1989 Domaine de Chevalier (red)

YLee · May 22, 2020, 11:17pm

Picked up halves mostly since Im the only one drinking.

Brian_G_r_a_f_s_t_r_o_m · May 23, 2020, 4:26pm

2018 got 100 points?!? Crap.

From whom?

Jim_Brennan · May 23, 2020, 4:57pm

The new stuff is nothing like the old stuff stylistically.

Andrew_K · May 23, 2020, 6:11pm

Suckling, naturally. But I based my purchase on the 98 on CT with 7 reviews and lots of praise from other critics.

http://www.albanyvintners.com/wine/details/17815/Domaine%20de%20Chevalier%20Rouge

Mark_Golodetz · May 23, 2020, 6:41pm

to all:
My scoring system is a firmly tongue-in-cheek complaint about wine writers whose 100 point system is really a 50 point system is really a 16 point system (as nothing is rated under 85). Take my scores for what they are worth… free, ie, nothing. Take them with a grain, or many metric tons of salt. FWIW, I appreciate the 100 point scale which has made wine accessible to so many people.

to Paul Savage - I decided on this at almost the last minute. I brought it up from the basement (60 degrees) to the house (68 degrees), pulled the cork, decanted 45 minutes later and attacked. I admit not a perfect approach, but what it was. I don’t think the approach harmed anything, this is a Pessac-Leognan with a lot of Merlot in the blend. At 22 years, it’s ready to go.

to BeauneHead - WOW! I know you’re a Burgocentric (your board name gives a tiny hint , but would not have guessed that you did not know this hallowed estate. IMO it is underrated by virtually every wine writer. It is, with Boyd Cantenac, the only Bordeaux future I have bought since '05. My first vintage was 1955 (superb in the mid 60s) and I’ve probably had 20 or more. Rarely disappointed, usually pleased with the value, sometimes just thrilled. '89 is not a thriller, '78 is in my Hall of Fame (not the same Hall of Fame as those who regularly drink 1st growths).

Dan Kravitz

I seem to remember you rather liking a 1953.

I think the current DDCs are very different from those made today. I prefer the older style.

Jurgen_Steinke · May 25, 2020, 8:09am

Dan,

I once sat next to the Chateau owner at a dinner, I guess it was 2006 +/-. He gave us several vintages to taste. The 1989 was included. It was a fine wine but actually a bit light. Strange when you have in mind that both Haut Brion and La Mission Haut Brion made memorable wines in that year. The wines from 1998 onwards were much better IMO. They are more intense but in no way overdone.