1989 Bordeaux Vintage

After a mild winter and wet spring, temperatures surged from May onward and remained exceptional through harvest. By May, vines were already three weeks ahead of schedule, with flowering occurring early and evenly, which set up a large potential crop. The summer was hot, sunny, and dry to a degree not seen since 1949, with only 1947 having recorded higher temperatures in modern Bordeaux history. Very hot ambient temperatures during fermentation also posed challenges for some chateaux that lacked temperature-controlled tanks. The harvest started on August 31 for the earliest-moving estates, a date unmatched since 1893, while some properties did not finish picking until October 15, creating one of the longest harvest windows on record.

• Hottest Bordeaux summer since 1949; only 1947 recorded higher temperatures in the historical record
• Harvest began August 31, the earliest start since 1893, with some estates finishing as late as October 15
• Early, even flowering produced a large crop; hot, dry summer then concentrated sugars dramatically
• High ambient fermentation temperatures caused difficulties at estates without modern temperature-control equipment

Pomerol was the standout appellation of the vintage, with its clay-rich soils and Merlot delivering wines of extraordinary richness and phenolic ripeness. Pessac-Léognan also excelled, with Château Haut-Brion producing what is broadly considered the wine of the vintage across both banks. On the Left Bank more broadly, the picture was less uniform: many estates harvested their Cabernet Sauvignon before it reached full physiological maturity, leading to wines that are analytically ripe but not always fully expressive. Several estates that had been underperforming experienced a landmark renaissance, including Château Montrose, Château Lynch-Bages, Château Pichon Baron, Château Angélus, and Château Troplong Mondot, all of which produced their best wines in decades. Saint-Émilion also performed well, though results were more variable than in Pomerol.

• Pomerol: the most consistently successful appellation, with Merlot achieving historic ripeness levels
• Pessac-Léognan: Haut-Brion produced one of the great wines of the century; Haut-Brion Blanc was equally legendary
• Left Bank Médoc: uneven, as many estates picked Cabernet Sauvignon before full physiological ripeness
• Notable renaissance estates: Montrose, Lynch-Bages, Pichon Baron, Angélus, Troplong Mondot all reached new heights

Château Haut-Brion 1989 is considered by many critics the wine of the vintage and a contender for wine of the decade, earning 100 points from Robert Parker and described as a modern-day rival to the legendary 1959. Château Pétrus 1989 received perfect 100-point scores from Robert Parker, the Wine Spectator, James Suckling, and Neal Martin, praised for its spectacular intensity, richness, and massive concentration alongside a finish lasting nearly a minute. Among other standouts, Château Trotanoy, Château Lafleur, Château Montrose, and Château Lynch-Bages all produced wines that have become benchmarks of the vintage. The 1989 Haut-Brion Blanc is also considered one of the greatest white Bordeaux wines ever produced.

• Château Haut-Brion 1989: 100 Parker points, widely regarded as the wine of the vintage across both banks
• Château Pétrus 1989: 100 points from Parker, Wine Spectator, James Suckling, and Neal Martin
• Château Montrose, Lynch-Bages, Pichon Baron: landmark efforts representing the best of Left Bank 1989
• Haut-Brion Blanc 1989: also earned 100 Parker points and is regarded as one of the finest white Bordeaux ever made

The finest 1989 reds are at or approaching their peak, with the best bottles capable of continuing to evolve and reward patience. The high pH levels (low acidity) that once raised eyebrows have proven less damaging than feared, with even wines showing a pH of 4.0 still drinking beautifully decades later. Top-tier Pomerol and Pessac-Léognan bottlings remain in a luxurious plateau phase where primary dark fruit has integrated with tobacco, earth, truffles, and dried herb complexity. Mid-tier wines and those from lesser appellations should be consumed sooner, as modest acidity makes them less suited to extended further aging.

• Top Pomerol and Pessac-Léognan (Pétrus, Haut-Brion): still drinking beautifully, with drinking windows extending to 2040-2045 and beyond for the finest bottles
• Left Bank First Growths: at or approaching their plateau; best consumed over the next 10-15 years
• Mid-tier Cru Classé: consume sooner, as lower acidity limits extended cellaring
• A notable risk: the high pH allowed Brettanomyces to develop in some bottles; read tasting notes carefully before purchasing

The 1989 vintage commands substantial auction premiums, driven by its legendary reputation, the rarity of mature bottles in fine condition, and the enduring critical acclaim for its greatest wines. Château Pétrus 1989 averages around $5,000 or more per bottle on secondary markets. Château Haut-Brion 1989 trades at an average of around $2,700 per bottle on Wine-Searcher, reflecting its status as the wine of the vintage. For collectors, the vintage offers better relative value than 1982 at the First Growth level, and there remain genuinely excellent bottles from rising stars such as Montrose and Lynch-Bages at far more accessible prices. Provenance and storage are critical considerations for any purchase, given the age of these wines.

• Château Pétrus 1989: approximately $5,000+ per bottle on current secondary markets
• Château Haut-Brion 1989: approximately $2,700 per bottle average, reflecting wine-of-vintage status
• Left Bank First Growths: generally more affordable than 1982 equivalents, offering proven aging credentials
• Best value: Montrose, Lynch-Bages, Pichon Baron, Troplong Mondot for serious quality at lower price points

The 1989 vintage coincided with a generational turning point in Bordeaux winemaking. Many estates were still operating without modern temperature-controlled fermentation tanks, making the management of a very hot harvest genuinely challenging. The resulting wines typically show elevated alcohol levels, with Merlot in Pomerol and Saint-Émilion reaching between 13.5% and nearly 15% in some vats, record figures for the era. Low acidity and high pH values were a defining technical characteristic, and while skeptics initially questioned the wines' aging potential, the finest bottles have confounded those doubts comprehensively. The 1989 vintage is often compared to 2009 by winemakers and proprietors who note the similar weather patterns, though modern techniques and stricter vineyard selection in 2009 produced more uniform quality.

• Merlot alcohol levels reached 13.5% to nearly 15% in some vats, record figures for the era
• High pH values and low acidity were defining technical characteristics; many wines showed pH at or above 3.9
• Many chateaux still lacked modern temperature-controlled tanks, making fermentation management a significant challenge
• 1989 was the first in a series of warmer, riper vintages that progressively shifted Bordeaux's stylistic baseline