1989 Margaux, Margaux

“The texture stands out straight away - smooth and light but direct with a thrilling vibrancy still to the flavours and acidity in this wine. Sour cherry, salted caramel, a touch of balsamic strawberry, still with remarkable concentration. Fresh, bright and linear with a graphite and wet stone touch at the end putting you back in the Médoc on gravel terroir. 5% Cabernet Franc completes the blend. (GH)” (06/2022)

“This is about as alluring as it gets aromatically, with singed alder, juniper, bay and charcoal notes out front, hinting at power but turning beguiling as they flow into the core of steeped red currant, dried currant and black tea. The charcoal note makes an encore, with a lovely twinge of old-school character holding the finish. Always a great debate vis-à-vis the '90, but the slightly darker profile here gives this wine a lovely bit of extra drama. *Ranked #3 Wine Spectator Top 100 of 1992* (JM)” (11/2014)

“The 1989 Château Margaux showed beautifully, with a ripe, open, sexy style in its red and black fruits, saddle leather, savory herbs, and spicy, incense-like nuances. Playing in the medium to full-bodied end of the spectrum, it has a nicely balanced, elegant mouthfeel, resolved tannins, and a great finish. It's clearly in the heart of its prime drink window and should have a graceful evolution over the coming decades, with a gradual decline thereafter.” (08/2024)

“Medium to deep brick colored, the 1989 Chateau Margaux is a little sluggish and broody to begin, reluctantly releasing notes of cigar box, charcoal, dried herbs, and damp soil, before revealing a core of dried cherries, leather, and prunes. The medium-bodied palate has lightly chewy tannins and a refreshing backbone supporting the savory flavors, finishing provocatively chalky. (LPB)” (11/2024)

“A wine from a remarkable vintage, at the time the earliest harvest since 1893. This has a mature appearance, a little tawny at the rim. Ah, but what a delightful nose! Deep, minerally, meaty, iron filings, stylish and in possession of depth, and yet light and lifted at the same time. Evolved and very seductive, fine and displaying great balance on the palate. Very complete, still showing a firm tannic backbone but with a lovely composition of mature fruit and acidity. A touch creamy, really very fine, but also upright and rather aloof. This is divine, and yet has so much to offer still. 19+/20 points” (11/2006)

“Bright garnet and some development at the rim. Herbaceous sweetness and undergrowth and pepper. Then more meaty. Finishes dry but not drying though there is definitely less flesh in the middle. By contrast it is fresh and persistent. Later: sweetly herbal and more coffee. 17/20 points (JH)” (06/2010)