Blind '89's for a Monday....

Needed to open a few goodies....so I called some of the guys over, and blinded them with a theme of 1989. I wanted to open a lone bottle of 1989 Mouton, so I paired it with the '89 Clerc Milon, and had to get a domestic in there, so I opted for the surprisingly good '89 Chateau St. Jean Res. Cab. All wines were splash decanted, then put back in bottle and corked up, about 2hrs in advance. No one, except me, knew what the wines were going to be...and I had Edson pour them so I didn't know which was which.
The players were me, Edson, and Glenn....with Glenn adding a 1986 Monte Bello later on. Fun time...thanks guys!!

• 1989 Chateau St. Jean Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 93 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County

  Dark garnet, slight rose rim color. Full dusty nose of cedar, leather, black cherry/dried fruit, licorice. Great nose. Still youthful in the mouth....layered rich dark berry fruit, some tannin, dusty cedar box, chocolate covered dried fruit, slight tart and spicy berry finish. This wine is drinking amazing for it's age, and the Vintage. Drank along side an '89 Mouton,'89 Clerc Milon, and '86 Monte Bello....it did seem sweeter after tasting those...more caramel notes....but still, hell-of-a wine! My #2

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• 1989 Château Clerc Milon 91 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  Dark garnet, slight brown rim color. Whoa...funky pungent nose of decaying fruit/dried tobacco leaves. Not off putting, just funky! But that blew off nicely after 20 or so minutes....showing more old leather and cedar. Plush and silky smooth in the mouth, yet still structured. Red berry, raisiny fruit, leather, aged cedar, pencil lead. Kept changing in the glass.....tasty at times, but had some bitters as well. Of the 4 wines we tasted, this was the most over the hill. My #4.

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• 1989 Château Mouton Rothschild 96 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  Dark garnet, slight brick rim color. WHAT A NOSE!!! No funk, like the '89 Clerc Milon, deep deep spice box, dusty cedar, leather, smoked underbrush stems, dried berries, some coffee later on. Beautiful florals and seductive spices on the nose, that kept getting better and better, even as the bottle was last drained! Silky smooth in the mouth, yet still powerful....very complexed with the same flavors as the nose, as well as some mint, dried herbs....well balanced wine, still with room to grow. I knew this had to be the Mouton.....killer wine! My #1.

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• 1986 Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon Monte Bello 92 Points

  USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

  Garnet, slight ruby color. Muted nose at first...but opened to lots of herbs, menthol, dried fruit. Youthful in the mouth, still a kick with tannin, a little thin in fruit compared to our other 3 wines('89 Mouton,'89Clerc Milon,'89 St. Jean Res. Cab). Nice smoothness, complexities of old oak barrel, cherry, dusty spice, dried herbs. Aged well, tasty, just lite in fruit. You can tell the cool weather style. Not much of a finish. Still, I liked it, but not up to par for MB. My #3

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• 2003 Sine Qua Non Chardonnay Mr. K The Noble Man 96 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Edna Valley

  Third time with this.....this wine will NEVER fade! HUGE gobs of sweet and oily, honey, apricot, candied pears....creme brulee crust, green tea, some tobacco, more pronounced Alban asphalt, and white pepper spice. Doesn't have as much acidity as I remember....the sweet fruit just consumes. But, as to the brilliance of MK's winemaking.....it has great balance, and really isn't cloying. Super tasty sipper! A dessert in itself.

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Until the next time!