1989 Olivier: the glories of yesteryear

[Blanquito]

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.

[OrlandoRobert]

So cool, glad you enjoyed this wine!

I have one left. Should pop with another similar classic, 1990 La Louviere.

[stefan]

I drank many bottles of this. It was a great bargain. I am glad that you found some, Patrick.

[Blanquito]

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.

[AKR]

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.

[Blanquito]

Another lovely, tertiary, effortless bottle of this tonight. Wow, what a great QPR.

[JimHow]

I remember drinking a bottle of the ‘89 in Curacau, an eon ago.

[OrlandoRobert]

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.

[OrlandoRobert]

I remember drinking a bottle of the ‘89 in Curacau, an eon ago.

I smell a story here....

[Blanquito]

I remember drinking a bottle of the ‘89 in Curacau, an eon ago.

I smell a story here....

Indeed. My nights in Curaçao always had a story.

[AKR]

All of them ought to start with a Blue Hawaii

[JoelD]

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.

Sounds tasty, I love finding value older Bordeaux from great vintages. The 1990 Pibran was a perfect example of this.

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!

[Nicklasss]

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.

Sounds tasty, I love finding value older Bordeaux from great vintages. The 1990 Pibran was a perfect example of this.

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!

Go for it Joel.

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.

[Nicklasss]

It seems like someone already rated the 1989 Chateau Olivier 91.5714 points, but I can't remember who it was...

[JoelD]

It seems like someone already rated the 1989 Chateau Olivier 91.5714 points, but I can't remember who it was...

Damn, that sounds like a good rating system. Where can I find out more about this??

[Blanquito]

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.