August 2019 Auction: Château Pétrus 1989 Château Pétrus 1989 Pomerol
Château Pétrus is undisputedly the top wine estate in the Bordeaux right-bank appellation of Pomerol and rightly lays claim to being one of the most famous estates in the world of wine. Unofficially recognised as a "Premier Grand Cru" (no such classification exists in Pomerol), Pétrus is considered first-among-equals with the likes of Mouton- and Lafite-Rothschild in regards to both quality and iconic stature. By virtue of the aroit management of Christian Moueix and his team, Pétrus is reputed to be the best Pomerol in the world
The modern wines of Chateau Pétrus are almost entirely Merlot; maturation takes place in French Oak, approximately 50% new oak, for 18-20 months.
This bottle is from the exceptional 1989 vintage.
Internationally acclaimed wine critic and journalist, James Suckling, scored this a superlative 100/100 points
I have always loved this wine. It's a giant, yet also sophisticated and reserved. Still dark-ruby colored, with beautiful aromas of fruits and spices. Full-bodied, with opulent fruit and a depth of flavor that lasts for minutes on the palate. Loads of tobacco and fruit.--Pétrus non-blind vertical. Best after 2010. James Suckling, WineSpectator.com
Influential American wine critic and write, Robert M. Parker also scored this superb 1989 vintage a world class 100/100
How reassuring it is to see this wine, now the darling of international speculators, trophy hunters, et. al. perform so splendidly. My experience with young vintages of Petrus, particularly in the eighties, is that the wines often did not live up to their pre-bottling quality. That has not been the case with the 1989 and 1990. Both wines have consistently provided exhilarating tasting on the few times I have been able to take a look at them. I initially thought the 1990 may have been marginally superior to the 1989, but at present it is a dead heat. Both are enormously jammy, rich, super-concentrated wines that signal a return to the great Petrus of the pre-1976 era. The tannin is well-integrated, but the enormous texture, thickness, and impeccable balance are what make these wines so provocative. The 1989 is more backward and tannic, thus coming across as marginally more structured than the opulent and flashy 1990. Both wines are phenomenally rich and well-endowed, with that sweet inner-core of fruit that possesses layers of intensity. The colors are nearly opaque purple, and the noses are similar, with offerings of jammy black fruits, intertwined with scents of tea, overripe cherries, oranges, and an exotic coconut/caramel component. Both are massive and youthful, with the 1990 clearly more precocious, and for now, the most flattering to drink. The 1989 should hit its peak around 2005 and last for 25-30 years. For readers with the riches of a super-star athlete and, just as importantly, a shrewd wine broker who can locate these wines, these two vintages of Petrus will provide memorable drinking for another three decades. Two prodigious wines! Feb 1997, www.robertparker.com
You can view this Château Pétrus 1989 Pomerol here. It will feature in our current auction, which finishes on 19 August from 19:00 BST.
