This was shockingly fresh and brightly colored. Butter popcorn, apples, lemon, and floral notes on the nose. The palate has quite a bit of acidity with lemon and dried flowers. Nice finish. Well balanced with good weight and richer notes, offset by the acidity. Amazing wine, can't believe it's 33 years old.
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Commonly 70% S.B. & 30% Sémillon; “Every aspect of winemaking takes place in barrels, usually with ≈30% new. Temps frequently attain 25 or even 27/28° C during fermentation. Regular bâtonnage strengthens the wine’s structure & makes it more refined. Ageing takes place on the lees until the end of the 1st summer after the vintage. The wine then spends a 2nd winter in barrel, after which it is naturally clarified.”
N: LOVELY, smoky, toasty aromas which I can't quite ID further; Notes of what I'd call sea spray with undertones of caramel & honey
P: LM body; RNDISH entry with LOVELY, ALMOST swtish oak/frt nicely balanced by an acidity which seamlessly transitions into a LONG, BALANCED (albeit poss very, VERY slightly faint) finish with a DEFINITE elegance. For now & through '20, though probably as a conversation piece or aperitif as opposed to accompanying an entree. 13% ABV; My EXC. 16+/20 Jancis Robinson (2/'06)
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Not quite as vibrant as the '83 earlier in the week, but a lovely mature white Bordeaux with lots of citrus and wax. It might have been in decanter a little longer than optimum. But quite enjoyed.
CHE95. Ripe harmonious wine at the peak. Manylayers, with ripe white fruits, honey, nuts, minerals, perfect balanced and long delicious aftertaste. Verdict- 30 years- incredible!
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Arômes de caramel, lemon curd, pêche, melon, poivre vert avec un nez un peu oxydatif dû à l'âge de la bouteille, par contraste la bouche est vive et incisive avec une acidité soutenue. À boire impérativement.
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I had really high hopes for this wine, having been blown away by the 1985. Unfortunately, this bottle was pretty oxidized. The aromatics were mostly bruised apples, honey, and a little tropical fruit notes. Later when the wine warmed and was exposed to more air, some grassy and grapefruit notes emerged suggesting Sauvignon Blanc, but still some oxidation remained. On the palate it was pretty easy to drink, reasonable balance and acidity, but more oxidative characteristics.
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Early family Xmas get together for pro-chef son who will be plying his trade on 25th! Limited note taking. Two bottles uncorked for an hour before serving. No hint of age on the nose or in the colour. Aroma of aromatic exotic fruits carried subtly forward to the palate with a merest touch of oak and an integrated green pepper capsicum grip. Racy elegance rather than massive body and a great accompaniment for our smoked salmon and beetroot starter. Fully mature, but would certainly hold up for perhaps another 3-5 years - however, I suspect nothing to gain by doing so especially as there seems to be considerable bottle variance with this vintage. These (my only) 2 were in A1 condition.
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1989 domaine chevalier. Supposedly past its prime and from a subpar year. BS! This wine is profound and beautiful. Not a great portch sipper as there is almost no primary fruit left to speak of, but so many secondary and tertiary flavors, particularly on the nose. Pine apple and melon. Vanilla and other oak notes. Caramel. Some oxidation and mellowed acids. A wonderful experience for true wine lover. PDQ 94
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4/16/2024 - DaleW wrote:
I should have given more air, more reserved than a bottle a couple months ago. Lemon, grapefruit, waxy. B (B+/A- later that night)
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3/26/2024 - DaleW wrote:
A wine I’ve always liked, but thought this bottle stunning.Beeswax, coconut, grapefruit. Good acids, full body, tangy mineral finish. A-/A
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10/15/2022 - glou.sf Likes this wine: 93 Points
This was shockingly fresh and brightly colored. Butter popcorn, apples, lemon, and floral notes on the nose. The palate has quite a bit of acidity with lemon and dried flowers. Nice finish. Well balanced with good weight and richer notes, offset by the acidity. Amazing wine, can't believe it's 33 years old.
