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

Wine Spectator (93)

Intense and velvety, with beautiful blackberry, smoke and ripe currant aromas and flavors. Kicks in at the end, with refined tannins. Shows great class. Try now. 225 cases made.

Rarely does a wine exude the excellence of terroir as playfully and profoundly as the Lucien & Andre Brunel Chateauneuf-du-Pape Les Cailloux 1989. Produced by father-son duo, Lucien and Andre Brunel, whose familial lineage in winemaking dates to the 17th century, this wine comes from Southern Rhône's prestigious Les Cailloux vineyard. This 1989 vintage carries 13% alcohol and boasts of Grenache-led grapes, blended to perfection with Syrah, Mourvèdre and Cinsault.

Meticulous viticulture methods and sustainable cultivation practices enhance the remarkable complexity of this wine. Enjoy the distinct expression of the heavily pebbled, clay-limestone soil that imparts a unique mineral character. This full-bodied red captivates with its multifaceted bouquet, combining mature, dark fruits, earthy undertones and hints of black chocolate, leading to a rich and lasting finish.

Experience the iconic integrity, grandeur and elegance of the Lucien & Andre Brunel Chateauneuf-du-Pape Les Cailloux 1989, a cornerstone of a true connoisseur's collection.

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.

Wine Advocate (96)

Lacking that extra dimension of freshness and purity of the '90, the 1989 Hermitage la Chapelle is still a fabulous wine that offers sensational aromatic fireworks to go with full-bodied richness and depth. Showing classic la Chapelle smoked meats, currants, wood smoke and chocolate, this beauty hits the palate with no hard edges, a blockbuster texture and a finish that just won't quit. It shows the slightly more masculine, austere edge of the vintage, but the tannin is beautifully sweet and it packs a serious amount of fruit in the mid-palate. I've had a few tired bottles of this over the past few years, so provenance is key. Nevertheless, well-stored bottles will continue to drink beautifully for another couple decades.

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.

Vinous (92)

Yeasty, vinous, pinot driven aromas of red berries and earth. Large-scaled and mouthfilling, with excellent intensity and subtle notes of apple, lemon and toast. Has a perfumed quality in the mouth. Subtle and very long and nicely balanced for the vintage.

Wine Advocate (94)

The 1989 Vieux Château Certan has long been one of my favorite wines of that decade. The bouquet shows no signs of relinquishing that title with gorgeous black truffle, bay leaf, warm gravel and briary scents that are simply beautifully defined. The palate is medium-bodied with a fine line of acidity, warm earth on the entry, leather and truffle, great depth here with sublime precision on the finish, which is bridled with hints of mushroom and cloves. Maybe this is reaching its peak? Then again, it shows absolutely no signs of reaching the end of its plateau. This is nothing short of a wondrous Pomerol from Alexandre Thienpont. Tasted January 2016.