1990
Château Haut-Brion 1990 Pessac-Leognan
Opulent and mature, with ripe blackcurrant, mulberry and red currant layered with cedar, fine leather, tobacco, mushroom, chocolate and warm spice. The full-bodied palate is round and concentrated, balancing sweet fruit with fresh acidity, mature silky tannins and excellent depth. A long, pure finish follows; decant for about two hours and serve with beef tenderloin or roast lamb.
Ducru-Beaucaillou 1990 Saint-Julien
Preserved plum and kirsch sit at the centre of a mature, savoury bouquet, layered with incense, cigar box, leather, tobacco and tilled earth. Medium- to full-bodied, the palate is graceful and satiny, carrying dried red berry and exotic spice over a gently chewy structure. The finish is long, fragrant and tea-toned. Decant carefully and serve with roast lamb or aged cheese.
Penfolds Grange 1990
Opulent yet precise, with blackberry, mulberry, plum and cassis layered with liquorice, espresso, dark chocolate, smoked meat, eucalyptus, cedar and leather. Full-bodied and concentrated, the palate combines ripe dark fruit with firm velvety tannins, freshness and excellent balance. The finish is long, spicy and complex; decant for two to three hours and serve with lamb, venison or beef.
Quinta do Vesuvio 1990 Vintage Port
Opaque and powerful, with blackberry, plum, ripe cherry and dark berry layered with dried leaf, cocoa and warm spice. The palate is broad yet balanced, combining concentrated fruit with integrated spirit, firm structure and a fresh line that keeps the sweetness composed. Long and resonant on the finish, it is excellent with blue cheese, dark chocolate or roasted nuts.
Caves Sao Joao 1990 Dao Porta dos Cavaleiros
Flint, steel and damp earth lead into autumn leaf, tarragon, cherry pit, espresso, tart red berry, fresh cigar tobacco and damson plum. Lean and elegant rather than fruit-driven, the palate has clean, softened acidity and an austere, savoury line. A short decant helps it open. Serve with duck, grouse or salmon, and handle the mature cork and sediment with care.
Graham’s 1990 Malvedos Centenary Vintage Port
Blackberry, black cherry and plum rise from the glass with violet, liquorice and warm spice. The palate is rich and concentrated, balancing generous sweetness with firm, polished tannins and a cool mineral line. Chocolate and dried fruit emerge through a long, fragrant finish that remains composed and remarkably youthful.
Quinta do Vesuvio Vintage Port 1990
Opaque and powerful, with blackberry, plum, ripe cherry and dark berry layered with dried leaf, cocoa and warm spice. The palate is broad yet balanced, combining concentrated fruit with integrated spirit, firm structure and a fresh line that keeps the sweetness composed. Long and resonant on the finish, it is excellent with blue cheese, dark chocolate or roasted nuts.
Château Latour 1990 Pauillac
Open and expressive for a mature first growth, with red currant, cassis and black cherry joined by liquorice, tobacco, leather and cedar. The full-bodied palate is lush and concentrated, its ripe tannins carrying savoury earth, herbs, espresso and kirsch through a powerful, spicy finish. Decant for about two hours and serve at cellar temperature with lamb, beef or game.
Château Lafite Rothschild 1990 Pauillac
Dried flowers, cedar and tobacco lead a classic, increasingly expressive bouquet, with red currant, cassis and cigar-box spice underneath. The palate is supple and vibrant, showing refined red fruit, creamy tannins and a savoury thread of herbs and forest leaf. The finish is long and composed. Decant carefully for sediment and serve with roast beef, duck or aged hard cheese.