1989 Chateau GRAND-PUY-LACOSTE Pauillac-MÃƒÆ’Ã‚Â©doc

Attila · Post by **Attila** » Thu Jan 22, 2004 9:43 am

Tasting note No.29

Moments, to savour great Cabernet like this, doesn't come often enough. This is one of my favourite properties in Pauillac. I'll never forget the mighty 1979, my first encounter with Lacoste, more than a decade ago.
This wine is from a 90 hectare vineyard run by Francois-Xavier Borie, classified as a 5th Growth, however the quality is closer to a 3rd or 2nd growth. Planted varieties are Cabernet Sauvignon 75% and Merlot 25%. This wine spent 18 months in oak, more than half of the barrels were new. The vintage of 1989 was very,very good.

Colour cherry red, showing the age on the edges but still has a dark cherry red centre. Beautifully aromatic nose of cassis and sweet black currant. The experience is absolutely BEAUTIFUL as this wine evolves in the glass. More smokey oak, spices and cigar box characters emerge. Very distinctive, it's easy to guess that this wine is from Pauillac. The palate has everything you dream for, smooth, rich and ripe fruit, impeccably balanced by oak and siky tannins. A very harmonious and PERFECT wine, superb drinking right now at 14 years of age. Amazingly pure cabernet taste with wonderful depth and complexities, it just goes on and on. Full and creamy, this vintage does not reflect the usually 'strong and powerfully extreme' characters Lacoste is so famous for. A bargain, as it only cost AU $150.

Everyone was stunned by it at the table. We've all been very, very lucky thanks to Adair who brought the bottle along for our first great club dinner in 2004. Full details on the wines and food for this event, will soon be provided by Adair.

Tasted:January 2004

Adam · Post by **Adam** » Mon Jan 26, 2004 6:19 pm

Thanks for the note Atilla. In your view, how long will it hold?

I have a bit of this in the cellar still, along with a few other unopened cases, the oldest being the 1970, which I dont hold too much hope for!

PaulV · Post by **PaulV** » Tue Jan 27, 2004 9:47 am

Adam

I had the 1970 about a decade ago and it was still drinking beautifully. As long as it has been well cellared i think it should still be a nice drink - it was one of the successes of the vintage - as it turned out Paulliac was the most sucessful commune - look at Latour - might I add that though Mouton R was pretty crappy.

Cheers

paulV

Attila · Post by **Attila** » Tue Jan 27, 2004 6:45 pm

Dear Adam,

You are a fortunate person to own bottles of this Lacoste vintage, I'd certainly open a couple now as the wine is absolutely DELICIOUS. I believe it will stay 'open' like this for an other 6 years before it will slowly decline. The 1970, as PaulV mentioned was beautiful a decade ago, who knows, it may still be a very good wine but probably needs to be drunk in any case.
Cheers,
Attila