Nice report on the Margaux tasting Mel, I would love to try the '89.

It’s always good to know where the fire alarm is, if you wanted to be left alone for a short while that is.

Many thanks for bringing that part of this site to my attention, that is the Ist time I'd seen the Margaux report, has it been up for long. Goose never advised to regularly look in there, did you Mr G ?

It is great that Mel favoured the 89. You know when I was buying petit chateau and the affordable Pauilacs and Moulis (Forcas Holstien and F. Dupre for Moulis) all the experts were saying, Huh, you should have looked out for the 1988's, the left bank 89's are easy drinking mate ! Huh, not enough structure, not enough tannin to prop the wine, you'll be sorry in 4 years time. Well, I bought many 89's in 1990 and 1991, and they were some of the most succulent clarets I've ever had to drink through the late 90's, and into the millenium, with cedar & cigar box (not too much leather, but sweet Pessac tobacco, as well as sweet & juicy black fruits, some of the best that I have ever had in fact...and a decent saving on the 1988's. One other thing about 89's, they did not seem go cloudy like the ripe 95's, and became brighter with 5 years plus. When I drove to the Isle de Re' in 91, I filled the Peugeot 405 boot with them from Carrefour on the mainland and also an ancient black oak shelved wine shop in St. Martins and kept the receipts just in case of HMCE. I think femininity was a feature of the left bank in 89, even Graves, whilst the cheaper St Emillions and satellites and Castillons were too thick and clumsey, and eventually went thin & lacey and tasted of charcoal.

Ok, Ok - Margaux premier 1eme cru is very very different from my lowly 4 & 5eme & petite chateau buying, but we did buy two Malescot Saint-Exupery (spelling) on the 89 and they were quite wonderfull. My dear Misses was treating me to a future Wedding Anny - She knew I tried the 82 Giscours which was totally uncious, she's great like that. Staying in beautiful parts of France always brings out the best in a woman.

See link:
http://www.twenga.co.uk/dir-Gastronomy, ... aux-034025

One to contemplate: is the 1989 Boyd Cantenac 3eme cru @ £30, totally over the hill. However when I saw the same wine for the 1988 vintage, it was E116 euro, so the experts were correct in their lasting power predictions, or, hmmnn..... the opinion is supporting the price !

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Duncan