Wine Advocate (86)

A successful wine, the 1990 exhibits an impressive deep black/ruby color, a spicy, rich, jammy nose, ripe, rich flavors, medium to full body, and plenty of tannin in the low acid finish. Anticipated maturity: 1996-2008.

The Caronne Ste Gemme 1990 is an exceptional representation of fine Bordeaux wine, expertly crafted in the Haut-Médoc region of France. It's a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc, and 35% Merlot, one of the most esteemed compositions of the Château Caronne Ste. Gemme winery. This well-established French winery dates back to 1648 and has a widespread reputation for producing top-tier wines from the most favourable terroirs.

With the Caronne Ste Gemme 1990, you'll discover a finely balanced palate of blackcurrants, plums, and tobacco, complemented by elegant tannins and an enduring finish. This vintage carries the definitive style of the remarkable 1990 growing season. Meticulously aged for a year in French oak barrels before bottling has imparted a distinctively enticing aroma to this wine. A masterpiece of winemaking expertise, the Caronne Ste Gemme 1990 is a must-have for any serious wine connoisseur.

Vinous - Stephen Tanzer (88+)

Medium color, hint of development. Smoke, toffee, coffee and a charred-barrel nuance on the nose. Supple but restrained on the palate, with good but not outstanding concentration and intensity of flavor. There's an edge of austerity and a firmness on the finish that promise a graceful evolution. Still, we expected more richness.

The Wine Cellar Insider (100)

You could not ask for more in a bottle. The perfume with its blend of spices, espresso, flowers, smoke, cocoa, tobacco, wild cherries, plums, and ash instantly grabs your focus. On the palate, the wine is pure silk and velvet, which caresses you with its layers of vibrant, earthy, pure, red, and black fruits. The concentrated finish is long, deep, intense, and sensuous, gaining in opulence in the glass.

The Croque Michotte 1990 is a true embodiment of the timeless grace and complexity of Bordeaux wines. This revered vintage was meticulously crafted from 15% Malbec, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 70% Merlot grapes, grown in the distinguished Saint-Émilion region of France. As its creators, the esteemed Chatonnet family kiss a rich history of leadership in vine cultivation. The family's commitment to organic farming imparts a unique purity and depth to the Croque Michotte 1990.

Tasting notes highlight nuances of exotic spice, dried fruit, and supple leather, enveloped within firm, well-structured tannins. This wine boasts impressive ageing potential, with its intensity and balance remaining unscathed even after three decades. A revered critic note shares that "the taste evolves in the mouth on a silky texture, revealing the elegance of this finely sculpted wine." Savour the profound, intricate sensations brought forth by the Croque Michotte 1990, a true testament to Saint-Émilion’s wine-producing prowess.

Wine Advocate (98)

A warm to hot vintage ideal for producing outstanding reds does not necessarily make for a great Sauternes vintage, but in the case of 1990 it did. Dry, warm winds in the autumn contributed to the level of concentration that this wine exhibits. Fortunately, a little rain in late September and early October ensured that botrytis flourished well in the end, the final factor necessary to achieve this extraordinary expression.

Wine Spectator (89)

Tough and muscular, with loads of fruit hidden underneath the sharp tannins. A little clumsy now; needs time to mellow. Best after 1998. 17,000 cases made.

Jancis Robinson (18.5)

Fully mature-looking ruby with very sumptuous, almost roasted nose and masses of sweetness. Round and with lots of stones and minerals. Fresh, slightly dry finish. Very opulent. Long finish. Though slightly dried on the end.

Vinous - Stephen Tanzer (89)

Light copper color. Oily, pungent, expressive aroma dominated by pineapple syrup; a slightly dank quality quickly dissipated. Thick, resiny and intensely spicy in the mouth, though still rather tightly wound; deeper-pitched and honeyed, with an unusually velvety texture for this wine. Finishes slightly harsh, with a suggestion of phenolics and a bit of heat, plus a sweet note of toffee.

Vinous - Stephen Tanzer (88+)

Modestly saturated medium color. Minerally. blackcurrant aromas with notes or brick, leather and cigar ash. Lovely, subtle flavor, but wrapped tight by sound acids; not yet showing its richness. Finishes quite firm. This would appear to have good aging potential and may be a sleeper.

Wine Advocate (98)

1990: In terms of the brilliant complexity and nobility of the aromatics, scorched earth, black currants, plums, charcoal, cedar, and spices, the 1990 offers an aromatic explosion that is unparalleled. It is always fascinating to taste this wine next to the 1989, which is a monumental effort, but much more backward and denser, without the aromatic complexity of the 1990. The 1990 put on weight after bottling, and is currently rich, full-bodied, opulent, even flamboyant by Haut Brion’s standards. It is an incredible expression of a noble terroir in a top vintage. While it has been fully mature for a number of years, it does not reveal any bricking at the edge, and I suspect it will stay at this level for another 10-15 years ... but why wait? It is irresistible now. Release price: ($1200.00/case)

Wine Spectator (92)

Extremely pretty and perfumed, with velvety tannins and rich, spicy blueberry flavors. Not a huge wine, but gorgeous. Drink after 1997. 18,500 cases made.

