Red Bordeaux
345 items in Red Bordeaux
1986 Latour (750ml) |
$495.00
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| Robert Parker 90 | |||||
| Tasted from my cellar, the 1986 has consistently been outstanding, falling short of being sublime. The spicy, peppery bouquet reveals aromas of dried herbs and red currant fruit. Medium-bodied, austere, but youthful, vigorous, and concentrated, this wine still requires 4-5 years of cellaring. It is surpassed in this vintage (which favored the northern Medoc and Cabernet Sauvignon) by its rivals, Lafite-Rothschild and Mouton-Rothschild. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2020. | |||||
| Wine Spectator 96 | |||||
| "Seems to be gaining in strength and depth. Incredibly rich, with meat, plum, cassis and tobacco flavors, harmonious, clean and long. Beginning to be approachable." | |||||
1986 Margaux (750ml-12pk OWC) |
$9,500.00
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| Robert Parker 96 | |||||
| "The 1986 Margaux continues to be the most powerful, tannic, and muscular Margaux made in decades. One wonders if the 1928 or 1945 had as much power and depth as the 1986? The wine is mammoth, with extraordinary extract, superb balance, and a frightingly tannic finish. A Margaux of immense stature, it is made in a masculine, full-bodied style that is in complete contrast with the 1990. It should prove nearly immortal in terms of ageability." | |||||
| Wine Spectator 98 | |||||
| "An absolute classic; incredibly concentrated, complex, elegant and firm without a hint of hardness. Layers of blackberry, cassis, plum, cedar, vanilla and spice, yet there is also a sense of reserve, indicating this has plenty of room to grow. Hold until 1995 to 2000." | |||||
1986 Margaux (750ml) |
$695.00
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| Robert Parker 96 | |||||
| "The 1986 Margaux continues to be the most powerful, tannic, and muscular Margaux made in decades. One wonders if the 1928 or 1945 had as much power and depth as the 1986? The wine is mammoth, with extraordinary extract, superb balance, and a frightingly tannic finish. A Margaux of immense stature, it is made in a masculine, full-bodied style that is in complete contrast with the 1990. It should prove nearly immortal in terms of ageability." | |||||
| Wine Spectator 98 | |||||
| "An absolute classic; incredibly concentrated, complex, elegant and firm without a hint of hardness. Layers of blackberry, cassis, plum, cedar, vanilla and spice, yet there is also a sense of reserve, indicating this has plenty of room to grow. Hold until 1995 to 2000." | |||||
1986 Margaux (750ml) |
$750.00
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| Robert Parker 96 | |||||
| "The 1986 Margaux continues to be the most powerful, tannic, and muscular Margaux made in decades. One wonders if the 1928 or 1945 had as much power and depth as the 1986? The wine is mammoth, with extraordinary extract, superb balance, and a frightingly tannic finish. A Margaux of immense stature, it is made in a masculine, full-bodied style that is in complete contrast with the 1990. It should prove nearly immortal in terms of ageability." | |||||
| Wine Spectator 98 | |||||
| "An absolute classic; incredibly concentrated, complex, elegant and firm without a hint of hardness. Layers of blackberry, cassis, plum, cedar, vanilla and spice, yet there is also a sense of reserve, indicating this has plenty of room to grow. Hold until 1995 to 2000." | |||||
1986 Mouton (750ml) |
$895.00
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| Robert Parker 100 | |||||
| "In 1986 Mouton Rothschild produced the most profound wine of a great northern Medoc vintage. The opaque black/ruby color is sensational, and may be even denser than that of the 1982. The bouquet of minerals, celestial blackcurrants, smoky new oak, and oriental spices seems to explode upward from the glass. On the palate, the wine has incredible concentration, full body, fabulous length, and is..well..perfect. this is an exemplary effort! A compelling wine! An enormously concentrated, massive Mouton-Rothschild, comparable in quality to the 1982, 1959 and 1945." From Oct 2002 tasting: "The 1986 Mouton Rothschild is one of the greatest Moutons ever made. At this tasting it revealed even more opulence than previously." | |||||
| Steve Tanzer's International Wine Cellar 95+ | |||||
| "Good medium ruby. Currant, currant leaf, cedar and dusty oak on the nose. Tightly wound and classic, with fabulous acids contributing to its powerful spine. Wonderfully pure and intense, with great verve and grip. But still quite locked up, and hiding its density. Finishes firmly tannic and extremely long. I remember mistaking the '86 Mouton for such international stars as Sassicaia in the early '90s, when it showed greater sweetness, but this wine has been quite shut down for the past several years. The '86 and the '82 appear clearly to be the two greatest vintages for Mouton since the 1959. Drink 2012 through 2040." | |||||
| Neil Martin, Wine Journal, eRobert Parker 97 | |||||
| Tasted at the Claret Club Mouton-Rothschild dinner. This is one of the finest bottles of Mouton-Rothschild of the decade. Stunning definition on the nose with a touch of mint and graphite, the palate imbued with an almost sorbet-like freshness and vitality. Wonderful symmetry and very classic and masculine towards the finish. Incredible persistency and yet still a long way to go. Tasted November 2010. | |||||
| Steve Tanzer's International Wine Cellar 98+ | |||||
| "Very deep, saturated ruby with only a hint of garnet at the rim. Ripe red and black fruits, mint, vanilla, minerals and delicate black pepper on the captivating nose. Very rich, big and deep, with a luscious texture and ripe flavors similar to the aromas. Finishes smoothly tannic and very long, with building sweetness. This gorgeous Mouton, though massively built, also reflects the long hang time of the berries, which led to a perfect polymerization of its tannins and a fleshy structure. Still very much an infant: I wouldn't touch a bottle for at least another ten years. I also like the fact that, although it's very sweet and creamy, strong acidity (note the lower-than-usual pH) is keeping it vibrant. This vintage is the first in which Mouton vinified its young vines separately and only used those vats judged to be of grand cru quality. Following a slowdown in physiological ripening during August, the late harvest (October 2-16) permitted a longer growing curve. Tourbier noted that "petit verdot needs its head in the sun and its feet in the water, and as it had been initially planted on one of the highest, coolest sites at Mouton, a mistake on our part, it rarely ripened enough to be included in the grand vin, and this explains why we hardly used it in the older vintages." Ian D'Agata | |||||
1988 Duhart-Milon-Rothschild (750ml)
List Price:
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$94.00
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| Robert Parker 88 | |||||
| The 1988 Duhart-Milon exhibits a bouquet of ripe fruit, spices, cedar, and herbs. The wine is rich, full-bodied, admirably concentrated and long, with plenty of tannin. Anticipated maturity: 1995-2010. | |||||
1988 Latour (750ml) |
$525.00
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| Wine Spectator 96 | |||||
| So minty, with loads of subtle ripe fruit and eucalyptus undertones. Full-bodied, with ultrafine tannins and a long, long finish. Caresses every inch of the palate. It's the quality of the tannins that's impressive here. What a great and beautiful wine. Should improve for many years to come. '88/'98 Bordeaux blind retrospective (2008). | |||||