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8/2/2022 - DaleW wrote:
Citrus, beeswax, and light notes of vanilla, full and long.Lively acidity, fine match, fine wine. A-
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6/29/2019 - srh Likes this wine:
Winebar [4 Whites, 8 Reds, & 6 *shared* bottles] from 06/28/19 (Vintage Wines Ltd., San Diego, CA): Jim, *THANK* you for fulfilling 1 of my bucket list items! :)
Commonly 70% S.B. & 30% Sémillon; “Every aspect of winemaking takes place in barrels, usually with ≈30% new. Temps frequently attain 25 or even 27/28° C during fermentation. Regular bâtonnage strengthens the wine’s structure & makes it more refined. Ageing takes place on the lees until the end of the 1st summer after the vintage. The wine then spends a 2nd winter in barrel, after which it is naturally clarified.”
N: LOVELY, smoky, toasty aromas which I can't quite ID further; Notes of what I'd call sea spray with undertones of caramel & honey
P: LM body; RNDISH entry with LOVELY, ALMOST swtish oak/frt nicely balanced by an acidity which seamlessly transitions into a LONG, BALANCED (albeit poss very, VERY slightly faint) finish with a DEFINITE elegance. For now & through '20, though probably as a conversation piece or aperitif as opposed to accompanying an entree. 13% ABV; My EXC. 16+/20 Jancis Robinson (2/'06)
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2/18/2019 - Paul S wrote: flawed
1989 Bordeaux - 30 years on. (Famous Treasure, Capitol Piazza, Singapore): Tragically corked. It got a bit better with time and air, especially on the beautifully structured palate, but this always felt a bit stripped by TCA.
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1/28/2019 - DaleW wrote:
Ripe with plenty of vanillin oak, lots of wax, good but gets better with time and foods. B+’
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1/5/2019 - DaleW wrote:
Not quite as vibrant as the '83 earlier in the week, but a lovely mature white Bordeaux with lots of citrus and wax. It might have been in decanter a little longer than optimum. But quite enjoyed.
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7/4/2018 - AV2012 wrote:
From a magnum it was fresh and still with a touch of oak. Complex as DdCB always is.
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6/17/2018 - Aleks Che Likes this wine: 95 Points
CHE95. Ripe harmonious wine at the peak. Manylayers, with ripe white fruits, honey, nuts, minerals, perfect balanced and long delicious aftertaste. Verdict- 30 years- incredible!
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4/2/2017 - swaap wrote: 91 Points
Arômes de caramel, lemon curd, pêche, melon, poivre vert avec un nez un peu oxydatif dû à l'âge de la bouteille, par contraste la bouche est vive et incisive avec une acidité soutenue. À boire impérativement.
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7/24/2016 - Bordeaux_Jon wrote: 91 Points
I had really high hopes for this wine, having been blown away by the 1985. Unfortunately, this bottle was pretty oxidized. The aromatics were mostly bruised apples, honey, and a little tropical fruit notes. Later when the wine warmed and was exposed to more air, some grassy and grapefruit notes emerged suggesting Sauvignon Blanc, but still some oxidation remained. On the palate it was pretty easy to drink, reasonable balance and acidity, but more oxidative characteristics.
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4/30/2016 - aquacongas wrote: flawed
unfortunately corked
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12/2/2014 - NickBurwood Likes this wine: 92 Points
Early family Xmas get together for pro-chef son who will be plying his trade on 25th! Limited note taking.
Two bottles uncorked for an hour before serving. No hint of age on the nose or in the colour. Aroma of aromatic exotic fruits carried subtly forward to the palate with a merest touch of oak and an integrated green pepper capsicum grip. Racy elegance rather than massive body and a great accompaniment for our smoked salmon and beetroot starter.
Fully mature, but would certainly hold up for perhaps another 3-5 years - however, I suspect nothing to gain by doing so especially as there seems to be considerable bottle variance with this vintage. These (my only) 2 were in A1 condition.
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6/26/2011 - pdemaio wrote: 94 Points
1989 domaine chevalier. Supposedly past its prime and from a subpar year. BS! This wine is profound and beautiful. Not a great portch sipper as there is almost no primary fruit left to speak of, but so many secondary and tertiary flavors, particularly on the nose. Pine apple and melon. Vanilla and other oak notes. Caramel. Some oxidation and mellowed acids. A wonderful experience for true wine lover. PDQ 94
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8/9/2010 - portobellovines wrote: 89 Points
less powerful than the previous bottles - approaching end of life??
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7/4/2009 - portobellovines wrote: 90 Points
needed time in decanter (2hrs+) - very long and linear - a little limited in breadth of flavors.
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9/1/2008 - BailliSacks wrote: 89 Points
Oak nose, light middle, butter finish.
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