Nineteen eighty-nine was very well received on release, and with age this vintage has, along with 1982 proved to be the best of the decade. The year started out with mild, dry weather until heavy rain hit in February. April saw more rain, but things turned around in May which was warm and dry. June was very hot with occasional thunderstorms but through September the weather was still quite warm and very dry, similar to 1947. Merlot had already reached 13% potential alcohol by September 7th. Winemakers had to decide whether to pick early to avoid the risk of rain or wait until the grapes reached full maturity. The rain finally did come on September 10th mostly in the southern Médoc and Saint-Émilion, however this turned out to be beneficial as it restored vines that were shut down from the heat. Following the rain, conditions continued to be hot and dry right up until the end of the harvest on September 25th. The Cabernet grapes have big tannins and are capable of long aging. Most tasters will compare 1989 with 1990 but with more focus and terroir distinction as opposed the 1990’s delicious opulence. The vintage is of course famous for Haut-Brion which many consider to be Jean-Bernard Delmas’s greatest wine, however the 1989 La Mission can be just as spectacular, probably the best La Mission since 1955. What is fascinating is the best wines were arguably not the first growths. Lynch-Bages, Pichon-Baron, and Palmer all excelled. Montrose 1989 can be just as good as the legendary 1990. In Pomerol the 1989 Pétrus and Le Pin all excelled. In Saint-Émilion Cheval was also spectacular. Join us for a fascinating evening as we take a deep dive into this superb vintage.