1989 Bordeaux tasting - October 17

Comte Flaneur · Post by **Comte Flaneur** » Tue Apr 07, 2009 1:16 pm

Now that what looks like another highly successful convention is out of the way, and following on from the success of last October's 1986 tasting, how about doing a 1989 (Bordeaux) horizontal?

After the last one, Ramon and I think Patrick/Blanquito suggested 1989 - twenty years on - as a good candidate for this year. Coincidentally a friend of mine, known to some BWERs, David Wainwright, who is a rare wine consultant and in NY a lot, suggested doing the same. He has quite a collection of right banks from 1989. I mentioned it to Pappa Doc too. It would also be an opportunity to put Jim's Lynch-Bages to the sword against the best the vintage has to offer: e.g., Lafite, Mouton, Palmer, Mission, Haut-Brion etc, did I hear Petrus? I would suggest doing it mid-late September, eg Sep 18 or 19, because the last one in mid-October may have unwittingly kiboshed the November Opera evening. We have to keep the numbers down strictly to 12 and aim for about 18 wines. I have quite a few 1989s including some first growths.

Thoughts and expressions of interest?

Blanquito · Post by **Blanquito** » Tue Apr 07, 2009 2:03 pm

Thanks for getting this going, Ian. You can definitely count me in. I'll have to check my stash, but I have some standouts from the Left Bank.

Patrick

Winona Chief · Post by **Winona Chief** » Tue Apr 07, 2009 2:31 pm

I'm up for it - I've already purchased some 1989 Climens for this tasting. May want to move the date back so it's not on top of Jim's Maine BWE event.

Chris Bublitz

Comte Flaneur · Post by **Comte Flaneur** » Tue Apr 07, 2009 2:35 pm

OK Chris...Climens sounds brilliant (just need Yquem to match it

)...date is flexible...I was trying not to encroach on the opera event and was not aware of Jim's event...so maybe we should revert to October then...probably better than Sep anyway which can still be hot in NYC

PappaDoc · Post by **PappaDoc** » Tue Apr 07, 2009 3:01 pm

I'm in as well. Don't have more than a couple of 89s left, but I have a Great 1989 Urziger "Wurzgarten" Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese from Peter Nicolay that is a "Gold Medal" (Goldene Kammerpreismunze) that I'd like to pair against anyones 89 Sauteerns. I had the 89 Beerenauslese of this wine and it was tremendous. It had great balance with a fresh Spearamint aspect I just kept smelling the empty glass wishing I had another btl for an hour after it was gone.

I'll get an 89 Bordeaux if I don't have any, or a Grand Mark 89 Champagne for a starter to go along with the Nicolay TBA.

I'd love to do it at Fabios, where we did the 86 Horizontal

Winona Chief · Post by **Winona Chief** » Tue Apr 07, 2009 3:22 pm

I think Jim was planning the Maine BWE event for the second weekend in September.

Chris Bublitz

jal · Post by **jal** » Tue Apr 07, 2009 6:35 pm

Sorry, I will have to pass. Sep 18-19 is the Jewish New Year.

JimHow · Post by **JimHow** » Wed Apr 08, 2009 1:03 pm

I'd be interested in participating, Ian, although we may be doing Maine '09 around that time.

Comte Flaneur · Post by **Comte Flaneur** » Wed Apr 08, 2009 5:24 pm

I didn't realise that Jim when I started the tread...my concern was to avoid getting too close to the November opera...I guess October is a better bet then...I think it will be tough to do it in the summer when a lot of people are on vacation and when it could be 95 degrees.

JimHow · Post by **JimHow** » Wed Apr 08, 2009 5:28 pm

October or November might be good, Ian, I don't think we have any BWE opera trips planned.

Blanquito · Post by **Blanquito** » Wed Apr 08, 2009 5:34 pm

I vote for mid-October!

In case anyone is interested, Winebid.com has the 1989 Lynch Bages for $160 right now + 14% buyers premium. Seems like a decent price, based on wine-searcher:
http://www.winebid.com/buy_wine/item_de ... 1030-L4911

JimHow · Post by **JimHow** » Wed Apr 08, 2009 5:49 pm

Well done, blanquito. Very well done....

PappaDoc · Post by **PappaDoc** » Wed Apr 08, 2009 7:53 pm

I bid on the 89 Cos on wine bid last night. $95.00 . Hopefully I won't get into a bidding war with a Fellow BWEer.

"Fingers Crossed"

PD

Tom In DC · Post by **Tom In DC** » Thu Apr 09, 2009 4:53 am

Pick a Saturday opera matinee in early November, and we all go to dinner after...two stones with one bird!

Comte Flaneur · Post by **Comte Flaneur** » Thu Apr 09, 2009 1:26 pm

How about 14 November Tom? My friend who can supply some right banks will be in town then

Other dates could include: October, 17, 24 or 31, or November 7 - anyone have any strong preferences? - mine would be for Nov 14

So far he have tentatively

Blanquito
Chris B - Climens
Pappa Doc - Cos? and Urziger or GM champagne?
Jim - Lynch Bages??
Tom and Gail?
David W - Tetre Roteboeuf + another right bank
Me - Lafite and La Mission HB - I have a few others as well

Jacques?

