Wine Advisor
Palmer 1989
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Palmer has done a magnificent job with their 1989, which continues to be a wine of immense seduction. The expansive, rich, fat texture owes its opulence to the high percentage of Merlot used by this property. Opaque deep ruby/purple, this full-bodied, satiny wine has considerable alcoholic clout, is low in acidity, but splendidly concentrated and abundantly full of velvety tannins. It will be fascinating to see if this wine ultimately rivals the great Palmers made in 1983, 1970, 1966, and 1961. This is a thrilling 1989! Anticipated maturity: Now-2012. Last tasted, 3/93.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Tasted at Handford’s 21st anniversary tasting. Served from magnum, the Palmer 1989 is the best release from the Margaux estate. Like many 1989s, the nose is developing more tertiary element with age, perhaps an autumnal bouquet with dried leaves, woodland and undergrowth underlying the ripe black fruits. With continued aeration there is just a touch of brine. The palate is tannic on the entry with very good density, even more so than the Mouton ’89 poured alongside, with a smoked meat note appearing right on the persistency, grippy finish. This is a multi-faceted Palmer that continues to offer immense pleasure and yes, I do think it out-classes Chateau Margaux. Drink now-2030. Tasted October 2010.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Palmer's 1989 is magnificent. It remains a wine of immense seduction. The bouquet roars from the glass, offering aromas of black fruit, spring flowers, licorice, and sweet oak. The expansive, rich, fat texture owes its opulence to the high percentage of Merlot used by this property. Opaque deep ruby/purple, this full-bodied, satiny wine has considerable alcoholic clout, is low in acidity, but splendidly concentrated and abundantly full of velvety tannins. It will be fascinating to follow this wine's evolution. Anticipated maturity: 1994-2012.
Reviewed by: Lisa Perrotti-Brown
Deep garnet-brick. Dark chocolate covered cherries, espresso, cinnamon, rose petals, tree bark and loam. Medium to full body with layers of concentrated fruit and spice flavours supported by crisp acidity and a medium+ level of fine tannins. Very long finish.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Palmer can be the most seductive wine of the Medoc when its proprietors get things right. The 1989 is a deceptively supple, generous, and fleshy wine that seems almost too tasty to support decades of cellaring. But do not be fooled! It displays that compelling fragrance that Palmer so frequently achieves in great vintages - aromas of flowers, super-ripe, plummy fruit, and toasty oak. A satiny-textured wine, with velvety tannins, and splendid levels of fruit extraction, at two years of age it is frightfully easy to drink. It will develop more structure and focus, along the lines of the sublime 1961. While not as massive as the 1983, it is one of the thrilling wines of 1989; I have consistently rated it between 94-97.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
One of the all-time great Palmer’s, this wine seems to go from strength to strength. A deep garnet hue, deeper in colour than the Palmer 1990. A lovely nose of blackberry, cloves, tobacco and cedar mixed with a little freshly tilled earth. The palate is medium-bodied yet powerful, well-knit and harmonious. Blackberry and cedar, smoke with a touch of leather. Just a little dryness on the finish, though that simply leaves the palate fresh and begging for more. Superb length, I believe that this is a superior wine to the Palmer 1983. Tasted October 2006. Drinking 2010-2035
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Tasted several times: one of the great Palmers that in my opinion surpasses even the 1983. First tasted in June 2003 at the Arches when it displayed immense concentration and a luscious smooth texture, though not quite attaining the heights it reached by 2006. At home in February 2006. As burly and backward as ever with an intense, blackberry, tarry nose and a sturdy, very tannic palate (again with that touch of brine). Lovely balance, huge grip and very long: it remains nowhere near ready. Keep it cellared for another 5-years. Then at the chateau in Apr-06. A deep garnet core. A wonderful, cedary, quite masculine nose with brilliant definition. The palate is very concentrated with smokey black fruit, espresso and tobacco. Very tannic, real robust structure here with a slightly tarry black finish. A stunning Palmer with a long future ahead.