1989 Chateau Leoville Barton, Saint-Julien, Bottle (750ml)

"Along with Leoville Barton 1990 this is one half of one of the great contrasting Bordeaux pairs. The 1989 has always been a more upright wine, slightly strict. The kind of claret that never really takes it coat off but you get the sense that there is a brightly coloured shirt underneath. It is still deep and dark at over 30 years of age. It is initially quite tight and needs well over an hour in the decanter to show its promise. Wonderful breath on the palate. The tannin is well integrated but there is no hiding that this wine is still very young. There is a concentration here that leads me to think that the wine is still not at its peak. It is very enjoyable now with plenty of air but I suspect you will not miss the wine if you still have some in the cellar in two decades time." GB Feb 2023