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Châteauneuf du Pape 1989
As with the Northern Rhône and Bordeaux, the three vintages of 1988, 1989 and 1990 were all very successful. It is 1989 and 1990 that vie for first place of the three. The 1989 vintage was an extremely hot and dry year - the conditions meriting the description of drought perhaps. The vineyards of Châteauneuf du Pape and Gigondas did well to survive the stress of extreme heat and reduced water supply.
Perfect harvest conditions in Châteauneuf du Pape made for and excellent vintage, which has been responsible for a swathe of high quality, rich, deeply coloured wines. (10/7/00)
Châteauneuf du Pape 1989 - Tasting Notes
Tasted in July 2000. Click
to locate
stockists:
Domaine Raymond Usseglio Châteauneuf du Pape Blanc 1996: A pale lemon yellow. On the
nose this wine gives off hints of lemony acidity, but
with a fat richness, lanolin and lemon curd. Quite
alcoholic on the palate, full bodied, smoky, fat and
rich. Develops some sweaty aromas with time in the glass.
Good length. 16.5/20
Domaine Vieux Lazarets
Les Couversets Châteauneuf
du Pape 1989: Pale and tawny colour. Volatile
acidity on the nose. Some fruit and oak. Nice liquorice
aromas develop with aeration. Soft, alcoholic palate.
Spicy oak, pleasant fruit, touch of VA again. Becomes
more approachable with time in the glass. 13.5/20
Domaine Font de Michelle
Châteauneuf du Pape 1989: A darker wine. Hot, spicy nose, with an element of smoke. Lots
of fruit and some oak. On the palate some good fruit, but marred by a harsh,
bitter finish. This softens with aeration, and more red fruit flavours appear.
14/20
Domaine Durieu Châteauneuf du Pape 1989: Dark
and rich looking wine. Lovely, upfront nose, quite
perfumed, and full of fruit. The palate is tannic, with
oak and spicy fruit. Medium-full bodied. Finishes well.
This wine is alive and kicking. 16.5/20
Chateau Fortia Châteauneuf
du Pape 1989: Another dark wine. Excellent nose of ground coffee, spices,
leather and fruit. A full, rounded alcoholic body, with good fruit, cloves and
sweet toffee flavours. Lovely finish. 16.5/20
Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe
Châteauneuf
du Pape 1989: Deep mahogany red. Rich fruit on the nose, with spicy cloves.
Tannic palate, but carrying loads of fruit and sweet toffee oak. Full bodied,
spicy. Warming alcoholic finish. Excellent length. 18/20
Chateau de Beaucastel
Châteauneuf du Pape 1989: Bags of fruit on the nose. Tannic palate, awash
with fruit, not showing its age at all. Some spicy notes. Quite alcoholic.
Finishes well with good length. This wine still has great potential. 17.5+/20
Domaine du Pégau Châteauneuf du Pape 1989: Rubbery
note on the nose mars the overall impression of this
wine, but it is still superb. Loads of fruit on the
palate, with a soft, silky textured that is so appealing.
Less aggressive alcohol than the other wines, impeccable
balance, finishes just beautifully. 18/20
Chateau Rayas Châteauneuf du Pape 1989: A
soft, forward fruity nose. Raspberry and vanilla notes.
Lower in acids on the palate, nice alcohol, overall much
more approachable than the other wines, but doesn't have
their structure. Finishes well. 17/20