| Robert Parker 91 | |||||
| The best showing yet for a wine from this under-rated vintage, the dark garnet-colored 1988 Latour reveals slight amber at the edge. A bouquet of melted tar, plums, black currants, cedar, and underbrush is followed by a sweet entry, with medium to full body, excellent ripeness, and mature tannin. It is a classic, elegant Latour with more meaty, vegetable-like flavors than are found in a riper year, such as 1989 and 1990. The 1988 has just begun to enter its plateau of maturity, where it should remain for 25 years. Anticipated maturity: now-2025 | |||||
1988 Leoville-Barton (750ml) |
$118.00
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| Robert Parker 88 | |||||
| Along with many of its Medoc neighbors, the 1988 is a hard, tough, severe style of wine that will last 15-20 years. It exhibits some of the herbaceousness resulting from Cabernet that was picked too early, but otherwise it is well-proportioned, with medium body and fine depth. Will the fruit stand up to the tannins? The finish reveals copious amounts of rich, deep, curranty fruit. This wine may merit a higher rating in 4-5 years, especially if it turns out to resemble the 1966. Anticipated maturity: 1996-2012. Last tasted, 6/93. | |||||
1988 Mouton (750ml) |
$475.00
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| Wine Spectator 100 | |||||
| A magnificent wine that's ripe, powerful, seductive and amazingly deep. Massively concentrated and bursting with currant, plum, berry, cedar, chocolate and all sorts of exotic spice flavors, yet it keeps its balance, never going to excess. Lingers on the finish for minutes. A classic. | |||||
| Robert Parker 89 | |||||
| The 1988 has an aroma of exotic spices, minerals, blackcurrants, and oak. In the mouth, it is a much firmer, tougher, more obviously tannic wine than the 1989. It is a beautifully made 1988 that will last 20-30 years, but the astringency of the tannins is slightly troubling. Patience will be a necessity for purchasers of this wine. Anticipated maturity: 2000-2030. Last tasted, | |||||
| Neil Martin, Wine Journal, eRobert Parker 89 | |||||
| Tasted at La Fete de la Fleur, the Mouton-Rothschild ?88 as an austere bouquet, dusty black fruits, bilberry, tobacco and cigar box. The palate is medium-bodied and paradigmatic of the vintage, masculine, austere and tarry. The tannins are a little coarser than I would prefer and there is a dustiness that I find distracting. I worry that this may be drying out? Tasted June 2009. | |||||
1988 Mouton (750ml) |
$475.00
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| Wine Spectator 100 | |||||
| A magnificent wine that's ripe, powerful, seductive and amazingly deep. Massively concentrated and bursting with currant, plum, berry, cedar, chocolate and all sorts of exotic spice flavors, yet it keeps its balance, never going to excess. Lingers on the finish for minutes. A classic. | |||||
| Robert Parker 89 | |||||
| The 1988 has an aroma of exotic spices, minerals, blackcurrants, and oak. In the mouth, it is a much firmer, tougher, more obviously tannic wine than the 1989. It is a beautifully made 1988 that will last 20-30 years, but the astringency of the tannins is slightly troubling. Patience will be a necessity for purchasers of this wine. Anticipated maturity: 2000-2030. Last tasted, | |||||
| Neil Martin, Wine Journal, eRobert Parker 89 | |||||
| Tasted at La Fete de la Fleur, the Mouton-Rothschild ?88 as an austere bouquet, dusty black fruits, bilberry, tobacco and cigar box. The palate is medium-bodied and paradigmatic of the vintage, masculine, austere and tarry. The tannins are a little coarser than I would prefer and there is a dustiness that I find distracting. I worry that this may be drying out? Tasted June 2009. | |||||
1988 Pichon-Baron (750ml) |
$120.00
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| Robert Parker 90 | |||||
| The 1988 Pichon..promises to be one of the half dozen superstars of this vintage. ..it is deep in color, rich, softly tannic, and medium to full bodied. | |||||
| Wine Spectator 95 | |||||
| A muscular, fleshy, full-throttle Bordeaux, packed with plum, currant and anise flavors. | |||||
1989 Cheval Blanc (750ml)
List Price:
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$395.00
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| Wine Spectator 95 | |||||
| "Exotic. Fragrant spicy, roasted fruit and coffee aromas give way to very ripe fruit with toasty notes on the palate. It has good depth, and seems to be opening up after a dumb phase." | |||||
| Neil Martin, Wine Journal, eRobert Parker 95 | |||||
| Tasted at Robersons? 1989 Bordeaux horizontal. Despite its age, the nose takes a great deal of coaxing from the glass, but it unfurls to reveal dark broody black fruit, Italian meats, roasted chestnut and a touch of iodine. Very good definition and far more vigorous than the Figeac. The palate is medium-bodied with fine but firm tannins, great balanced and power, savoury with touches of game, white pepper, walnut and sandalwood on the finish that demonstrates great persistency. Superb. Drink now-2025. Tasted June 2010. | |||||
| Steve Tanzer's International Wine Cellar 93 | |||||
| Garnet-tinged red. Leafy aromas of green and red bell pepper, bay leaf and sweeter milk chocolate and superripe plum. Then sweeter and smoother in the mouth than the nose suggests, showing very ripe red cherry, blackberry, milk chocolate and mineral flavors. This boasts a lovely creamy texture and a nice spicy finish, with chewy tannins. A lovely wine, with a sexy personality that grew on me as it opened in the glass, but it's much inferior to the stellar 1990. Make sure you decant this at least a couple hours ahead. A precocious year, 1989 registered only 450 millimeters of rainfall (or half the normal amount) during the growth cycle, with the flowering taking place in the last week of May and veraison during the first week of August. Harvest was from September 7 to 27, the earliest start ever at Cheval Blanc. Dan Agata | |||||
1989 Cheval Blanc (750ml)
List Price:
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$395.00
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| Wine Spectator 95 | |||||
| "Exotic. Fragrant spicy, roasted fruit and coffee aromas give way to very ripe fruit with toasty notes on the palate. It has good depth, and seems to be opening up after a dumb phase." | |||||
| Neil Martin, Wine Journal, eRobert Parker 95 | |||||
| Tasted at Robersons? 1989 Bordeaux horizontal. Despite its age, the nose takes a great deal of coaxing from the glass, but it unfurls to reveal dark broody black fruit, Italian meats, roasted chestnut and a touch of iodine. Very good definition and far more vigorous than the Figeac. The palate is medium-bodied with fine but firm tannins, great balanced and power, savoury with touches of game, white pepper, walnut and sandalwood on the finish that demonstrates great persistency. Superb. Drink now-2025. Tasted June 2010. | |||||
| Steve Tanzer's International Wine Cellar 93 | |||||
| Garnet-tinged red. Leafy aromas of green and red bell pepper, bay leaf and sweeter milk chocolate and superripe plum. Then sweeter and smoother in the mouth than the nose suggests, showing very ripe red cherry, blackberry, milk chocolate and mineral flavors. This boasts a lovely creamy texture and a nice spicy finish, with chewy tannins. A lovely wine, with a sexy personality that grew on me as it opened in the glass, but it's much inferior to the stellar 1990. Make sure you decant this at least a couple hours ahead. A precocious year, 1989 registered only 450 millimeters of rainfall (or half the normal amount) during the growth cycle, with the flowering taking place in the last week of May and veraison during the first week of August. Harvest was from September 7 to 27, the earliest start ever at Cheval Blanc. Dan Agata | |||||
