Vinous – 92

The 1989 Bual from Cossart Gordon (bottled in 2018) has a fragrant bouquet with scents of grilled walnut, cigar box, touches of eau de vie and juniper berries, all very well defined and displaying ample intensity. The well-balanced palate offers nutmeg and allspice and shows lovely weight. Certainly one of the most elegant of Blandy’s Buals in recent years. Maybe a little more complexity on the aftertaste would have merited a higher appraisal, but this is compensated with wonderful freshness. Recommended. 735 bottles made. Tasted at John E. Fells portfolio tasting in London. [Neal Martin, 27/02/2019]