Bordeaux 1989 Right Bank wines in NYC
Met up last Tuesday (4/09/2019) with 6 other jovial and highly-knowledgeable Bordeaux enthusiasts at a midtown Manhattan restaurant to sample 30-year old wines from the Right Bank that all showed generally well, and included drinking some good Champagne and Chablis along the way.
1995 Heidsieck ‘Blanc des Millenaires’ Champagne Blanc de Blancs
Lemon, some hard candy notes, love the smooth and slightly lean style. Very tasty finish. A-
2008 Dom Perignon Champagne Brut
Heady mousse, highly intense with defined cuts. Nice contrast to the Heidsieck. B++
2014 Domaine Raveneau ‘Chapelot’ Chablis 1er
Intensely youthful, but refreshingly drinkable. Acidity, defined layers of fruit, mineral, rocks… Can still be better with some age. Good length. B++
1989 Ch. du Domaine de L’Eglise, Pomerol
The black-based label with gold letters is a first I’ve seen with bottles from this house. The bouquet of leather and sweet fruit; more sweetness and ripeness in the mouth. Nicely made. B+
1989 Ch. Magdelaine, St. Emillon
Earth, chunky, meaty, some savory notes, with fresh ripe black fruit and even some mint. Long. A-
1989 Ch. Anglelus, St. Emillon
Wet leaves and herb in the alluring smell. Ripe, a full-bodied brute of a wine. B+
1989 Ch. L’Evangile, Pomerol
More chunky, fleshy mouth feel. Good balance of fruit, savory notes and hint of spiciness. Impressively consistent with previously-tasted bottles. A-
1989 Ch. Certan de May, Pomerol
At peak with layers of red and black fruit, but with a little hollowness in the middle. B
1989 Ch. La Conseillante, Pomerol
An enigmatic wine for me based on OK to great bottles that I had tasted before. This is in the great bottle category and which can compete with other great ones from both banks in this vintage. From the perk-up-your-attention initial attack to the graceful power displayed all throughout, with fine fruit component and an impeccable balance. Memorable. A
1989 Vieux Chateau Certan, Pomerol
A solid VCC with tobacco notes, meaty broth, red fruit acidity and long finish. Another vintage success. A-