I think the same venue - Fabiuo Piccollo would work unless other venues preferred

stefan · Post by **stefan** » Thu Apr 09, 2009 5:12 pm

I expect to make a trip to NYC in the fall and will try to have it overlap with this event, Ian.

stefan

Blanquito · Post by **Blanquito** » Thu Apr 09, 2009 5:26 pm

I checked my 1989 list, and one intriguing possibility is the La Dominique to pair with the Tetre Roteboeuf.

How's the 1989 La Lagune? I didn't taste it at the Convention, alas.

Winona Chief · Post by **Winona Chief** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 12:13 am

I don't think I tasted 1989 Lalagune either. That 1989 La Dominique is fully mature now so it would be a good choice.

I think I'll probably bring an Angelus in addition to the Climens.

Chris Bublitz

JCNorthway · Post by **JCNorthway** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 1:27 am

I did taste both the 1988 and 1989 La Lagune last Saturday. They were both drinking wonderfully. In fact, Paula said they were her favorite wines after the blind tasting. If someone brings the 1989, it will be enjoyed.

Jon

DavidG · Post by **DavidG** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 3:09 am

I'd love to join but fall is usually pretty difficult to get away. I think I've got commitments on all of the dates listed. Nov 21 would work but it's the Sat before Thanksgiving.

DavidG · Post by **DavidG** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 3:09 am

Love the idea of opera + wine dinner...

Tom In DC · Post by **Tom In DC** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 5:50 am

We might substitute a show for the opera, but count us in!

jal · Post by **jal** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 12:56 pm

I'm in with Pichon Baron (definitely), Angelus or l'Evangile (probably, I think I have one bottle of each)

Jay Winton · Post by **Jay Winton** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 1:12 pm

so is the date Novemner 14th? Jon, I'm glad Paula enjoyed the 89 LaLagune. I have a couple more left.

Blanquito · Post by **Blanquito** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 9:47 pm

Nov. 14th would be very hard for me, being on the academic calendar as I am.

I can make the week following, Nov. 21st or something in mid-October.

JimHow · Post by **JimHow** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 10:04 pm

I think I'm available for any Saturday night in October or November. September would probably not be good.

Winona Chief · Post by **Winona Chief** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 11:25 pm

My preferences are October 17, November 7, November 14 and November 21 in that order.

I have joined the Metropolitan Opera Guild so I will be able to purchase tickets in advance of the general public sales if anyone wants to do an opera outing before the tasting.

Chris Bublitz

Winona Chief · Post by **Winona Chief** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 11:28 pm

Jacques,

1989 Pichon Baron sounds great - wasn't that Wine Spectator wine of the the year when it was released (although some think that honor should have gone to Lynch Bages).

Chris Bublitz

JimHow · Post by **JimHow** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 11:50 pm

The 1985 Lynch was WS Wine of the Year, Winona, they can't give it to the poor man's Mouton every year.

jal · Post by **jal** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 11:54 pm

ok, Pichon Baron is in. Let's try to get the gang together.

JimHow · Post by **JimHow** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 11:56 pm

Excellent! I'm in, I'm sure I can source some '89 Lynch, that's what I'll bring.

Claret · Post by **Claret** » Sat Apr 11, 2009 10:56 pm

I have been a big fan of the 1989's since early on. Two decades of cellar time has done them well.

Angelus and Pichon Baron(yes, a former WS WOTY) are stunning as is Montrose. I will pop Pichon Lalande on my birthday in a couple of months. I look forward to seeinng the latest tasting results.

Blanquito · Post by **Blanquito** » Mon Apr 13, 2009 4:16 am

deleted

Jay Winton · Post by **Jay Winton** » Mon Apr 13, 2009 1:56 pm

So what is the date?

DavidG · Post by **DavidG** » Mon Apr 13, 2009 10:37 pm

Yes, need a definite date here to see if I can arrange it. If I can come, I can bring an '89 Montrose which has been resting in my cellar since release.

Blanquito · Post by **Blanquito** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 4:00 am

Okay, the Montrose is now (tentatively) accounted for, so I deleted my WineBid suggestion.

Tom In DC · Post by **Tom In DC** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 4:20 am

NEWS FLASH!!!!!

JimHow wrote:Excellent! I'm in, I'm sure I can source some '89 Lynch, that's what I'll bring.

Jimmy "The Fight Lawyer" How will be wheeling out his has been, wanna be First Growth for another smack down at the hands of the real wines out there!

Comte Flaneur · Post by **Comte Flaneur** » Wed Apr 15, 2009 4:09 pm

That's why we want to get as many big guns out as possible to put Jim's wannabe first growth to the sword...I can get Mouton as well if anyone wants to buy in below market prices...also would be nice to get Haut-Brion...

Any preferences for dates? My pref is Nov 14

DavidG · Post by **DavidG** » Wed Apr 15, 2009 5:54 pm

I'm pretty sure I can do Nov 14 - have to check with my partner to see if he can cover call. But I think Patrick said that date was a problem...

Comte Flaneur · Post by **Comte Flaneur** » Wed Apr 15, 2009 7:21 pm

Oh yes that's right, we can't do it without Blanquito; also trying to track down Ramon who suggested 89s in the first place