1989 Clerc-Milon (750ml)
List Price:
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$85.00
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| Wine Spectator 96 | |||||
| "Big, young, chewy wine. Good dark-ruby color. Black cherry, green tobacco and mint aromas. Full-bodied and tannic, yet there's lovely mint and cherry character. Still tight and closed. Needs time to show what it's got." | |||||
| Neil Martin, Wine Journal, eRobert Parker 91-93 | |||||
| I thought this would be drinking now but the nose and the palate were still quite backward, probably requiring another year or so to enter the drinking plateau. Quite an earthy nose, smoked black fruits which also come through on the palate. There is not actually much difference to Mouton Rothschild! Surprisingly tannic and muscular - this could last another decade with ease. Very impressive but too early now! Tasted July 2003. | |||||
1989 Ducru-Beaucaillou (750ml)
List Price:
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$153.00
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| Wine Spectator 91 | |||||
| "A rich wine, with plum and earth aromas and flavors, a velvety mouthfeel and an excellent, ripe tannin structure. The '88 may be a tiny bit better. Try after 1997." | |||||
| Robert Parker 89 | |||||
| Ducru's 1989 was one of the more tannic, backward wines in the blind tasting. It is cleanly made, and well-crafted, with plenty of black-raspberry and cassis fruit nicely touched by minerals and a fragrant, floral component. Medium-bodied, elegant, and well-endowed, this is a potentially outstanding wine if all the tannin melts away over the next 5-6 years. One of the least flattering 1989s to drink at present, it requires 4-5 more years of cellaring. Anticipated maturity: 2001-2020. | |||||
| Neil Martin, Wine Journal, eRobert Parker 86 | |||||
1989 Haut-Brion (750ml-12pk OWC)
List Price:
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$27,240.00
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| Robert Parker 100 | |||||
| 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. | |||||
| Wine Spectator 100 | |||||
| This is unbelievable. Greatest Haut-Brion ever made. It's so evocative and multitlayered. Exotic aromas of fruit, leather, tobacco and earth and hints of spices. Full-bodied, with an amazing concentration of fruit and velvety tannins. The finish goes on for minutes.--1989 Bordeaux horizontal. | |||||
| Clive Coates | |||||
| Medium-full colour. Lovely nose. This is ravashing and complex and has very lovely ripe, lush, fragrant fruit. Real class, depth and intensity. Fullish, opulent, very mature tannins. Excellent harmony. Very fine grip. Grand vin! | |||||
| eRobert Parker Hedonist's Gazette 100 | |||||
| The 1989 Haut-Brion is, of course, a modern-day legend, and while it may be the most concentrated Haut-Brion of the last 50 or more years, it is also classic Haut-Brion with its notes of red and black fruits, scorched earth, camphor, and charcoal. Unctuously textured, thick, but at the same time elegant and even surreal, itżs a fabulous wine, and I hope to drink every bottle I have before my time comes to pass. May, 2010 | |||||
| Neil Martin, Wine Journal, eRobert Parker 100 | |||||
| Finally, the immortal Château Haut-Brion 1989. Of course, this is a terrible wine: a hideous, unpalatable First Growth that is an insult to humanity. But being the philanthropic gentleman that I am, I am willing to accept any bottles that you wish to dispose of. I deserve a knighthood for my chivalry! Seriously, it remains one of the few 20th century icons to truly unite every critic, every consumer; a multi-dimensional Graves that you should try once in your life. | |||||
1989 Lafite (750ml-12pk OWC) |
$11,995.00
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| Wine Spectator 95 | |||||
| Enticing, with rich berry, cassis and herb aromas and flavors and well-integrated tannins. | |||||
| Robert Parker 90 | |||||
| As I suspected, the 1989 and 1990 vintages of Lafite-Rothschild have gone dormant. Both wines were among the more closed, backward examples in my blind tasting. The 1989 Lafite is also outstanding, but closed, with the tannin more elevated, and the wine so stubbornly reticent as to make evaluation almost impossible. Lafite's 1989 was far more easy to taste and understand several years ago. It appears to have gone completely to sleep. This medium ruby-colored, medium-bodied wine reveals new oak in the nose, and a spicy finish. It is a quintessentially elegant, restrained, understated style of Lafite. | |||||
| Neil Martin, Wine Journal, eRobert Parker 96 | |||||
| Tasted at the IMW Lafite seminar in London. Without question, the bouquet on the 1989 is much fresher and livelier than the 1990. It offers similar aromas to the bottle broached at the end of 2010 with blackberry, dried herbs, a touch of menthol developing. The palate is medium-bodied with great tension and finesse on the entry. Notes of dusky black fruit, sage, a touch of spice and balsamic. It has a fine backbone and superb focus, the finish very elegant and composed with lovely decayed red fruit and a hint of cloves towards. Superb. A point. Tasted February 2012. | |||||
1989 Lafite (750ml) |
$875.00
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| Wine Spectator 95 | |||||
| Enticing, with rich berry, cassis and herb aromas and flavors and well-integrated tannins. | |||||
| Robert Parker 90 | |||||
| As I suspected, the 1989 and 1990 vintages of Lafite-Rothschild have gone dormant. Both wines were among the more closed, backward examples in my blind tasting. The 1989 Lafite is also outstanding, but closed, with the tannin more elevated, and the wine so stubbornly reticent as to make evaluation almost impossible. Lafite's 1989 was far more easy to taste and understand several years ago. It appears to have gone completely to sleep. This medium ruby-colored, medium-bodied wine reveals new oak in the nose, and a spicy finish. It is a quintessentially elegant, restrained, understated style of Lafite. | |||||
| Neil Martin, Wine Journal, eRobert Parker 96 | |||||
| Tasted at the IMW Lafite seminar in London. Without question, the bouquet on the 1989 is much fresher and livelier than the 1990. It offers similar aromas to the bottle broached at the end of 2010 with blackberry, dried herbs, a touch of menthol developing. The palate is medium-bodied with great tension and finesse on the entry. Notes of dusky black fruit, sage, a touch of spice and balsamic. It has a fine backbone and superb focus, the finish very elegant and composed with lovely decayed red fruit and a hint of cloves towards. Superb. A point. Tasted February 2012. | |||||
1989 Lafite (750ml) |
$875.00
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| Wine Spectator 95 | |||||
| Enticing, with rich berry, cassis and herb aromas and flavors and well-integrated tannins. | |||||
| Robert Parker 90 | |||||
| As I suspected, the 1989 and 1990 vintages of Lafite-Rothschild have gone dormant. Both wines were among the more closed, backward examples in my blind tasting. The 1989 Lafite is also outstanding, but closed, with the tannin more elevated, and the wine so stubbornly reticent as to make evaluation almost impossible. Lafite's 1989 was far more easy to taste and understand several years ago. It appears to have gone completely to sleep. This medium ruby-colored, medium-bodied wine reveals new oak in the nose, and a spicy finish. It is a quintessentially elegant, restrained, understated style of Lafite. | |||||
