My work bosses are rewarding those staff with more than 10 years'
service, and more than 30 days' annual leave, with a their choice of a
bottle of wine that was bottled in the year they joined the company
(those with 25 days or less are getting an extra five days' annual leave
instead).

Unfortunately I joined in 1989, which I understand wasn't a great year
for many wine regions.

I like many Riojas, especially reservas and gran reservas, and brought
back a few mid-range bottles (25-30 euros) from a visit to Haro last
weekend, as well as many Californian wines. I don't know much about
French wines and haven't drunk many recently, but enjoy most I've tried.

I don't know the upper cost limit on the wine I can choose, but let's
assume that it could be as much as UKP100 (about 150 euros).

I also imagine I wouldn't want to drink it straight away, but save it to
open in two, maybe four, years.

Can anyone suggest wines from 1989 that would fit the bill?

--
congokid
Good restaurants in London? Number one on Google
http://congokid.com

congokid > wrote in
:

> My work bosses are rewarding those staff with more than 10 years'
> service, and more than 30 days' annual leave, with a their choice of a
> bottle of wine that was bottled in the year they joined the company
> (those with 25 days or less are getting an extra five days' annual leave
> instead).
>
> Unfortunately I joined in 1989, which I understand wasn't a great year
> for many wine regions.
>
> I like many Riojas, especially reservas and gran reservas, and brought
> back a few mid-range bottles (25-30 euros) from a visit to Haro last
> weekend, as well as many Californian wines. I don't know much about
> French wines and haven't drunk many recently, but enjoy most I've tried.
>
> I don't know the upper cost limit on the wine I can choose, but let's
> assume that it could be as much as UKP100 (about 150 euros).
>
> I also imagine I wouldn't want to drink it straight away, but save it to
> open in two, maybe four, years.
>
> Can anyone suggest wines from 1989 that would fit the bill?

1989 was a great year in Bordeaux. Go for something from there. I feel
sorry for those that joined your company in a lousy vintage. If you like
Rioja, try a Paulliac or a St. Emilion.

Fred.

Salut/Hi congokid,

le/on Sat, 8 May 2004 09:49:59 +0100, tu disais/you said:-

>My work bosses are rewarding those staff with more than 10 years'
>service, and more than 30 days' annual leave, with a their choice of a
>bottle of wine that was bottled in the year they joined the company
>(those with 25 days or less are getting an extra five days' annual leave
>instead).
>
>Unfortunately I joined in 1989, which I understand wasn't a great year
>for many wine regions.

WHAT?? Brilliant year for Bordeaux. Cahors, Bergerac and most of the
southwest of France.

>I don't know the upper cost limit on the wine I can choose, but let's
>assume that it could be as much as UKP100 (about 150 euros).

Wow.

>Can anyone suggest wines from 1989 that would fit the bill?

Almost any classed growth Claret. For example Ch Ducru-Beaucaillou is
available from (the pricey) "Millesima" at ‚¬1200 a case of 12. Domaine de
Chevalier in Graves is at the same price. Both super wines, which should be
at their peak, but well able to last a year or ten.
--
All the Best
Ian Hoare
http://www.souvigne.com
mailbox full to avoid spam. try me at website

In message <RE1nc.12044$A27.11686@fed1read06>, Fred >
writes

>1989 was a great year in Bordeaux. Go for something from there. I feel
>sorry for those that joined your company in a lousy vintage. If you like
>Rioja, try a Paulliac or a St. Emilion.

I was thinking if it truly had been a bad year, I'd ask for something
from the year I moved to my current department ('90), or perhaps get
something from 10 years ago ('94) if that might open up my options.

Thanks Fred. As a student in 1986, not knowing anything about wine but
determined not to get the cheapest thing on the supermarket shelf, I
bought back a bottle of Paulliac from a day trip to France. My flatmate,
who worked in Harrod's wine department at the time, was quite impressed
with my selections (I remember another bottle was of Rully, and I had
three others).

--
congokid
Good restaurants in London? Number one on Google
http://congokid.com

In message >, Ian Hoare
> writes
>Salut/Hi congokid,
> le/on Sat, 8 May 2004 09:49:59 +0100, tu disais/you said:-

>>Unfortunately I joined in 1989, which I understand wasn't a great year
>>for many wine regions.
>
>WHAT?? Brilliant year for Bordeaux. Cahors, Bergerac and most of the
>southwest of France.

What I was told by someone, though I did a brief check on Decanter
website as well. Too brief, obviously.

>Almost any classed growth Claret. For example Ch Ducru-Beaucaillou is
>available from (the pricey) "Millesima" at ‚¬1200 a case of 12. Domaine de
>Chevalier in Graves is at the same price. Both super wines, which should be
>at their peak, but well able to last a year or ten.

