Wines like 1989 Chateau Meyney Saint-Estephe is like time travel, metaphorically speaking.
It was a busy year in the history of humankind, and the most significant event was the destruction of the Berlin Wall. It marked the end of the Cold War and the path forward for long-time foes.
Drinking old Bordeaux like 1989 Meyney is a lot like that. It’s a result of the collective efforts of the entire winemaking team and wine lovers’ patience. Good things come to those who wait.
Chateau Meyney Story
Château Meyney is among the oldest it is one of the oldest estates in the Médoc – home of four of the most famous Bordeaux villages. Located in the renowned Saint-Estèphe appellation in the northern Borders, it lies at the center of a single block of vineyards of 60 hectares (126 acres) flanked by highly esteemed estates Château Montrose (2ème Grand Cru Classé) and Calon-Ségur (3ème Grand Cru Classé)
Founded by Cistercian monks in 1662, Château was confiscated during the French Revolution and later resold to the royalist Luetkins family. Interestingly, during the 1855 Bordeaux wine classification, the Luetkins family had a chance to nominate their estate to take part in it.
While Meyney had a superior terroir, La Tour Carnet, the second estate Leutkins owned, had a more majestic chateau (castle). The beauty won over quality, and Leutkins submitted La Tour Carnet, later classified as a prestigious 4th growth.
The modern history of Château Meyney starts in 1917 with the acquisition by the famous winemaking Cordier family (Château Talbot). The estate changed hands once again in 2004 when it was purchased by CA Grands Crus, a well-known and respected enterprise in Bordeaux.
They own several other properties, including Chateau Grand Puy Ducasse in Pauillac, Château Rayne Vigneau in Sauternes, and a few Cru Bourgeois estates.
It’s possibly the best thing that ever happened to Château Meyney because the quality of their wines improved considerably. Thierry Budin headed the production, and Hubert de Bouard of Château Angelus started consulting Château Meyney and other CA Grands Crus properties in late 2013.
As a result, the 2014 vintage was considered the best wine in the history of the estate. That’s until the sublime 2016 vintage came around!
Today the estate practices sustainable and organic agriculture and produces around 4,000 cases annually.
Well, enough history. Let’s find out how the 1989 vintage tasted like.
1989 Chateau Meyney Saint Estephe
In the Glass
1989 Chateau Meyney greeted us with the aroma of sun-kissed black currant, smoked meats, old library books, and savory spice.
The flavors went step-in-step with cassis, plum, and dried black cherry.
The acidity and tannin were well incorporated and helped elevate the fruit in this three-decade-old wine.
Aftertaste
Surprisingly, 1989 Chateau Meyney Saint Estephe tasted quite fruity. Yet, we wouldn’t age it any longer and thought it was a bit beyond its prime. So if you got a bottle lying around, drink it now.
For us, old wines are like time capsules. As we sip the wine, we time travel to the vintage year and recall what happened in our lives in humankind’s history.
1989 was a trying time for the people of the country we come from, yet we were young, and we could always find the reason to smile and laugh with our friends. It was a time when we tasted wine for the first time and fell in love with this majestic liquid.
What did you do in 1989, and what did you drink? Can you recall your first wine if you were born after 1989?