Château Léoville Poyferré - Saint-Julien 1989

Wine Advocate

95 / 100

par Neal Martin le 29/04/2008

A deeper colour compared to the ’88 Poyferré with more maturity on the rim. But it has a glorious nose that leaps from the glass: raspberry, sea salt, a touch of game and dried blood all with marvellous definition. The palate is full-bodied, layers of black fruits laced with tobacco, well-judged acidity with a dense, slightly gamey, brambly finish with great persistency and vigour. Still not quite reached its plateau yet...but nearly there! A ridiculously fine 1989 drink now, but with a long future. Drink now-2030 [-2030] Tasted March 2008.

Wine Spectator

90 / 100

par James Suckling le 31/05/1999

Slightly one-dimensional, but outstanding. Dark ruby-colored center, verging on purple. Superripe aromas of cassis, berry and mint. Full-bodied, very sleek, with fine tannins and a long, long, caressing finish.--1989 Bordeaux horizontal. Best after 2000.

Wine Advocate

89 / 100

par Robert Parker le 28/02/1997

The 1989 Leoville-Poyferre performed well in this tasting. It has always been a very good wine, but somewhat abrasively tannic, with a coarser structure and degree of toughness that has been slow to subside. In this tasting, the wine exhibited a youthful color, as well as attractive, sweet, cherry and black-currant notes in its nose intermingled with a touch of earth and spice. The 1989 does not possess the body, weight, and richness of the 1990, coming across as more of a mid-weight, leaner style of wine. It is more austere, and the tough tannin that has been a worrisome component since its birth is still present. This wine could turn around and come close to being an outstanding example, but I suspect it will be a struggle for the fruit to overcome the tannin. Anticipated maturity: 2004-2018.

Wine Advocate

87 / 100

par Robert Parker le 28/02/1993

If the tannins had not been so forbiddingly high, I would have been more supportive of this chateau's 1989. Dark ruby, but not as opaque or purple as some 1989s tend to be, this medium-bodied, tough-textured wine looks to be a long-distance runner, but will the fruit hold up? Anticipated maturity: 1998-2020.

Wine Advocate

87 / 100

par Robert Parker le 30/04/1992

If the tannins had not been so forbiddingly high, I would have been more supportive of this chateau's 1989. It should be the finest Leoville-Poyferre since the 1983, but the tannin level is not entirely balanced by the wine's concentration. If the mid-palate fills out, it could be outstanding. Dark ruby, but not as opaque or purple as some 1989s tend to be, this medium-bodied, tough-textured wine looks to be a long-distance runner, but will the fruit hold up? Anticipated maturity: 1998-2020. Tasted five times. Consistent notes.