The 1989 Châteauneuf Du Pape continues to drink beautifully, with a fully mature, resolved yet textured style that has so much to love. Dried red fruits, savory garrigue, saddle leather, tea, and flowery incense notes all define the aromatics, and it's medium to full-bodied, with an elegant mouthfeel and a great finish. It would give a mature Grand Cru Burgundy a run for its money.

Showing the hot, burly nature of the vintage nicely, the 1989 Chateauneuf du Pape has ample ground herbs, tobacco leaf, olive tapenade and assorted mature Grenache fruit characteristics to go with a full-bodied, still tannic, firm, and muscular feel on the palate. It has plenty of similarities to the '95, and Paul-Vincent commented that both vintages were almost impossible to drink in their youth. I've recently had an over-the-hill bottle of the '90, but well-stored bottles of this meaty, classic and powerful '89 will have another decade of longevity. - Jeb Dunnuck