Wine Advocate (96)

The 1990 La Mission Haut Brion is a wine that just gives so much pleasure that it seems almost immoral to criticize. For sure, it is not in the same league as the awe-inspiring 1989, yet it has such an engaging, quintessential La Mission bouquet full of warm gravel, chestnut, morels and bay leaf scents that you just fall instantly under its charms. It seems to just grow in the glass. The palate is beautifully balanced with great depth but is still a little grainy in texture, and I noticed how it evolved almost a Musigny-like personality with time in the glass. I suggested back in 2014 that it might improve with continued bottle age. Perhaps now I believe that it has reached the top of its plateau, yet the substance and the persistence—the energy—of this Pessac-Léognan suggests that it will give 20 years of drinking pleasure. No, it's not as good as the 1989 La Mission Haut Brion, then again, few wines are. Tasted May 2017.

Wine Spectator (97)

The great first-growth estate produced a wine with amazing length in this new vintage. Goes on and on, with mint, plum and cassis aromas and flavors and ultrafine tannins. A superb Bordeaux. Best after 1999. 25,000 cases made.

Wine Spectator (100)

Like a Michelangelo; everything is in perfect proportion. Has an amazing amount of violets, new wood and fruit on the nose and palate and a superb concentration of silky tannins. The wine of the vintage, and the best from this estate since the legendary 1961. Best after 2000.

The Latour a Pomerol 1990 is an exquisite vintage wine emblematic of the deft craftsmanship of its producer. Hailing from the renowned Pomerol appellation of Bordeaux, France, it's made predominantly from Merlot grapes, with a modest percentage of Cabernet Franc. This wine is appreciated for its consummate balance, rich structure, and elegant profile.

Estates of Ets Moueix, the unparallelled producer of Latour a Pomerol, has a laudable tradition of wine-making stretching back to 1917. Their commitment to quality is reflected in the Latour a Pomerol 1990 — a epitome of balanced ageing and finesse. Expect a bouquet of rich plum, currants, and spices, with a hint of truffle and undergrowth.

Its full-bodied palate boasts a silky texture, generous dark fruit expression, and a lingering, spicy finish. Each bottle of Latour a Pomerol 1990 embodies the utmost respect for the terroir and tradition of winemaking. A testament to timeless elegance and eloquent complexity.

Wine Advocate (97)

Absolutely spectacular, the1990 Leoville Poyferre is much more evolved than either of its two Leoville neighbors. Its opaque plum/garnet color is accompanied by a gorgeous bouquet of smoke, charcoal, creme de cassis, and flowers. Fleshy and opulent, it comes across like a St.-Julien with a Pomerol texture and allure. This beauty has reached full maturity where it should remain for another two decades. Release price: ($325.00/case)

Vinous - Ian D'Agata (93)

(95% merlot and 5% cabernet franc; 3.57 pH; 70 IPT; 13.9 % alcohol): Deep ruby with a hint of amber at the edge. Initially slightly reduced nose of coffee grounds and underbrush opens slowly with air to reveal red cherry jam, cassis, and tobacco. Then lush, round and rich in the mouth, displaying plum, blackberry and tobacco flavors of noteworthy freshness and finishes with rather soft tannins. Opulent for Magdelaine yet beautifully balanced--and much better than I remembered it. The suave finish features sneaky concentration and a persistent note of tobacco. A superb Magdelaine that is already drinking well and probably won't gain much by further cellaring, though it should remain at this plateau for another ten years. The vintage was characterized by a February heatwave (one day even recorded an unbelievable 26°C!), but bad weather during the flowering period caused considerable coulure and the cabernets in particular were variable in quality from estate to estate. A very hot, dry July and August (40°C on July 21 and 22) really stamped its character on the 1990s, leading to many scorched, sunburned berries. It was also important to harvest the merlot prior to the weekend of September 22 and 23, when a thunderstorm hit. On the basis of this wine, I'd say they got it all right at J. P. Moueix.

Wine Advocate (100)

The 1990 Château Margaux is really beginning to hit its stride at age 31, soaring from the glass with aromas of blackberries and cassis mingled with notions of licorice, cedar and violets, framed by subtle hints of vanilla and spice. Full-bodied, deep and multidimensional, it's seamless and complete, its velvety tannins and ripe acids entirely cloaked in a lavish but vibrant core of fruit. This is an especially dramatic, fleshy rendition of Margaux, yet it remains impeccably balanced and has decades of longevity ahead of it.

Wine Advocate (100)

The 1990 Château Margaux is really beginning to hit its stride at age 31, soaring from the glass with aromas of blackberries and cassis mingled with notions of licorice, cedar and violets, framed by subtle hints of vanilla and spice. Full-bodied, deep and multidimensional, it's seamless and complete, its velvety tannins and ripe acids entirely cloaked in a lavish but vibrant core of fruit. This is an especially dramatic, fleshy rendition of Margaux, yet it remains impeccably balanced and has decades of longevity ahead of it.