| Neil Martin, Wine Journal, eRobert Parker 96 | |||||
| Tasted at the IMW Lafite seminar in London. Without question, the bouquet on the 1989 is much fresher and livelier than the 1990. It offers similar aromas to the bottle broached at the end of 2010 with blackberry, dried herbs, a touch of menthol developing. The palate is medium-bodied with great tension and finesse on the entry. Notes of dusky black fruit, sage, a touch of spice and balsamic. It has a fine backbone and superb focus, the finish very elegant and composed with lovely decayed red fruit and a hint of cloves towards. Superb. A point. Tasted February 2012. | |||||
1989 Latour (750ml) |
$495.00
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| Robert Parker 89 | |||||
| An evolved dark ruby color reveals amber at the edge. The nose offers aromas of caramel, coffee, ripe black cherry and currant fruit, cedar, and spice box. Although medium-bodied, with low acidity, the wine lacks richness in the mid-palate, and is surprisingly abrupt in the finish. It is a very fine, delicious Latour, but it is hard to believe it will attain the weight and flavor dimensions its producers suggest. Anticipated maturity: now-2020. | |||||
| Wine Spectator 94 | |||||
| This is so decadent and exciting on the nose, with very ripe fruit, tobacco, meat and cedar. Full-bodied, offering amazing raspberry fruit in the core of the palate. Ultrapolished, velvety tannins wonderfully coat every inch of your palate. This will age for years ahead, but it's so lovely now. Much better than many people think.'89/'99 Bordeaux blind retrospective (2009). | |||||
| Neil Martin, Wine Journal, eRobert Parker 90 | |||||
| Conspicuously mature, even for a 1989 Left Bank with a distinct tawny rim. A rather loose-knit, mature nose with dark chocolate. Capsicum, liquorices and burnt toast. Lacking some lift and vigor (although less prune-scented than previous bottles.) The palate is medium-bodied, very savory as if there is a high percentage of Cabernet Franc. Dried blood. Moderate length, this is just lacking breeding and length and on this showing I would certainly drink this over the next 5-8 years. Tasted December 2006. | |||||
1989 Latour (750ml-12pk OWC) |
$8,750.00
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| Robert Parker 89 | |||||
| An evolved dark ruby color reveals amber at the edge. The nose offers aromas of caramel, coffee, ripe black cherry and currant fruit, cedar, and spice box. Although medium-bodied, with low acidity, the wine lacks richness in the mid-palate, and is surprisingly abrupt in the finish. It is a very fine, delicious Latour, but it is hard to believe it will attain the weight and flavor dimensions its producers suggest. Anticipated maturity: now-2020. | |||||
| Wine Spectator 94 | |||||
| This is so decadent and exciting on the nose, with very ripe fruit, tobacco, meat and cedar. Full-bodied, offering amazing raspberry fruit in the core of the palate. Ultrapolished, velvety tannins wonderfully coat every inch of your palate. This will age for years ahead, but it's so lovely now. Much better than many people think.'89/'99 Bordeaux blind retrospective (2009). | |||||
| Neil Martin, Wine Journal, eRobert Parker 90 | |||||
| Conspicuously mature, even for a 1989 Left Bank with a distinct tawny rim. A rather loose-knit, mature nose with dark chocolate. Capsicum, liquorices and burnt toast. Lacking some lift and vigor (although less prune-scented than previous bottles.) The palate is medium-bodied, very savory as if there is a high percentage of Cabernet Franc. Dried blood. Moderate length, this is just lacking breeding and length and on this showing I would certainly drink this over the next 5-8 years. Tasted December 2006. | |||||
1989 Leoville Las Cases (750ml) |
$195.00
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| Robert Parker 91 | |||||
| The 1989 tasted California-like in its ripe, sweet, black cherry frit, nicely intergrated, toasty new oak, and clean, pure winemaking style..It is built more alolng the lines of the classy, elegant 1985 than the blockbuster 1982 and 1986. | |||||
| Wine Spectator 96 | |||||
| Greatest Leoville Las Cases ever produced. Superb concentration with a great velvety texture and ripe fresh flavors. Coconut and vanilla notes and a burst of fruit at the end; wonderful backbone. 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). | |||||
| Neil Martin, Wine Journal, eRobert Parker 92 | |||||
| Tasted at Robersons? 1989 Bordeaux horizontal. The Leoville Las-Cases ?89 has a more youthful appearance than the Talbot ?89 tasted alongside. The bouquet is attractive, in some ways the younger brother of the ?82, well defined with smoked meat, game and even Indian spices inflecting the broody black fruit. The palate is medium-bodied, well balanced and for Las-Cases, feminine and refined. Fresh red-berried fruit, a dash of pepper and a touch of austerity towards the finish, yet very natural and as elegant as Jean-Hubert himself. Whilst it is not the most complex Las-Cases, it is beginning to drink very well. | |||||
1989 Margaux (750ml) |
$495.00
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| Wine Spectator 99 | |||||
| "A great Bordeaux that needs only time to develop. Seductive, with a superb concentration of vanilla, spice, blackberry and cherry aromas and flavors. Has an iron backbone of tannins, but it still shows class and finesse. Seems to last forever on the palate." | |||||
| Robert Parker 90 | |||||
| Dwarfed by its younger sibling, the 1990, the 1989 Chateau Margaux has a dark plum/garnet color and a big, sweet nose of new saddle leather, toasty oak, and weedy black cherry and cassis fruit. The wine is medium-bodied, with relatively elevated tannins, outstanding concentration and purity, but a somewhat clipped as well as compressed finish. This certainly outstanding wine has put on a bit of weight in its evolution in the bottle, but it is hardly one of the most profound efforts from Chateau Margaux. Anticipated maturity: 2006-2025. Last tasted, 10/02. | |||||
| Neil Martin, Wine Journal, eRobert Parker 92 | |||||
| Tasted at Robersons? 1989 Bordeaux horizontal. The Chateau Margaux ?89 has a rather curmudgeonly nose at first, initially disjointed but melding together with scents of blackberry, hawthorn and clay/wet cement. The palate is medium-bodied with very fine tannins, although this is not a complex Margaux. It has pert acidity and fine minerality, although it does not have the length or depth of Cos d?Estournel ?89 tasted alongside. The finish is a little foursquare and dominated by cedar and tobacco flavours that continue to lend it a Pauillac-like personality. Drink now-2020. Tasted June 2010. | |||||
1989 Margaux (750ml) |
$495.00
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| Wine Spectator 99 | |||||
| "A great Bordeaux that needs only time to develop. Seductive, with a superb concentration of vanilla, spice, blackberry and cherry aromas and flavors. Has an iron backbone of tannins, but it still shows class and finesse. Seems to last forever on the palate." | |||||
| Robert Parker 90 | |||||
| Dwarfed by its younger sibling, the 1990, the 1989 Chateau Margaux has a dark plum/garnet color and a big, sweet nose of new saddle leather, toasty oak, and weedy black cherry and cassis fruit. The wine is medium-bodied, with relatively elevated tannins, outstanding concentration and purity, but a somewhat clipped as well as compressed finish. This certainly outstanding wine has put on a bit of weight in its evolution in the bottle, but it is hardly one of the most profound efforts from Chateau Margaux. Anticipated maturity: 2006-2025. Last tasted, 10/02. | |||||
