which vintage wine from 1989?

congokid wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@congokid.demon.co.uk:

Fred.

Salut/Hi congokid,

le/on Sat, 8 May 2004 09:49:59 +0100, tu disais/you said:-

WHAT?? Brilliant year for Bordeaux. Cahors, Bergerac and most of the southwest of France.

Wow.

Almost any classed growth Claret. For example Ch Ducru-Beaucaillou is available from (the pricey) "Millesima" at €1200 a case of 12. Domaine de Chevalier in Graves is at the same price. Both super wines, which should be at their peak, but well able to last a year or ten.

In message , Fred writes

I was thinking if it truly had been a bad year, I'd ask for something from the year I moved to my current department ('90), or perhaps get something from 10 years ago ('94) if that might open up my options.

Thanks Fred. As a student in 1986, not knowing anything about wine but determined not to get the cheapest thing on the supermarket shelf, I bought back a bottle of Paulliac from a day trip to France. My flatmate, who worked in Harrod's wine department at the time, was quite impressed with my selections (I remember another bottle was of Rully, and I had three others).

In message , Ian Hoare writes

What I was told by someone, though I did a brief check on Decanter website as well. Too brief, obviously.

Sounds excellent - thanks.

I would agree with pretty much everything said before. Very good year in Bordeaux. The Médoc suggestiosn are good. In past year I've had good experiences with Meyney (much much cheaper than your limit), Gruaud Larose & Grand Puy Lacoste(much cheaper than your limit) , as well as Montrose, Lynch Bages, & Cos d'Estournel (still within your limit).

But...if it were me....I'd go for Pomerols. I've never had a bad '89 Pomerol (excluding damaged/corked bottles) . And this is coming from someone who's natural preferences are Left Bank. See what's available- Bon Pasteur, Clinet, Trotanoy, l'Evangile, etc.

St. Emilion's a tad spottier, but Troplong-Mondot & l'Angelus are glorious. Dale

Dale Williams Drop "damnspam" to reply

] My work bosses are rewarding those staff with more than 10 years' ] service, and more than 30 days' annual leave, with a their choice of a ] bottle of wine that was bottled in the year they joined the company ] (those with 25 days or less are getting an extra five days' annual leave ] instead). ]

Well, good on you, and on your boss. Great way to reward faithful (or at least stubborn) service.

] Unfortunately I joined in 1989, which I understand wasn't a great year ] for many wine regions. ]

You are in luck. Great year in Bordeaux. I'm guessing your budget will stretch to something like a Lynch Bages, or a Leoville Barton. Should be lots of great choices under 150 ¤.

Also this was a banner year in the Southern Rhone. How about a great Chateauneuf du Pape? The '89's are drinking wonderfully now. Again, should be lots of choices in your price range. A cuvée Gonnet from Font de Michelle? Maybe you can even find a Beaucastel or Rayas in the range. The '89's will hold for a good while yet, too.

Lots of choices, have fun!

-E

If you can bluff it to 1990, go for Grange, no question. 1990 was also an excellent year for German Rieslings, if you like that sort of thing.

Ian

Emery Davis wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@address.com:

OH my god, the 89 and 90 Southern Rhones were my re introduction to fine wine and made a devotee of me. If only I could have a few bottles back!

Like I said, 89 Beaucastel, suuuuuperb.

Mike

Mike Tommasi, Six Fours, France email link