1989 Château de la Grille Chinon

Community Tasting Notes (7) Avg Score: 91.6 points

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  2/19/2024 - vagrantone Likes this wine: 93 Points

  Wine of the night.
  First bottle tasted after recorking; about 18 months ago.
  This wine will continue to drink well.
  A reference Loire Valley cabernet Franc

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  3/3/2021 - vagrantone Likes this wine: 93 Points

  First of 6 bottle.
  Shrivelled cork in terrible condition; surely a result the unique bottle shape.
  Not decanted given age and condition of cork.
  Nice deep hue with minimal brownig. The slightly dusty appearance quickly disappeared as the wine regained its exceptional purity.
  While this is clearly not a wine for everyone, it's amazing within its category.
  Yes, this Cabernet Framc has some herbaceousness and spiciness to it but that's exactly what I want. cassis fruit, spices, earthiness. The aromas are so well defined and pure and, as previously pointed out, this wine doesn't show its age. The acidity makes the wine lively but not sharp. There's still considerable tannin structure here. How long will it age? Long, intense finish. Brilliant!

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  1/2/2018 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 93 Points

  A private dinner with friends (at home): Magnum. Quite fabulous, the difference with the single bottle tasted five years ago is marked. This is classic Chinon par excellence, which has just arrived on its plateau of maturity (I kid you not). Very youthful appearance with little browning; incredibly energetic and fresh for a wine three decades old, very mineral and chalky but with the ripe black fruit required for balance, beautiful leafy and floral Cabernet Franc, black pepper and tobacco, relatively terse but focused in its expression, athletic without being sinewy, perfectly integrated oak, lovely hint of natural sweetness; excellent resonance and length. Amazing stuff. Drink now - 2039 (I kid you not). I wish I had six more.

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  4/18/2017 - johneagle Likes this wine: 92 Points

  Still excellent (a bottle of the 1990 opened later had gone). Lost a little zip but a delicious drink.

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  10/7/2014 - CarpeVinoDiem Likes this wine: 92 Points

  No notes taken.
  Perfect provenance and fill level.
  
  Wow!
  Nice slight bricking 2001 color.
  Excellent black and red fruits (yes, I try not to put specific fruits into one's glass, until they've had the hopeful opportunity).
  Just a touch of mint, eucalyptus, and occasional olive.
  Moderate 2% milk mouth-weight body,
  Great silky mouth-feel,
  LONG finish of about 1 1/2 minutes.
  
  Definitely the best Chinon I've had the pleasure of experiencing!
  
  92+ points.
  
  "Loren Bacall in a silk dress, enjoying dinner with candlelight."
  
  While the 1993 Imagery Cab Franc was also excellent,
  this baby is certainly more obviously French,
  but without a zealous amount of garrigue or cow-pie.
  
  Glad I have one left.
  
  Incredible with Beef Wellington!

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View all 7 Community Tasting Notes

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