| Neil Martin, Wine Journal, eRobert Parker 92 | |||||
| Tasted at Robersons? 1989 Bordeaux horizontal. The Chateau Margaux ?89 has a rather curmudgeonly nose at first, initially disjointed but melding together with scents of blackberry, hawthorn and clay/wet cement. The palate is medium-bodied with very fine tannins, although this is not a complex Margaux. It has pert acidity and fine minerality, although it does not have the length or depth of Cos d?Estournel ?89 tasted alongside. The finish is a little foursquare and dominated by cedar and tobacco flavours that continue to lend it a Pauillac-like personality. Drink now-2020. Tasted June 2010. | |||||
1989 Petrus (750ml) |
$3,195.00
|
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| Robert Parker 100 | |||||
| "My experience with young vintages of Petrus, particularly in the eighties, is that the wines often did not live up to their pre-bottling quality. That has not been the case with the 1989 and 1990. Both wines have consistently provided exhilarating tasting on the few times I have been able to take a look at them. I initially thought the 1990 may have been marginally superior to the 1989, but at present it is a dead heat. Both are enormously jammy, rich, super-concentrated wines that signal a return to the great Petrus of the pre-1976 era. The tannin is well-integrated, but the enormous texture, thickness, and impeccable balance are what make these wines so provocative. The 1989 is more backward and tannic, thus coming across as marginally more structured than the opulent and flashy 1990. Both wines are phenomenally rich and well-endowed, with that sweet inner-core of fruit that possesses layers of intensity. The colors are nearly opaque purple, and the noses are similar, with offerings of jammy black fruits, intertwined with scents of tea, overripe cherries, oranges, and an exotic coconut/caramel component. Both are massive and youthful, with the 1990 clearly more precocious, and for now, the most flattering to drink. The 1989 should hit its peak around 2005 and last for 25-30 years." | |||||
| Wine Spectator 100 | |||||
| "An absolute monster of a wine, yet it's agile and refined. This is -the- 1989. Dark inky color. Beautiful aromas of plums, berries, raspberries anda hint of spice. Full-bodied, with luscious wild berry character and mouth-caressing tannins. So concentrated. So perfect. What more is there to say?" | |||||
1990 Cheval Blanc (750ml)
List Price:
|
$1,095.00
|
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| Robert Parker 100 | |||||
| In contrast to the 1989, the 1990 is increasingly sumptuous with each additional tasting. The wine possesses all the hallmarks of a hot, ripe year - low acidity, super-ripe, nearly over-ripe fruit, an opulent, oily texture, great sweetness of fruit, and a long, voluptuously-textured finish. In the most recent tasting, I almost mistook it for Le Pin given its showboat-like nose of coconut, toasty new oak, and gobs of smoky, blackcurranty, and cherry fruit. The wine is full-bodied, rich, and concentrated, with layers of extract, and well-concealed tannin. I am increasingly convinced that this is the most profound Cheval Blanc since the legendary 1982. Because of its fleshy, low-acid character, the wine can be drunk, but it is still youthful, with a deeper purple color than the more mature-looking 1989. It should offer exotic opulence for at least another 15-20 years. A compelling Cheval Blanc! | |||||
| Neil Martin, Wine Journal, eRobert Parker 96 | |||||
| This is undeniably a great Cheval Blanc, though whether it has the class and sophistication of the ?85 is another matter. As anticipated it has a rich, decadent nose with ripe blackberry, dates, mulberry and liquorice. A gregarious bouquet. The palate is full-bodied, showy and perhaps in the company of the ?85, ?vulgar?. But it is still delightful with layers of ripe black fruits, grippy tannins, evolving a savoury touch with its sumptuous Pomerol-like finish. Exotic, fat, in-ya-face?a wine you want to fondle as much as drink. Tasted October 2007. | |||||
| Hachette Guide 96 | |||||
| The 1990 Cheval Blanc, unquestionably one of the great wines of the vintage, appears to have reached a point I would call mature, but still in late adolescence. The wine gained and gained in the glass, revealing a dark plum/ruby color, lots of forest floor, mint, plum, mulberry and black currant fruit, full body and noticeable but silky tannins. This beautiful 1990 eclipses the slightly fading 1982, and is probably the greatest Cheval Blanc for current drinking between 1982 and the young, massive 1998. | |||||
| Steve Tanzer's International Wine Cellar 98 | |||||
| Very complex, deep nose of blackcurrant, red cherry, coffee, tar, tobacco leaf and flowers. Then smooth, rich and dense, with a creamy texture and lively acidity nicely extending the flavors of dark berries, plum, mocha, soy sauce, leather and Oriental spices. A ripely tannic wine with a rich, exotic mouth feel, this comes across as a more opulent style of Cheval Blanc. Finishes extremely long and complex, with a smoky chocolatey nuance and a sweet coconut note. This outstanding and complex wine will have you going back to the glass again and again. A warm and dry year, the 1990 vintage was slightly hotter than 1989 (some cuvées of merlot clocked in at over 14% alcohol), with 11 days over 35°C between July and August. From July to September there was 27% more sunlight than average and it was very dry throughout. It was also a very precocious year, with flowering occurring around May 25, veraison (the color change of the berries) on August 12, and harvest between September 11 and 25. (Incidentally, the chateau does not have records of the final blends of their vintages prior to the early 1990s. Dan Agata | |||||
1990 Cos Labory (750ml)
List Price:
|
$83.00
|
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| Wine Spectator 91 | |||||
| "Slightly overdone but seriously good. Dark ruby color. Impressive aromas of dark chocolate, currants and mint. Full-bodied, with big yet polished tannins and a long, mouthpuckering finish. Very young indeed." | |||||
| Robert Parker 89 | |||||
| "Smart money will go after the 1989 and 1990. The 1990 is nearly black-colored, with a reticent, spicy, licorice, mineral, and cassis-scented nose. In the mouth, there is great extraction, rich, full-bodied, chewy texture, and a splendidly long, moderately tannic finish. Bravo!" | |||||
1990 L`Evangile (750ml) |
$295.00
|
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| Robert Parker 96 | |||||
| "..one of the great modern day l'Evangiles..the wine is exceptionally rich and full bodied, with admirable glycerin and thickness. The finish is full of sweet fruit, with wine's extact concealing moderate tannin. The 1990 is a fabulously pure rich l'Evangile to drink between the turn of the century and 2020." | |||||
| Wine Spectator 95 | |||||
| Big and ripe. Dark ruby-garnet color. Berry, chocolate, plum aromas. Full-bodied, chewy, lots of tannins. Tight, muscular and concentrated. | |||||
| Neil Martin, Wine Journal, eRobert Parker 93 | |||||
| Tasted at the Dynasty restaurant in Hong Kong. The Château l?Evangile 1990 continues to evolve at a glacial pace. This bottle is less open than the one back in 2008, more austere with a quasi-Pauillac-like bouquet at first: cedar and graphite eventually ebbing away to reveal dried herbs and Italian dried meats. The palate is medium-bodied and more tannic than I recall and unlike other 1990 Right Banks in that it is quite linear and symmetrical, eschewing those hot summer fruits that form the leitmotif of the vintage. As they say?moody bugger! Tasted November 2011. | |||||
