The Cos d’Estournel 1989 has a dense, broody bouquet with typical Saint Estephe earthiness complemented by hints of seaweed and a touch of ox blood. The palate is medium-bodied with firm but rounded tannins, very good weight and concentration here, fine acidity and harmony with a nice build so that its finishes with a peacocks tails of mulberry, cedar and leather. This is maturing beautifully, lovely talcum finish. Drink now-2025. Tasted June 2010. www.robertparker.com

A wonderful depth of fruit with very firm and dense tannins. It has so much character of olives, spices, and berries. It's the wine’s freshness and intensity that won me over the 1990 Cos.

Full medium ruby. High-pitched, perfumed aromas of dark berries, minerals and violet; very cabernet. Rich, dense and youthful; broad and beefy, with cassis, black cherry and bitter chocolate flavors. Finishes very sweet and long, with fine tannins spreading out impressively to coat the palate. A great showing. Drink now through 2015.

Complex aromas of tobacco, earth and forest leaves follow through to a medium body, with fine tannins and a fruity and soft finish. Very soft and long. At its peak, but pretty and seamless.--'89/'99 Bordeaux blind retrospective (2009). James Suckling

The 1989 Cos d'Estournel is very good, but uninspiring. The 1989, although good, does not live up to expectations given the terroir and the vintage. Its deep ruby color is followed by a spicy vanillin, curranty nose, medium body, excellent depth, but a monolithic personality. It possesses neither the concentration nor dimension of the exceptional 1990. The 1989 possesses some hard tannin in the finish, but it is well-integrated with the wine's ripe fruit. Look for this wine to drink well for the next 15+ years.