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Tasted at the Château Palmer vertical in London, the 1989 Château Palmer has always been my favourite vintage from that decade after the 1983. The first bottle was unfortunately corked. The second was as it should be: the nose tensile with red berries, sous-bois, potpourri and strawberry pastille - lively and energetic. The palate is medium-bodied and vibrant right from the start, silky in texture with plenty of citrus fruit, gently building to a harmonious and detailed finish that lingers in the mouth. This is a magnificent Château Palmer that continues to effortlessly dish out so much vinous pleasure. Tasted May 2015.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Palmer's 1989 is one of the vintage's great successes. The wine exhibits a dark ruby/purple color, a sweet, jammy nose of black fruits, intermingled with floral scents, licorice, and a touch of truffles. Full-bodied and supple, with low acidity, copious quantities of ripe fruit and glycerin, and a medium to full-bodied, concentrated, harmonious, seamless texture, this is a gorgeous Palmer. It may turn out similar to this estate's brilliant 1962 and 1953. Although approachable, it will improve for another decade, and last for 20-25 years.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Palmer has done a magnificent job with their 1989. It remains a wine of immense seduction, but, as Palmer so often does, it continues to put on considerable weight and now also reveals wonderful structure. The bouquet roars from the glass, offering aromas of black fruit, spring flowers, licorice, and sweet oak. The expansive, rich, fat texture owes its opulence to the high percentage of Merlot used by this property. Opaque deep ruby/purple, this full-bodied, satiny wine has considerable alcoholic clout, is low in acidity, but splendidly concentrated and abundantly full of velvety tannins. It will be fascinating to see if this wine ultimately rivals the great Palmers made in 1983, 1970, 1966, and 1961. This is a thrilling 1989! Anticipated maturity: 1994-2012. Tasted seven times. Inconsistent notes during its first year in cask, it has performed splendidly in the bottle.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Tasted 6 Times Since Bottling With Consistent Notes Palmer has done a magnificent job with their 1989, which continues to be a wine of immense seduction. The expansive, rich, fat texture owes its opulence to the high percentage of Merlot used by this property. Opaque deep ruby/purple, this full-bodied, satiny wine has considerable alcoholic clout, is low in acidity, but splendidly concentrated and abundantly full of velvety tannins. It will be fascinating to see if this wine ultimately rivals the great Palmers made in 1983, 1970, 1966, and 1961. This is a thrilling 1989! Anticipated maturity: Now-2012.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
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. Anticipated maturity: Now-2020. Last tasted, Last tasted, 5/02.
Reviewed by: William Kelley
Wafting from the glass with captivating aromas of dark berries, violets, sweet soil tones and black truffle, the 1989 Palmer is medium to full-bodied, rich and velvety, with a suave, seamless profile, terrific depth at the core and a long, sapid, perfumed finish. At its best, this is one of the vintage's finest wines.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 1989 Palmer has vied with the 1983 as the highlight of the decade, so it is fascinating to revisit it at 30 years old. It has a wonderful bouquet of degraded red berry fruit, singed leather and hints of game and mint, beautifully defined and still so fresh, yet undeniably old-school in style. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin and still brimming with vigor, delivering a fine bead of acidity and a touch of cracked black pepper. A very detailed, engaging finish urges you back for another sip. A brilliant Palmer, and judging from this showing, it has another two decades of pleasure to give. Tasted from an ex-cellar bottle at the château.
Reviewed by: James Suckling
I find this a little austere with mineral, tar, and currant character. It’s a little subdued. Full and silky on the palate, it’s firm and bright, even tight. Served from imperial bottle.
About the Producer
The fine seaside climate and soils of Long Island’s North Fork provide exceptional conditions for the making of world-class varietal wines. With 110 acres planted with Merlot, Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Gewurztraminer, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc to supply the winery’s 20,000 annual case production, Palmer strives to preserve and enhance the purity of flavor and distinctive, fresh character which makes this region’s wines so unique. The state- of-the art winery contains the most modern winemaking equipment available today, and also includes substantial new French oak cooperage, purchased each year, for both barrel fermentation of our Chardonnay and the aging of our premium red varietals.
1955(1)1960(1)1970(1)1976(1)1977(1)1979(1)1981(3)1982(1)1983(1)1985(1)1987(1)1988(1)
Package Size
1 x 75cl