1990 La Conseillante (750ml)
List Price:
|
$450.00
|
||||
| Robert Parker 97 | |||||
| This deep ruby/garnet-hued 1990 reveals considerable amber at the edge as well as a knock-out bouquet of cedar, kirsch, licorice, roasted herbs, and spice box. An exuberant, atypically flamboyant effort, it possesses supple texture, medium to full body, sweet fruit, plenty of glycerin, and attractive melted tannin. This wine has been delicious since birth, but additional nuances continue to develop in the bottle. Drink it over the next decade. June, 2009 | |||||
| Wine Spectator 94 | |||||
| "The pure fruit in this wine shows the true personality of the estate. Enticing nutmeg, cinnamon and fruit aromas give way to rich, silky tannins. " | |||||
| Neil Martin, Wine Journal, eRobert Parker 92 | |||||
| Tasted at the La Conseillante vertical at Chez Bruce. This has a lovely, sensual, rustic, ferrous bouquet with touches of creme de cassis and dried flowers, wafting fragrantly from the glass in a flowing cape of warm alcohol. The palate is medium-bodied with a very savoury, Cabernet Franc dominated entry, fine tannins, very well balanced with a tannic, ferrous finish the lingers beautifully with touches of sage and allspice. Lovely in an exotic way. Tasted December 2010. | |||||
1990 Lafite (750ml) |
$1,075.00
|
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| Robert Parker 96 | |||||
| Interestingly, a bottle of 1990 Lafite Rothschild I pulled from my cellar for a video blog on my web site was still buttoned down, tight, and even with extended decanting was not showing as much as I would have hoped. However, a bottle tasted, of all places, in Seoul, Korea in February, was only a few points short of perfection. That amazing performance motivated me to pull another bottle out of my cellar and follow it over the course of two days. Sure enough, by the second day the wine was roaring from the glass. The 1990 Lafite has turned out far better than my early assessment. While it still possesses some firmness, and performs like a late adolescent in terms of its evolution, it boasts gorgeous aromas of cedar, tobacco leaf, cassis, and lead pencil shavings. The explosive aromas are followed by a fleshy, full-bodied wine that should hit its peak in 5-8 years, and last for 25-30 more. | |||||
| Wine Spectator 97 | |||||
| "The great first-growth estate produced a wine with amazing length in this new vintage. Goes on and on, with mint, plum and cassis aromas and flavors and ultrafine tannins. A superb Bordeaux to drink after 1999." | |||||
1990 Lafite (750ml) |
$1,075.00
|
||||
| Robert Parker 96 | |||||
| Interestingly, a bottle of 1990 Lafite Rothschild I pulled from my cellar for a video blog on my web site was still buttoned down, tight, and even with extended decanting was not showing as much as I would have hoped. However, a bottle tasted, of all places, in Seoul, Korea in February, was only a few points short of perfection. That amazing performance motivated me to pull another bottle out of my cellar and follow it over the course of two days. Sure enough, by the second day the wine was roaring from the glass. The 1990 Lafite has turned out far better than my early assessment. While it still possesses some firmness, and performs like a late adolescent in terms of its evolution, it boasts gorgeous aromas of cedar, tobacco leaf, cassis, and lead pencil shavings. The explosive aromas are followed by a fleshy, full-bodied wine that should hit its peak in 5-8 years, and last for 25-30 more. | |||||
| Wine Spectator 97 | |||||
| "The great first-growth estate produced a wine with amazing length in this new vintage. Goes on and on, with mint, plum and cassis aromas and flavors and ultrafine tannins. A superb Bordeaux to drink after 1999." | |||||
1990 Lafite (1.5L) |
$1,995.00
|
||||
| Robert Parker 96 | |||||
| Interestingly, a bottle of 1990 Lafite Rothschild I pulled from my cellar for a video blog on my web site was still buttoned down, tight, and even with extended decanting was not showing as much as I would have hoped. However, a bottle tasted, of all places, in Seoul, Korea in February, was only a few points short of perfection. That amazing performance motivated me to pull another bottle out of my cellar and follow it over the course of two days. Sure enough, by the second day the wine was roaring from the glass. The 1990 Lafite has turned out far better than my early assessment. While it still possesses some firmness, and performs like a late adolescent in terms of its evolution, it boasts gorgeous aromas of cedar, tobacco leaf, cassis, and lead pencil shavings. The explosive aromas are followed by a fleshy, full-bodied wine that should hit its peak in 5-8 years, and last for 25-30 more. | |||||
| Wine Spectator 97 | |||||
| "The great first-growth estate produced a wine with amazing length in this new vintage. Goes on and on, with mint, plum and cassis aromas and flavors and ultrafine tannins. A superb Bordeaux to drink after 1999." | |||||
1990 Latour (750ml) |
$950.00
|
||||
| Wine Spectator 100 | |||||
| "Like a Michelangelo painting, this wine has everything in perfect proportion. Offers an amazing amount of violet, new wood and fruit aromas and flavors and superb concentration of silky tannins. The wine of the vintage, and the best from this Bordeaux estate since the legendary 1961." | |||||
| Robert Parker 98 | |||||
| "There is no doubting the 1990 Latour is a potential candidate for the wine of the vintage. It is remarkably youthfull... full bodied, powerful, massive richness, and everything held together by high levels of tannin. Fortunately, the tannin is sweet and ripe, making evaluation easy. The finish, which lasts for 35-40 seconds, reveals layers of flavor as well as impressive purity." | |||||
| Steve Tanzer's International Wine Cellar 98 | |||||
| Medium-deep red. Great vibrant nose of redcurrant, licorice, minerals and tobacco, along with a minty austerity. Thick and large-scaled, like an essence of Pauillac. Really explodes in the middle palate. Incredible unfolding peacock tail of a finish. A monumental, powerfully structured wine with great long-term aging potential. Drink 2008 through 2040 | |||||
| Wine Spectator 100 | |||||
| This is one of my favorite wines ever. Full-bodied, with layers of silky fruit and masses of currant, mineral and berry character. Amazing. It's a wine with perfect structure, perfect strength. It's 1961 Latour in modern clothes. It's hard not to drink it now. '89/'90 Bordeaux non-blind horizontal. Best after 2008. | |||||
1990 Margaux (750ml) |
$995.00
|
||||
| Robert Parker 100 | |||||
| I had this wine both in Seoul, Korea in February, and from my cellar in December, 2008, and it was remarkable how identical the wines smelled and tasted. It offers an extraordinary aromatic display of spring flowers, camphor, sweet red and black fruits, a hint of licorice, and no evidence of its 100% new oak cask aging. Round and generous with low acidity, but an opulent, full-bodied richness that is fresh with laser-like precision, this stunning wine is just beginning to reach its plateau of full maturity, where it should remain for another three decades. A sensational effort, it is one of the legendary wines made at Chateau Margaux. | |||||
| Neil Martin, Wine Journal, eRobert Parker 98 | |||||
