Vinous (95-98)

Deep bright ruby. Pungent, brilliant aromas of blackberry, cocoa powder, minerals and Oriental spices. Painfully intense flavors of incredible purity; thick but brilliantly delineated. Finishes with great palate-staining length and lift; firm tannins are buried in fruit. A knockout in the making.

Wine Spectator (89)

A very good amount of ripe fruit in this wine, with a complement of cedar and tobacco character. Full-bodied, with firm tannins that verge on being aggressive, but overall an attractive '98. Score range: 85-89

Vinous (92)

The 1998 Clos Saint-Denis Grand Cru performs commendably given that I am not particularly fond of this growing season. The vibrant nose features black currant pastilles and a subtle marine influence; traits of kelp and iodine emerge with time. Very charming, and the whole-bunch addition is extremely well subsumed. The palate is medium-bodied, supple and fleshy, offering a caressing mouthfeel that you might mistake for a 1999. Granted, this 1998 is not as complex or as thrilling as the follow-up, yet it is nicely proportioned, with a discreet bitter edge on the sapid, conservative finish. Bottles can be consumed now but should give another 15 years of drinking pleasure. Tasted at the Clos Saint-Denis vertical at Hide restaurant. 92

The Georges Mugneret Clos-Vougeot Grand Cru 1998 is a masterpiece from Burgundy, a testament to the mastery of Dr. Georges Mugneret. Made in the Côte de Nuits region with 100% Pinot Noir grapes, this red is a grand reflection of its terroir. It was crafted with traditional Burgundian techniques, aged in French oak barrels, fostering exceptional complexity.

This prestigious Grand Cru is produced in the hallowed grounds of Clos-Vougeot vineyard, a site revered for its quality since the 12th century. With its deep ruby hue, rich aromas of red fruits, and nuances of spice and minerals, it truly embodies the essence of the famed vineyard. The Georges Mugneret Clos-Vougeot Grand Cru 1998 offers a harmonious balance between power and finesse, a refined expression of vintage varietal character.

Georges Mugneret's exquisite craftsmanship, along with the defined characteristics of the Pinot Noir, position Georges Mugneret Clos-Vougeot Grand Cru 1998 as a covetable piece for discerning collectors and connoisseurs alike.

Vinous (91+)

Dark red. Deep, ripe aromas of briary black raspberry, dark chocolate and minerals. Very intensely flavored and solidly structured; rather cool dark berry flavors complicated by herbal, briary and menthol hints. Not yet sweet but thick with extract. Rigorous, strong wine, finishing with big but very fine tannins. Offers impressive potential.

Few wines perfectly capture their vintage year, yet the exquisite Glana 1998 rises to the occasion effortlessly. Nestled in the heart of the prestigious Saint-Julien appellation in Bordeaux, this remarkable red wine is a testament to superior winemaking. The Glana 1998 is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, aged in fine-grain French oak barrels, exhibiting a delicate balance of finesse and depth.

Its producer, Château du Glana, is renowned for its emphasis on traditional vineyard management, typically harvesting by hand to ensure superior quality. Glana 1998 offers an impressively complex bouquet of ripe dark fruits, plush notes of leather and hints of spice, earning considerable praise in fine wine circles.

Decanting for several hours allows Glana 1998 to truly express its majestic palette, making it perfect for special occasions or as a thoughtful gift for a discerning collector. Experience Bordeaux at its finest with the sublime Glana 1998.

Wine Advocate (99)

Still incredibly youthful and sporting a lot of fruit, the deep garnet-brick colored 1998 Haut-Brion sashays out of the glass with flamboyant red and black fruits, followed by a train of cassis, blueberry pie and chocolate box notions plus accents of iron ore, dried lavender and underbrush. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is wonderfully rich and decadently seductive in its generosity of fruit and velvety texture, offering seamless freshness and finishing with epic length and compelling minerality. Oh so delicious right now, with careful cellaring it should continue to excite through 2045 and beyond.

Experience a wine like no other with the Jacky Truchot Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru Vv 1998. This vintage beauty crafted in the heart of Burgundy, France is the brainchild of master winemaker Jacky Truchot. Truchot is globally recognised for his minimal intervention philosophy and a purist's approach to vino. Aged to perfection, the wine boasts a robust body and a sumptuous array of flavours.

