Ratings & Tasting Notes:
95 points Vinous
Review Date: 05/2019
The 1989 Bienvenue-Bâtard-Montrachet has an almost outrageous eucalyptus-scented bouquet that knocks you sideways. It is almost medicinal in style with aromatics that throw away the script and have gone off script. But you love it all the more. The palate is very well balanced, that eucalyptus theme continuing with a superb bead of acidity and an almost tangy, marmalade and quince finish that packs a punch. This is a Bienvenue that takes no prisoners, cares little for conformity and is utterly memorable. Tasted at the mature white Burgundy dinner in Hong Kong. (NM)
94 points John Gilman
Review Date: 07/2006
This bottle of ’89 Bienvenues is a bit more structured than the bottle of ‘89 Ramonet Bâtard that I tasted at the Paulée de New York the week previous (and whose note I misplaced in the blizzard of great wines at that event). It is a delightful bottle and provided ample proof that there are few domaines as successful as Ramonet in this challenging white Burgundy vintage. The bouquet on the ’89 Bienvenues is classic Ramonet, soaring from the glass in a mélange of ripe apples and pears, fresh peppermint, damp minerality, spring flowers and vanillin oak. On the palate the wine is full-bodied, focused and deep at the core, with a lovely girdle of tensile acidity, and fine length and grip on the complex and classy finish.
Cult Wines International Notes:
The 1989 Domaine Ramonet Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru originates from one of the most legendary names in white Burgundy. Established in the late 1920s by Pierre Ramonet—a man often credited with elevating Puligny-Montrachet to its current status—the estate became a global icon when its wines were featured at the historic 1976 Judgment of Paris. By 1989, the domaine was under the masterful transition of Pierre’s grandsons, Noël and Jean-Claude, who maintained the family’s rigorous standards: low yields, traditional basket presses, and a unique ability to capture a “spearmint” mineral signature. The Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet parcel, characterized by its slightly deeper, clay-limestone soils, consistently produces a wine of immense depth and aromatic complexity, representing the pinnacle of the Ramonet family’s artisanal heritage.
The 1989 growing season is remembered as a “golden year” for Burgundy, defined by an exceptionally early and warm cycle that produced wines of exotic richness and power. Following a mild winter, a warm spring led to one of the earliest flowerings on record, setting the stage for a bountiful harvest. A hot, dry summer ensured that the Chardonnay reached peak phenolic maturity with ease, resulting in berries with high sugar concentrations and opulent textures. At Domaine Ramonet, the 1989 harvest began in early September under perfect skies. This vintage is celebrated for its “solar” character—offering a lush, honeyed breadth and incredible concentration—while the estate’s traditional winemaking preserved enough structural acidity to allow this Grand Cru to remain a benchmark of vitality and longevity decades after its bottling.
Bottle Size:
750 mL
Storage History:
Always stored on its side in a climate-controlled cellar.
Condition:
Outstanding condition. Some minor label imperfections as shown. Capsule is tight without corrosion.
Please note: The condition of the bottle you will receive is accurately reflected by the one shown in the images.