| Tasted at Bordeaux Index Chateau Margaux dinner at The Square. It has been some time since I last tasted this Chateau Margaux. But what a stellar performance! Youthful in colour, the glycerine-rich nose is brilliantly defined and showing none of the alcohol and volatility that some ?90 clarets are beginning to show. Very intense bouquet: blackberry, cassis, warm gravels, violets and a hint of roasting chestnut. The palate is full-bodied, broad-shouldered with intense black fruits, sinewy, layers of cassis and black plum, a hint of damson leading to a vice-like grip on the fig and raisin-tinged finish. Voluptuous, but this is no harlot, this is far more intellectual and refined. Drink now-2030+ Tasted October 2009. | |||||
1990 Margaux (750ml) |
$995.00
|
||||
| Robert Parker 100 | |||||
| I had this wine both in Seoul, Korea in February, and from my cellar in December, 2008, and it was remarkable how identical the wines smelled and tasted. It offers an extraordinary aromatic display of spring flowers, camphor, sweet red and black fruits, a hint of licorice, and no evidence of its 100% new oak cask aging. Round and generous with low acidity, but an opulent, full-bodied richness that is fresh with laser-like precision, this stunning wine is just beginning to reach its plateau of full maturity, where it should remain for another three decades. A sensational effort, it is one of the legendary wines made at Chateau Margaux. | |||||
| Neil Martin, Wine Journal, eRobert Parker 98 | |||||
| Tasted at Bordeaux Index Chateau Margaux dinner at The Square. It has been some time since I last tasted this Chateau Margaux. But what a stellar performance! Youthful in colour, the glycerine-rich nose is brilliantly defined and showing none of the alcohol and volatility that some ?90 clarets are beginning to show. Very intense bouquet: blackberry, cassis, warm gravels, violets and a hint of roasting chestnut. The palate is full-bodied, broad-shouldered with intense black fruits, sinewy, layers of cassis and black plum, a hint of damson leading to a vice-like grip on the fig and raisin-tinged finish. Voluptuous, but this is no harlot, this is far more intellectual and refined. Drink now-2030+ Tasted October 2009. | |||||
1990 Margaux (750ml) |
$995.00
|
||||
| Robert Parker 100 | |||||
| I had this wine both in Seoul, Korea in February, and from my cellar in December, 2008, and it was remarkable how identical the wines smelled and tasted. It offers an extraordinary aromatic display of spring flowers, camphor, sweet red and black fruits, a hint of licorice, and no evidence of its 100% new oak cask aging. Round and generous with low acidity, but an opulent, full-bodied richness that is fresh with laser-like precision, this stunning wine is just beginning to reach its plateau of full maturity, where it should remain for another three decades. A sensational effort, it is one of the legendary wines made at Chateau Margaux. | |||||
| Neil Martin, Wine Journal, eRobert Parker 98 | |||||
| Tasted at Bordeaux Index Chateau Margaux dinner at The Square. It has been some time since I last tasted this Chateau Margaux. But what a stellar performance! Youthful in colour, the glycerine-rich nose is brilliantly defined and showing none of the alcohol and volatility that some ?90 clarets are beginning to show. Very intense bouquet: blackberry, cassis, warm gravels, violets and a hint of roasting chestnut. The palate is full-bodied, broad-shouldered with intense black fruits, sinewy, layers of cassis and black plum, a hint of damson leading to a vice-like grip on the fig and raisin-tinged finish. Voluptuous, but this is no harlot, this is far more intellectual and refined. Drink now-2030+ Tasted October 2009. | |||||
1990 Margaux (750ml) |
$1,150.00
|
||||
| Robert Parker 100 | |||||
| I had this wine both in Seoul, Korea in February, and from my cellar in December, 2008, and it was remarkable how identical the wines smelled and tasted. It offers an extraordinary aromatic display of spring flowers, camphor, sweet red and black fruits, a hint of licorice, and no evidence of its 100% new oak cask aging. Round and generous with low acidity, but an opulent, full-bodied richness that is fresh with laser-like precision, this stunning wine is just beginning to reach its plateau of full maturity, where it should remain for another three decades. A sensational effort, it is one of the legendary wines made at Chateau Margaux. | |||||
| Neil Martin, Wine Journal, eRobert Parker 98 | |||||
| Tasted at Bordeaux Index Chateau Margaux dinner at The Square. It has been some time since I last tasted this Chateau Margaux. But what a stellar performance! Youthful in colour, the glycerine-rich nose is brilliantly defined and showing none of the alcohol and volatility that some ?90 clarets are beginning to show. Very intense bouquet: blackberry, cassis, warm gravels, violets and a hint of roasting chestnut. The palate is full-bodied, broad-shouldered with intense black fruits, sinewy, layers of cassis and black plum, a hint of damson leading to a vice-like grip on the fig and raisin-tinged finish. Voluptuous, but this is no harlot, this is far more intellectual and refined. Drink now-2030+ Tasted October 2009. | |||||
1990 Mouton (750ml) |
$340.00
|
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| Wine Spectator 95 | |||||
| Seductive, with plum, smoke and vanilla aromas and flavors, full silky tannins and a long, rich finish. | |||||
| Neil Martin, Wine Journal, eRobert Parker 90 | |||||
| This has always been a disappointing Mouton considering the vintage, although this is probably the best bottle, poured at La Paulee in Meursault. It remains rather lean and stalky on the nose, dry on the palate entry with notes of blackberry leaf and mulberry, with touches of tobacco. It is better balanced than I recall, yet it lacks vigour and backbone, as if it is unwilling to go that extra mile and reach the level one expects of Mouton. Not as hollow as other bottles but remaining leafy on the foursquare finish with moderate length, I would definitely opt for the superior ?89. Drink now-2015. Tasted November 2008. | |||||
1990 Pavie (750ml) |
$150.00
|
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| Robert Parker 89 | |||||
| A strong effort, the 1990 Pavie exhibits aromas of sweet kirsch, licorice, roasted herbs, spice box, and earth. Medium-bodied with sweet tannin, low acidity, and good concentration, it should drink well for another 4-5 years. June 2009 | |||||
| Neil Martin, Wine Journal, eRobert Parker 90 | |||||
| Tasted at the Fine Wine Experience?s Pavie vertical. Perhaps the last great Pavie before Gérard Perse bought the estate in 1997. The 1990 Pavie sports a deep core with deep tawny rim and sports a very ?classic? Pavie bouquet that is muted at first, but unfurls gracefully with intense cedar aromas deriving from the Cabernet Sauvignon. Underneath there are aromas of crushed stone and a touch of cold black tea. It does not have the vim and vigour of the 1989. The palate is medium-bodied and whilst it is not as vigorous as a couple of years ago, it retains a supple texture, impressive harmony and a lovely wild strawberry, fig, leather and brine tinged finish. Fresh and vital, this is holding up well. Tasted June 2010. | |||||
1990 Pavie Macquin (750ml) |
$95.00
|
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| Robert Parker 91 | |||||
