x
  • Country ranking ?

    815
  • Producer ranking ?

    23
  • Decanting time

    2h
  • When to drink

    now to 2035
  • Food Pairing

    Duck Confit with a Merlot Sauce

The Tb points given to this wine are the world’s most valid and most up-to-date evaluation of the quality of the wine. Tastingbook points are formed by the Tastingbook algorithm which takes into account the wine ratings of the world's best-known professional wine critics, wine ratings by thousands of tastingbook’s professionals and users, the generally recognised vintage quality and reputation of the vineyard and winery. Wine needs at least five professional ratings to get the Tb score. Tastingbook.com is the world's largest wine information service which is an unbiased, non-commercial and free for everyone.

Close

95 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

One of the superstars of the vintage, Palmer’s 1989 retains a dark plum/purple color with some pink and a hint of amber creeping in at the rim. A big nose of charcoal, white flowers (acacia?), licorice, plums, and black currants comes from the glass of this elegant, medium to full-bodied, very concentrated, seamlessly made wine. Gorgeous and seemingly fully mature yet brilliantly balanced, this wine may well turn out to be a modern-day clone of the glorious 1953

Close

The Story

Vintage after vintage, the wines of Château Palmer express our vision of an exceptional wine. We believe that it is born of the mysterious trilogy – terroir, history, memory – and all of our efforts are concentrated on bringing it into the world. Distinction, high standards and commitment are the values that guide every choice we make from the vineyard to the table where the wine is served.


Knowing
Knowing your terroir, your grapes, and your wines – this is a threefold enterprise of patient observation. What seems to be a given is in fact a matter of exacting standards at every moment. To know the terroir you have to become intimately familiar with it. We strive to know the grape variety, subsoil, and exposure of each and every plot but also of each and every row within the plot, as we regard every vine as a unique individual. To know our grapes well, we closely monitor their development until maturity. To know our wines, we taste the batches, the vats, the barrels, and the bottles again and again.


Understanding
Progress in œnology has provided us with insight into the development of wines. Progress in agronomy has given us a better understanding of the life of our vineyards. This makes for more precision in our interventions as much in the winery as in the vineyards. Applying the best technical innovations in a spirit of reconciliation between science and craftsmanship, we use all relevant means to reveal the unique character of the Palmer terroir with each new vintage.


Creating
With the grapes that nature offers us, our job is to create the best possible wine. Is this craftsmanship or artistry? No doubt both. Like skilled craftspeople that love their trade, we select and blend the batches with meticulous care. And like artists, we let ourselves be swept away by the work that is born, as it imposes itself upon our will, surprises, amazes and transcends us.


Kindling desire
Ultimately our goal is to make Château Palmer wines as desirable as can be. To achieve this, everything we do, whether we work in the vineyard, the winery, or in the offices, is informed by high standards and a sense of detail Nothing is left to chance, not the choice of paper for a label, or that of an etching for the wood crates, or of a theme for a reception. 

Close

Wine Information

Characteristics of the vintage

1989 was hot year that produced the earliest vintage of the century. The wines were of exceptional quality, similar, if not superior to the 1982s.

Flowering took place in May, when the warm weather encouraged vine growth. Temperatures soared in June and the heatwave continued throughout July and August. The little rain that did fall was welcome to alleviate vine stress and allow the ripening process to continue.

At the beginning of September, more rain made the choice of a picking date difficult. In terms of the Cabernet Sauvignon, the situation was complicated still further by the fact that although sugar levels were high, the polyphenols were not as ripe as they might be.

Alcohol and tannin levels were high and the tannins were of excellent quality, soft and ripe. Acidity was naturally low. The 1989s were powerful, rich and full-bodied yet supple.