Wine Advocate (100)

Tasted at the Montrose vertical in London, the 1990 Montrose is a blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc (almost identical to the 1989 Montrose) and picked between 14 September and 3 October. It has a formidable reputation and for years it overshadowed the 1989. That said, it is well known that there are incidences of brettanomyces that compromise some bottles and the one bottle in London showed just a tincture of this. It still merited a score of 97/100, though it only served to highlight the ethereal delineation of the 1989. Then literally a couple of days later. I was served blind a magnum of the 1990 Montrose in Cape Town, which had been purchased on release and stored in perfect conditions. Now, here was the real deal, unfettered by any infection, a regal Saint Estèphe. It shows approximately the same evolution as the 1989 in bottle, but unsurprisingly showed less bricking in magnum format. The bouquet is cut from a different cloth to the 1989 and attests to that warm vintage: hickory, clove, undergrowth and wild fennel, later garrigue-like scents and terracotta, the latter two more pronounced on the bottle format compared to the youthful magnum. The palate is full-bodied and powerful, yet the balance is perfect, a ballerina-like poise with the structure of the Forth Bridge. It is a multi-layered Montrose that offers enormous length, fresh and vibrant with the magnum demonstrating tangible mineralite and tension as it fans out on the crescendo of a finish—a fanfare for Saint Estèphe in all its glory. Improving all the time in the glass, this example of 1990 Montrose is a privilege to behold. One can speculate whether larger formats are a safer bet in terms of experiencing this behemoth without any brettanomyces. Perhaps. However, if you do come across the 1990 Montrose like this, you are in the presence of a king. Tasted January 2017.

Indulge in the world-class elegance of Olivier 1990, a majestic Bordeaux from France's esteemed Château Olivier. As a trusted steward of tradition, Château Olivier is famed for creating nuanced, multi-dimensional wines that exhibit the rich character of Bordeaux's terroir. The 1990 vintage celebrates the pinnacle of their craftsmanship - a legendary year for winemaking in the region, yielding wines of extraordinary concentration and longevity.

The Olivier 1990 is typified by its depth and complexity - layers of ripe black fruits, truffles, and tobacco harmonising in a symphony of flavours. Remarkable tannic structure and a vibrant acidity offer an impeccably balanced palate. Matured for 18 months in oak barrels, this wine reveals intricate undertones of cocoa and spices that enrich the textural richness. Framed by the ethereal elegance of its Pessac-Léognan appellation, the Olivier 1990 remains an unparalleled example of long-lived Bordeaux, testament to its superior vintage. Immerse in the pure sophistication of this revered quaff, each sip promising a journey to the heart of Château Olivier's legacy.

Jancis Robinson (18)

Magnum. Deep ruby. Completely rich, sweet and gorgeous with a hint of graphite on the nose. Beautiful lift and elegance but on the finish it was a real throat warmer. Just my sort of wine. But after 45 minutes or so, it lost a bit of fruit in the glass and the acidity became much more obvious, suggesting it may not have that much more to give, even from a magnum.

Vinous - Stephen Tanzer (87)

Moderately saturated medium color. Floral, minty, new-oaky nose, with an exotic coconut note; showed some alcohol as it opened in the glass. Silky, supple, and moderately concentrated finishes with palate-caressing tannins and spicy oak. Nicely balanced for early drinking.

Wine Advocate (100)

The 1990 Petrus remains incredibly young, one of the least evolved wines of the vintage (along with Montrose and Beausejour-Duffau). This dense ruby/purple-colored effort is beginning to hint at the massive richness and full-bodied intensity lurking beneath its wall of tannin. The vintage’s sweetness, low acidity, and velvety tannins are present in abundance, and the wine is massive in the mouth as well as incredibly pure and well-delineated. I thought it would be drinkable by now, but it appears another 5-10 years will pass before it begins to reach its plateau of maturity. This wine is capable of lasting at least four more decades. An incredible achievement! Release price: ($5000.00/case)

Wine Advocate (100)

The 1990 Petrus remains incredibly young, one of the least evolved wines of the vintage (along with Montrose and Beausejour-Duffau). This dense ruby/purple-colored effort is beginning to hint at the massive richness and full-bodied intensity lurking beneath its wall of tannin. The vintage’s sweetness, low acidity, and velvety tannins are present in abundance, and the wine is massive in the mouth as well as incredibly pure and well-delineated. I thought it would be drinkable by now, but it appears another 5-10 years will pass before it begins to reach its plateau of maturity. This wine is capable of lasting at least four more decades. An incredible achievement! Release price: ($5000.00/case)

Wine Advocate (100)

The 1990 Petrus remains incredibly young, one of the least evolved wines of the vintage (along with Montrose and Beausejour-Duffau). This dense ruby/purple-colored effort is beginning to hint at the massive richness and full-bodied intensity lurking beneath its wall of tannin. The vintage’s sweetness, low acidity, and velvety tannins are present in abundance, and the wine is massive in the mouth as well as incredibly pure and well-delineated. I thought it would be drinkable by now, but it appears another 5-10 years will pass before it begins to reach its plateau of maturity. This wine is capable of lasting at least four more decades. An incredible achievement! Release price: ($5000.00/case)