Drinking at point yet with very little bricking in its ruby hue, the 1989 Domaine De Chevalier has a solid bouquet of ripe yet mature, smoky red and black fruits, green tobacco, sappy flowers, and a touch of iron and subtle bloody-like nuances that develop with time in the glass. Medium-bodied, supple, elegant, and balanced on the palate, it has integrated acidity, resolved tannins, and a distinct salty minerality on the finish. This classy, regal Chevalier is not going to get any better, but I suspect it has another decade of prime drinking and a gradual decline thereafter. I've tasted Domaine de Chevalier at 100 years of age that still had life, so there's no denying the quality and longevity provided by this terroir. The blend of the 1989 is 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and 5% Cabernet Franc.

(a blend of 65% cabernet sauvignon, 30% merlot and 5% cabernet franc; 12.2% alcohol): Medium-deep red. Captivating, intense aromas of red cherry and red berries complicated by cinnamon and clove. Rich, dense and suave, with fleshy, mouthcoating flavors of red cherry, redcurrant and aromatic wood spices. Finishes very long and sweet, with pure spice notes and rising, polished tannins. A great wine. Olivier Bernard has always considered this wine to be potentially on a par with past great Domaine de Chevalier reds such as the '45, '61 and '70.