An extremely friendly '89. Good dark-ruby color. Seductive aromas of berries, flowers and vanilla. Medium- to full-bodied, with velvety tannins and a berry, coconut and milk chocolate aftertaste.--1989 Bordeaux horizontal. James Suckling

I have always enjoyed the 1989 La Lagune. At first I thought it was marginally superior to the 1990, but they are essentially equivalent in quality, although the 1989 possesses less fat, and a more ruggedly tannic structure. The color is a healthy dark ruby, and the wine offers up a smoky, sweet vanillin, jammy berry-scented nose with aromas of weedy tobacco. The wine is medium-bodied, with excellent purity and richness, and gobs of red and black currant fruit nicely dosed with new oak. The wine's grip is more noticeable than in the 1990, and the finish more attenuated, but still impressively long. Anticipated maturity: Now-2012. Last tasted 9/97

Very little aging on the rim, more like a 1996 than a 1989. The nose is dense with cigar-box, blackberry notes. Earthy, ripe and backward. The palate is tannic, well-integrated, masculine with good grip. Lots of tobacco notes: it reminded me of a "cheap Latour". A superb wine, probably the best Lagune I have tasted. Needs another 5-6 years to reach its peak. Tasted January 2004.