Harvest dates: from 09/06/1989 to 09/23/1989

Blend

Cabernet Sauvignon: 52%
Merlot: 41%
Petit Verdot: 6%
Cabernet Franc: 1%

Tasting

Tasting notes from Enrico Bernardo, 12/01/2011:

Limpid, ruby-red colour.
Rather closed-in on the nose with nuances of cherry jam, pepper, and mushrooms.
Broad-based, smooth, very round, elegant, and intense on the palate. However lacking somewhat in length and complexity.

Tasting notes from Georges Lepré, 02/04/2012:

The dark ruby color shows some garnet nuances.

The bouquet explodes with jammy black fruits, woody notes, mild spices, violets, camphor, tobacco, toast, leather and truffle.

The attack confirms this rich fruit, with distinguished tannins and an exemplary freshness. Although full-bodied, it also shows excellent harmony and incomparable grace. It seduces our senses right down to the straightforward finish and extraordinary flavors.

This Palmer is a truly great wine.
It can be held until the 30s.

Close

Vintage 1989

Bordeaux: The 2nd in a trio of great vintages and which produced a large harvest of ripe, rich and fleshy wines which generally possess soft, silky tannins, accompanied by a high alcohol level. It was the hottest summer since 1949 and the harvest began on August 28, the earliest since 1893. The grapes were harvested in dry conditions, the only concern being that some acidity levels were low, which which has led to suggestions that some wines would not be suitable for long-term aging. Ten years later, these fears have proven to be largely unfounded, as the best wines are now showing extremely well, showing concentration and great complexity.

Close

Tasting note

Be the first one to make a 20s tasting note!

Written Notes

Sweet fruit, a bit alcoholic and warm, quite aromatic, fine balance and complexity, long soft finish. This bottle didn't seem to be a perfect example of this vintage for Palmer.

  • 93p
A great wine with great potential. The colour is purple red with garnet red hue. Initially the nose is quite youtfhull and closed but opens slowly to display ist complex character. Fine fruit aroma interact with mild spices, hints of gingerbread and fine toasted flavours. on the palate the wine is densely woven, very compact wit excellent balance of ripe tannins, mild acidity and aromatic weight.
  • 96p
Bright ruby, garnet rim. Leather, cedar, floral, very subdued and elegant nose, layered and a bit light on it's feet, gorgeous nose. Slightly heavier with air. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, elegant and leaner body, still quite intense, leather, tobacco and still a slight tannic grip in the finish. Long.
  • 94p
Load more notes

Information

Origin

Margaux, Bordeaux

Vintage Quality

Excellent

Value For Money

Good

Investment potential

Below Average

Fake factory

None

Glass time

1h
Incorrect Information
If you found some information that is wrong, let us know
Are you sure you want do delete this wine? All information will be lost.
Are you sure you want to recommend this wine?
Are you sure you want hide this written note ?
Are you sure you want show this written note ?
UPGRADE MEMBER PLAN
Upgrade your membership now, it's quick and easy. We use PayPal, the world's largest payment system, it accepts all credit cards. Once you've chosen your membership level, you'll go directly to PayPal. You can cancel your membership at any time.
Thank you for your support!
 

Pro Member

 

Winemerchant Member

 

Winery Member

 

User

 

HOW TO USE TASTINGBOOK?

We recommend you to share few minutes for watching the following video instructions of how to use the Tastingbook. This can provide you a comprehensive understanding of all the features you can find from this unique service platform.

This video will help you get started



Taste wines with the Tastingbook


Create Your wine cellar on 'My Wines'



Explore Your tasted wines library



Administrate Your wine world in Your Profile



Type a message ...
Register to Tastingbook
Sign up now, it's quick and easy.
We use PayPal, the world's largest payment system, it accepts all credit cards.
Once you've chosen your membership level, you'll go directly to PayPal, where you can sign up for a free 7-day trial period. You can cancel your membership at any time. We wish you a rewarding journey to the world of Fine Wines.

Free 7 days Member trial

 

Member

 

Pro Member

 

Winemerchant Member

 

Winery Member

 

User

  Register