Palmer Margaux 1989

97 points William Kelley (Wine Advocate): "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. Drink: 2005-2040. (12/21/23)"

97 points Neal Martin (Vinous): "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. Drink: 2019-2045. (Sep 2019)"

97 points Jane Anson (Inside Bordeaux): "(52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 41% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot, 1% Cabernet Franc). Fleshy, stunningly fragrant, tobacco and crushed roses, very much a signature of older Palmer, so much finesse and gentle concentration, waves of delicate peonies, raspberries, cold ash, saffron, keeps coming back at you in waves of retro-olfaction, in its drinking window but with plenty of time ahead of it. Harvest 6 to 23 September. Served blind. Alcohol 13.5%. Drink: 2024-2034. (6/5/24)"

96 points Falstaff Guide: "Purple in color with garnet reflections, it vibrates in the glass. A wine with great potential. Initially almost youthfully closed on the nose, it slowly opens up and reveals its full complexity. Fine fruit nuances alternate with mild spices, hints of gingerbread and subtle roasted aromas. Densely woven and compact on the palate, it displays a wonderful balance of ripe tannins, mild acidity and aromatic weight. (11/27/15)"

96 points Jeff Leve (The Wine Cellar Insider): "This elegant, charming beauty is loaded with floral, cherry blossom, earth and tobacco notes. Silky, soft, sweet and fresh, pop a cork, or age it another 5 years. Either way, this is a really fine Margaux. The wine was made from a blend of 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 41% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc. The harvest took place from September 6 to September 23, making this the earliest harvest in the history in the estate. (Feb 2017)"

96 points (18/20) La Revue du Vin de France (Jan 2002).

95 points Robert Parker: "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. (12/31/02)"