TN : 1989 Chateau Pichon-Longueville Baron

WINE TALK
1

Some friends joined us for dinner this past Friday evening, where the main course was a prime rib roast (bone out), accompanied with a variety of vegetable dishes, including a superb carrot puree cup. A choice of bernnaise or mushroom/madiera sauce. One of our guests had just visited the Bordeaux region, returning last week, and I thought it might be interesting to serve a Bordeaux with the roast.

I drew two bottles of the 1989 Chateau Pichon-Longueville Baron - Pauillac from the cellar. Both bottles had remarkably high fills. Double decanted the bottles, about 4 hours before serving, where fine sediment accumulated in the screened funnel.

Extremely dark in colour, black purple, and totally opaque, running out full to the rim: bouquet builds from blackberry and black currant to an astonishingly volume of cassis fruit and some excellent spiciness, together with some delicate floral in the back: rich and full on the palate; exceptional balance; fully integrated but there are still some lingering tannins underneath the full measure of fruit; a kind of elegance shows with the entry and the wonderful black currant flavours are nicely knit, exhibiting a medley of spices that wind nicely over the fruit; length – length – length as the wine extends out to a wonderful finish, with the fruit dominating. Exceptional ! Ahead the remaining bottles in my cellar would appear to have a future life of a couple of decades.

I bought a case of this wine upon its release, but don’t recall the compelling reasons behind the purchase at the time. In retrospect one case was short sighted. Should have bought more. While I still have some left, after trying a bottle periodically over the years, and using some as gifts along the way.

Hank [cheers.gif]

2

Thanks for the notes Hank, I still have two bottles left and was wondering how they were doing since my last was about five years ago…
[cheers.gif]

3

Bought only one upon release. It was all I could afford to buy. Still have it. Thanks for the note.

4

Thanks.

I remember being served this blind side by side with an 89 Pichon-Lalande in the late 1990s and guessing they might be zins because they were still so fruity. Your descriptors kind of fit with that:

bouquet builds from > blackberry and black currant to an astonishingly volume of cassis fruit and some excellent spiciness> , together with some delicate floral in the back…

Your prognosis – “the remaining bottles in my cellar would appear to have a future life of a couple of decades” – seems to square with Mark G’s recent posting on the youthfulness of the 89 Lynch Bages.

5

Thanks for the great note Hank! I bought two on release and drank one in the early 2000s. I remember thinking that I opened it at least a decade too early. Will have to pop my remaining bottle sometime soon.

I did open a 2000 Pichon Baron in the past year and thought it was outstanding. It may give the 1989/1990 combo a run for their money.

Cheers,

Hal

6

As it happens I had this for dinner last night too, Hank. It was just delightful. My bottle was a gift from a friend who had not stored it properly, and it did not show as dark and rich as yours for that reason, I think, but it was still a beautiful bottle. Glad you enjoyed your bottles

7

This wine is a benchmark for me, I love it. Have had many over the last 20 years, wish I had more. I’m all out now.

8

I had one a few years ago at a big tasting. It ws, and still is, the best wine I have ever had. And it started my downfall in to wine collecting stupiditity.

9

It’s funny, but the last time I had this wine, I opened it side-by-side with the '89 Lynch Bages. I thought both wines were showing great.

We then made the mistake of pulling the cork in a '90 LLC, which absolutely blew both of my wines away.

That’s not to say that the '90 LLC is that much better, but in this day and with those three bottles, all of us were amazed at the dominance over two pretty well-regarded Bordeaux.

BTW, Hank, what was the background music? :wink:

10

OK, Bob…background music was Dave Grusin’s album Homage To Duke, together with a mix of Tommy Flanagan, Bill Evans, Red Garland, Hank Jones on piano, and Archie Shepp, Harold Ashby on tenor. [basic-smile.gif]

Hank [cheers.gif]