurant in London and at Epure restaurant in Hong Kong.

Over three decades old, the 'Sigognac 1989' is a transcendent Bas-Armagnac brandy, synonymous with excellence. Produced by the venerable house of Chateau de Bordeneuve, this Armagnac tells the tale of meticulous crafting in the venerated terroirs of Gers in South West France. Potently soaked with deep flavours, this brandy reveals a confidential, yet prodigious subtlety in its bouquet, whilst its latently smoky tone choreographs a gentle dance with the vanilla undertones of its oak barrel maturation.

A symphony of dried fruit, followed with a second act marked by a rich and warming texture marks the remarkable character of 'Sigognac 1989'. Staying true to traditional distillation methods, it is derived via an alembic armagnacais still, accentuating its inimitable richness. This unique spirit is a testimony to meticulous craftsmanship and heritage, a worthy addition for the collectors' horizon, promising a saga of indulgence in every sip.

Experience the grandeur of a classic Bordeaux with the iconic Soutard 1989. This exquisite vintage is produced by Château Soutard, esteemed for crafting structured and harmonious wines since 1513 in the heart of Saint-Émilion, France. Soutard 1989 is no exception, exuding complexity and finesse that ages superbly. Fermented through the union of traditional and modern methods, and aged in high-end oak barrels, the wine imparts luscious dark fruit flavours, nuanced with earthy notes and a round, velvety finish. Character akin to the deep gravel and clay soils it sprouts from.

Only expert hands plucked the Merlot and Cabernet Franc grapes, a testament to Soutard's commitment to quality. Secured in a strikingly elegant bottle, this wine is a perfect representation of a terroir-driven Bordeaux. Invite the sensation of Soutard 1989 to your table, a wine promising nothing short of an unforgettable experience.

Experience the grandeur of a classic Bordeaux with the iconic Soutard 1989. This exquisite vintage is produced by Château Soutard, esteemed for crafting structured and harmonious wines since 1513 in the heart of Saint-Émilion, France. Soutard 1989 is no exception, exuding complexity and finesse that ages superbly. Fermented through the union of traditional and modern methods, and aged in high-end oak barrels, the wine imparts luscious dark fruit flavours, nuanced with earthy notes and a round, velvety finish. Character akin to the deep gravel and clay soils it sprouts from.

Only expert hands plucked the Merlot and Cabernet Franc grapes, a testament to Soutard's commitment to quality. Secured in a strikingly elegant bottle, this wine is a perfect representation of a terroir-driven Bordeaux. Invite the sensation of Soutard 1989 to your table, a wine promising nothing short of an unforgettable experience.