Sounds excellent - thanks.

--
congokid
Good restaurants in London? Number one on Google
http://congokid.com

I would agree with pretty much everything said before. Very good year in
Bordeaux. The Médoc suggestiosn are good. In past year I've had good
experiences with Meyney (much much cheaper than your limit), Gruaud Larose &
Grand Puy Lacoste(much cheaper than your limit) , as well as Montrose, Lynch
Bages, & Cos d'Estournel (still within your limit).

But...if it were me....I'd go for Pomerols. I've never had a bad '89 Pomerol
(excluding damaged/corked bottles) . And this is coming from someone who's
natural preferences are Left Bank. See what's available- Bon Pasteur, Clinet,
Trotanoy, l'Evangile, etc.

St. Emilion's a tad spottier, but Troplong-Mondot & l'Angelus are glorious.
Dale

Dale Williams
Drop "damnspam" to reply

On Sat, 8 May 2004 09:49:59 +0100, congokid > sai=
d:

] My work bosses are rewarding those staff with more than 10 years'=20
] service, and more than 30 days' annual leave, with a their choice of a=20
] bottle of wine that was bottled in the year they joined the company=20
] (those with 25 days or less are getting an extra five days' annual leave=
=20
] instead).
]=20

Well, good on you, and on your boss. Great way to reward faithful
(or at least stubborn) service.

] Unfortunately I joined in 1989, which I understand wasn't a great year=20
] for many wine regions.
]=20

You are in luck. Great year in Bordeaux. I'm guessing your budget=20
will stretch to something like a Lynch Bages, or a Leoville Barton. =20
Should be lots of great choices under 150 =A4.

Also this was a banner year in the Southern Rhone. How about a
great Chateauneuf du Pape? The '89's are drinking wonderfully now.
Again, should be lots of choices in your price range. A cuv=E9e Gonnet
from Font de Michelle? Maybe you can even find a Beaucastel or Rayas
in the range. The '89's will hold for a good while yet, too.

Lots of choices, have fun!

[snip]

-E

--=20
Emery Davis
You can reply to
by removing the well known companies

If you can bluff it to 1990, go for Grange, no question. 1990 was also an excellent
year for German Rieslings, if you like that sort of thing.

Ian


"congokid" > wrote in message
...
> In message <RE1nc.12044$A27.11686@fed1read06>, Fred >
> writes
>
> >1989 was a great year in Bordeaux. Go for something from there. I feel
> >sorry for those that joined your company in a lousy vintage. If you like
> >Rioja, try a Paulliac or a St. Emilion.
>
> I was thinking if it truly had been a bad year, I'd ask for something
> from the year I moved to my current department ('90), or perhaps get
> something from 10 years ago ('94) if that might open up my options.
>
> Thanks Fred. As a student in 1986, not knowing anything about wine but
> determined not to get the cheapest thing on the supermarket shelf, I
> bought back a bottle of Paulliac from a day trip to France. My flatmate,
> who worked in Harrod's wine department at the time, was quite impressed
> with my selections (I remember another bottle was of Rully, and I had
> three others).
>
> --
> congokid
> Good restaurants in London? Number one on Google
> http://congokid.com

Emery Davis > wrote in
:



>
> Also this was a banner year in the Southern Rhone. How about a
> great Chateauneuf du Pape? The '89's are drinking wonderfully now.
> Again, should be lots of choices in your price range. A cuvée Gonnet
> from Font de Michelle? Maybe you can even find a Beaucastel or Rayas
> in the range. The '89's will hold for a good while yet, too.
>
> Lots of choices, have fun!
>
> [snip]
>
OH my god, the 89 and 90 Southern Rhones were my re introduction to fine
wine and made a devotee of me. If only I could have a few bottles back!

On Sat, 08 May 2004 13:02:24 -0500, jcoulter
> wrote:

>Emery Davis > wrote in
:
>
>
>
>>
>> Also this was a banner year in the Southern Rhone. How about a
>> great Chateauneuf du Pape? The '89's are drinking wonderfully now.
>> Again, should be lots of choices in your price range. A cuvée Gonnet
>> from Font de Michelle? Maybe you can even find a Beaucastel or Rayas
>> in the range. The '89's will hold for a good while yet, too.
>>
>> Lots of choices, have fun!
>>
>> [snip]
>>
>OH my god, the 89 and 90 Southern Rhones were my re introduction to fine
>wine and made a devotee of me. If only I could have a few bottles back!

Like I said, 89 Beaucastel, suuuuuperb.

Mike

Mike Tommasi, Six Fours, France
email link http://www.tommasi.org/mymail