| I have been extolling the virtues of these wines since the late eighties. Extremely old vines, organic farming, and some of the lowest yields in Bordeaux produce densely-colored, highly-extracted, exceptionally pure and elegant wines that possess a Burgundian-like texture and complexity. The 1990 Pavie-Macquin is fatter, sweeter, and riper, with its pronounced smoky oak component intertwined with jammy black-raspberry and curranty aromas and flavors. The wine's sweet fruit (from ripeness, not sugar), and concentrated, medium to full-bodied, low acid style, suggests early maturity, but the wine is still youthful and unevolved. While already delicious, this wine will benefit from another 2-3 years of cellaring. It will be at its peak between 2000-2008. | |||||
1990 Pavillon Rouge de Chateau Margaux (750ml) |
$175.00
|
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1990 Phelan-Segur (750ml) |
$75.00
|
||||
| Neil Martin, Wine Journal, eRobert Parker 90-92 | |||||
| Quite simply, this is a bloody nice claret. A dark garnet/mahogany core with deep brick rim. The palate is very 1990: quite rich, ripe with scents of dried prunes and wild strawberry, turning more cherry-ish with aeration. Quite perfumed. The palate is medium-bodied, well-balanced with good concentration and delineation. Espresso, a little soy with an attacking sharp finish. Drinking perfectly now, this is a delightful Phelan-Segur. Tasted July 2005. | |||||
1990 Pichon Lalande (750ml) |
$185.00
|
||||
| Wine Spectator 94 | |||||
| Wonderful and concentrated, with intense, complex aromas of chocolate and berries. Full-bodied, with very ripe fruit and well-intergrated, velvety tannins. | |||||
| Serena Sutcliffe | |||||
| "Pichon violets on the nose, plus redcurrants and roses. Silky and seductive. So smooth it slips down. Not a big Pichon (no press wine was added), but a filigree Pichon of enormous charm and allure. Melts in the mouth. A Pichon for the Summer. But - attention - the finish has a touch of firmness and definition that could indicate future strength - great terroir has a habit of doing this. | |||||
| Neil Martin, Wine Journal, eRobert Parker | |||||
1992 Lafite (750ml) |
$875.00
|
||||
1993 Mouton (750ml) |
$425.00
|
||||
| Robert Parker 92 | |||||
| The color is a healthy, brilliant purple, and the wine's aromatic personality borders on ostentatious, with its display of cassis fruit, minerals, lead pencil, Asian spices, caramel, vanilla, and toasty oak. | |||||
| Wine Spectator 90 | |||||
| Mouton comes through again. Impressive '93, deep in color and full-bodied, boasting plenty of currant, black cherry, mint and toast character. Well crafted, showing depth for this vintage. Give the tannins some time to mellow. | |||||
1994 Clerc-Milon (750ml)
List Price:
|
$57.00
|
||||
| Robert Parker 87 | |||||
| The qualitative equivalent of the 1993, although more backward, tannic, and weighty, this dark ruby/purple-colored, medium-bodied, spicy, rich wine is well-made. It is soft for a 1994, yet capable of lasting 15-18 years. Some tannin in the finish suggests that purchasers should give it 2-3 years of cellaring. | |||||
| Wine Spectator 89 | |||||
| "Complex aromas of spices, berries and plums, with fine, silky tannins and a caressing finish. Medium body. Hard not to drink it now | |||||
1994 L`Evangile (750ml) |
$110.00
|
||||
| Robert Parker 92 | |||||
| This brilliant estate, adjacent to La Conseillante, Petrus, and Vieux-Chateau-Certan, has turned in exemplary efforts in 1993-95. One of the vintage's most notable successes, L'Evangile's 1994 possesses a dense, saturated purple color, followed by a gorgeously sweet nose of framboise/cassis, with mineral and licorice notes in the background. This medium to full-bodied wine reveals a seamless, opulent texture, fabulous purity to its layers of fruit, as well as superb extraction and equilibrium. This terrific wine is one of the few 1994s that has most of its tannin concealed by the wine's wealth of fruit. It is a gorgeous L'Evangile. Anticipated maturity: 2001-2020. | |||||
1994 Lafite (750ml) |
$895.00
|
||||
| Robert Parker 90 | |||||
| "Made from nearly 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, this dark ruby/purple-colored wine is stubbornly backward, unappealing, and severe and astringent on the palate. There is plenty of weight, and the wine possesses admirable purity, with no suggestion of herbaceousness or underripe fruit, but the wine's personality refuses to be coaxed from the glass. The 1994 Lafite may turn out to be austere and disappointing flavor-wise, but possesses a fabulous set of aromatics (does that sound reminiscent of the 1961, another Lafite that was primarily Cabernet Sauvignon?). I am not giving up on this wine, but purchasers should be willing to wait 15-20 years before pulling a cork." | |||||
| Wine Spectator 93 | |||||
| A luscious Lafite that is silky and elegant with layers of wonderful violet, berry, cherry and chocolate flavors. It's full-bodied, with racy, refined tannins and good length. Drinkable now, but best from 1999 and through another decade. | |||||
1994 Le Bon Pasteur (750ml) |
$93.00
|
||||
| Robert Parker 89 | |||||
| Long-time readers are aware of my admiration for the husband and wife oenologist team of Dany and Michel Rolland. Michel is more visible in the international scene as he has performed magic at numerous estates in Italy, Spain, Argentina, California, and, of course, France. Rolland's success has not come without a price, as he now must endure an unprecedented level of criticism from a whining group of underachievers that appears to have one complaint - Rolland produces better wine than they do. A tell-tale Merlot/Pomerol nose of mocha, chocolate, tobacco, and sweet black-cherry/plummy fruit is followed by a medium-bodied wine with moderate tannin, excellent purity, outstanding richness, and a sweet finish. This wine requires 2-3 years of cellaring. Anticipated maturity: 2000-2012. | |||||
| Neil Martin, Wine Journal, eRobert Parker 91-93 | |||||
| Lovely blueberry, mineral nose that has great purity and weight. Palate is backward, just becoming accessible. Full-bodied, rich, almost coarse tannins but very concentrated. Black high-toned fruits. Good length. Will be superb. 5-8 years. A great success for the vintage. Tasted May 2002. | |||||
1994 Leoville Las Cases (750ml) |
$165.00
|
||||
| Robert Parker 93 | |||||
| Michel Delon, a great man, is the consummate proprietor, meticulously administering this vast estate spread out along the St.-Julien/Pauillac border, separated from Latour's finest vineyard by a mere ten feet. The 1993-95 vintages from Delon are brilliant wines. Leoville-Las-Cases remains one of the irrefutable reference points for high class Bordeaux. One of the more massive Medocs of the vintage, this opaque purple-colored wine exhibits fabulous richness and volume in the mouth. Layers of pure black-cherry and cassis fruit are intermixed with stony, mineral-like scents, as well as high quality toasty oak. Medium to full-bodied, with a sweet, rich entry, this wine possesses plenty of tannin, yet fabulous extract and length. Leoville-Las-Cases is one of the half-dozen great wines of the Medoc in 1994. Anticipated maturity: 2002-2025. This lion never falls asleep on the job! | |||||
| Neil Martin, Wine Journal, eRobert Parker 94 | |||||
| Paired against the 1993 by Jean-Hubert Delon at the chateau, this remains the Las-Cases that I completely mis-read when first encountered. There is a little more ripeness on the nose with black cherries, a touch of dates and a slight scents of brine/seaweed that I find most attractive. The palate is very smooth and velvety, a Las-Cases flirting with opulence rather than actually attaining it. Very pure, slightly more alcoholic that I recall and on the finish, I prefer the tension on the 1993. Yet overall, I think this is a slightly better wine than that: more cohesive and greater length. Drink 2010-2035+. Tasted October 2007. | |||||





