1989 Olivier: the glories of yesteryear
1989 Olivier: the glories of yesteryear
Kudos to Orlando Bobby for calling this out one. I grabbed some cheap at auction, fills into the neck, and I’m glad I did.
Terrific bouquet of Gravesy smoke and cinder, with complementary notes of leather and earthy forest floor. Fully resolved with a layered mouthfeel and plenty of verve. Love the umami here, showing nuances of ketchup. The nose is legit, running with much more exalted names, but with a lighter and leaner palate showing its roots, and a lingering tangy finish. Punches way above its weight, over performing its “objective” score.
This is a wine — an unheralded lighter-weight wine with glorious aromatics and a lighter unextracted authenticity — that Bordeaux won’t and (probably) can’t make anymore, showing just how much Parker’s palate ruined Bordeaux.
Terrific bouquet of Gravesy smoke and cinder, with complementary notes of leather and earthy forest floor. Fully resolved with a layered mouthfeel and plenty of verve. Love the umami here, showing nuances of ketchup. The nose is legit, running with much more exalted names, but with a lighter and leaner palate showing its roots, and a lingering tangy finish. Punches way above its weight, over performing its “objective” score.
This is a wine — an unheralded lighter-weight wine with glorious aromatics and a lighter unextracted authenticity — that Bordeaux won’t and (probably) can’t make anymore, showing just how much Parker’s palate ruined Bordeaux.
- OrlandoRobert
- Posts: 1508
- Joined: Thu Jan 03, 2013 5:19 pm
- Contact:
Re: 1989 Olivier: the glories of yesteryear
So cool, glad you enjoyed this wine!
I have one left. Should pop with another similar classic, 1990 La Louviere.
I have one left. Should pop with another similar classic, 1990 La Louviere.
Re: 1989 Olivier: the glories of yesteryear
I drank many bottles of this. It was a great bargain. I am glad that you found some, Patrick.
Re: 1989 Olivier: the glories of yesteryear
Thanks, guys. I admit, it’s unheralded wines like this that get me howling at the moon (the 90 Louviere is another perfect example), bemoaning what’s become of the wine world.
Re: 1989 Olivier: the glories of yesteryear
Ahh I remember this too, along with that 90 La Louviere. Most of these must have been long gone by age 15. I didn't really trust & understand the aging power of great vintages when I was new to this.
Also I don't think these were 'unheralded' contemporaneously. Parker was all over them back then; I would not have known/purchased them - back then - without his Seal of Approval !
If someone is looking for the modern equivalent of an 89 Olivier to lay down for some years and goes for a song, check out the red Graves from Chantegrive.
Also I don't think these were 'unheralded' contemporaneously. Parker was all over them back then; I would not have known/purchased them - back then - without his Seal of Approval !
If someone is looking for the modern equivalent of an 89 Olivier to lay down for some years and goes for a song, check out the red Graves from Chantegrive.
Re: 1989 Olivier: the glories of yesteryear
Another lovely, tertiary, effortless bottle of this tonight. Wow, what a great QPR.
- JimHow
- Posts: 20277
- Joined: Thu Nov 20, 2008 10:49 pm
- Location: Lewiston, Maine, United States
- Contact:
Re: 1989 Olivier: the glories of yesteryear
I remember drinking a bottle of the ‘89 in Curacau, an eon ago.
- OrlandoRobert
- Posts: 1508
- Joined: Thu Jan 03, 2013 5:19 pm
- Contact:
Re: 1989 Olivier: the glories of yesteryear
Man color me jelly!
It was this wine and the 1990 La Louviere that got me hooked on Bordeaux. Both wines so over-delivered. Still see these pop up on wine bid. I should grab some more. I bet I’ve had two cases of the La Louv and 1.5 cases of Oliver. I even bought a six pack of mags in the mid-90s.
Great memories.
It was this wine and the 1990 La Louviere that got me hooked on Bordeaux. Both wines so over-delivered. Still see these pop up on wine bid. I should grab some more. I bet I’ve had two cases of the La Louv and 1.5 cases of Oliver. I even bought a six pack of mags in the mid-90s.
Great memories.
- OrlandoRobert
- Posts: 1508
- Joined: Thu Jan 03, 2013 5:19 pm
- Contact:
Re: 1989 Olivier: the glories of yesteryear
Indeed. My nights in Curaçao always had a story.
Re: 1989 Olivier: the glories of yesteryear
All of them ought to start with a Blue Hawaii
Re: 1989 Olivier: the glories of yesteryear
Sounds tasty, I love finding value older Bordeaux from great vintages. The 1990 Pibran was a perfect example of this.OrlandoRobert wrote: ↑Sat Apr 17, 2021 12:50 am Man color me jelly!
It was this wine and the 1990 La Louviere that got me hooked on Bordeaux. Both wines so over-delivered. Still see these pop up on wine bid. I should grab some more. I bet I’ve had two cases of the La Louv and 1.5 cases of Oliver. I even bought a six pack of mags in the mid-90s.
Great memories.
You guys are getting me excited for the bottle of 1990 Louviere I just got in. Might have to open soon. Feels like a perfect BWE zoom wine!
Re: 1989 Olivier: the glories of yesteryear
Go for it Joel.JoelD wrote: ↑Sat Apr 17, 2021 1:51 amSounds tasty, I love finding value older Bordeaux from great vintages. The 1990 Pibran was a perfect example of this.OrlandoRobert wrote: ↑Sat Apr 17, 2021 12:50 am Man color me jelly!
It was this wine and the 1990 La Louviere that got me hooked on Bordeaux. Both wines so over-delivered. Still see these pop up on wine bid. I should grab some more. I bet I’ve had two cases of the La Louv and 1.5 cases of Oliver. I even bought a six pack of mags in the mid-90s.
Great memories.
You guys are getting me excited for the bottle of 1990 Louviere I just got in. Might have to open soon. Feels like a perfect BWE zoom wine!
Yes, the expensive high reputation vins de Bordeaux are famous with some age. But i mean almost 75 to 80 % of the less expensive/lower reputation will age well too. But even if Chateau Oliver is a bit under the radar, don't forget it is a Cru Classé de Graves.
You made me jalous too blanquito.
Re: 1989 Olivier: the glories of yesteryear
It seems like someone already rated the 1989 Chateau Olivier 91.5714 points, but I can't remember who it was...
Re: 1989 Olivier: the glories of yesteryear
Good bottles of the 90 Louviere are truly excellent and were/are world class QPR. I didn’t discover the 90 Louviere until 2011 or so, and it was already fully mature then but it seems to be holding very well. Let us know how it shows, Joel.
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: Bing [Bot], Google [Bot] and 84 guests