The Charmes-Chambertin vineyard is acclaimed for its privileged terroir, producing elegant and sophisticated Pinot Noir. The year 1998 was exceptional, favoring the expression of each grape's unique character, resulting in a splendidly balanced wine. The Jacky Truchot Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru Vv 1998 exhibits an enthralling complex nose of red fruits, truffle, and refined minerals. The palate is sophisticated, with a striking depth of flavour marked by richness and finesse. A fabulous wine embodying the spirit of French winemaking.

Wine Spectator (98)

This harmonious Champagne offers luxurious texture and powerful, focused acidity, showing aromatic accents of spring blossom, crushed thyme and chai, with rich notes of lemon meringue, hazelnut, black currant and fresh porcini mushroom. The full package. Impressive. Drink now through 2028.

Wine Spectator (98)

This harmonious Champagne offers luxurious texture and powerful, focused acidity, showing aromatic accents of spring blossom, crushed thyme and chai, with rich notes of lemon meringue, hazelnut, black currant and fresh porcini mushroom. The full package. Impressive. Drink now through 2028.

Wine Spectator (98)

This harmonious Champagne offers luxurious texture and powerful, focused acidity, showing aromatic accents of spring blossom, crushed thyme and chai, with rich notes of lemon meringue, hazelnut, black currant and fresh porcini mushroom. The full package. Impressive. Drink now through 2028.

Jancis Robinson (19.5)

This is only the third release of this luxury wine. Really quite a dark coppery gold. Very big and bold on the nose. Heady, mushroomy, almost beery! Lovely fine, tiny bead. Like Clos du Mesnil, this has a bone-dry finish and is very forcibly real wine rather than evanescent champagne. Real vinosity; very different in build from other Krug wines.

Vinous (97+)

The 1998 Blanc de Blancs Clos du Mesnil has developed beautifully since I last tasted it. What a wine. For the first few years of its life, the 1998 seemed to lack personality, then, suddenly, seemingly out of nowhere, it blossomed. Today, the 1998 is rich, powerful and explosive, none of which was a few years ago. Layers of textured fruit, pastry, spices and crushed rocks jump from the glass. Still an infant, the 1998 promises to drink well for two to three decades. This is without question the best bottle of the 1998 I have ever tasted. Time to do another complete vertical?

Wine Spectator (90)

Plums, chocolate and blackberries, with a medium body, fine tannins and a silky finish. Tight still. Refined.¿'88/'98 Bordeaux blind retrospective (2008). Best after 2008. 3,880 cases made. -JS

Wine Spectator (100)

Big and chewy, yet refined and classy--perhaps the classiest young Evangile I have touched to my lips. Full-bodied, with full, velvety tannins but a racy and powerful finish that goes on and on. Score range: 95-100

Vinous - Neal Martin (91)

The 1998 La Dominique replicates the fine performance it showed from magnum two weeks earlier. The bouquet offers blackberry, raspberry coulis, sage and truffle on the nose, a touch of mint developing with time. The palate is medium-bodied with fine grain tannins, still fresh and cohesive with black fruit, tobacco, a touch of dark chocolate with a finish you might easily mistake for a Pomerol. There is just a note of dryness and linearity on the finish, at least in the bottle, but larger formats should still give lots of pleasure. Tasted at the vertical tasting at La Dominique.

Wine Spectator (94)

Shows exotic aromas of spice, meat and game as well as lots of ripe berry. Full-bodied, with soft, ripe tannins and a long, long finish. On the level of the stupendous 1990. Much better than from barrel. Drink now. 520 cases made.

Wine Spectator (100)

Fantastic. Dark ruby color with hints of purple. Glorious aromas of blackberry, tobacco, cedar and slightly wet earth. Full-bodied, with supersilky tannins and a fabulous finish. This is subtle and refined. Wonderful length. Tasted side by side with the 2000 Pétrus, it is clearly better. Today, I give it two points higher than previous tastings. Perfection.--Pétrus non-blind vertical. Best after 2012.

Wine Spectator (100)

Fantastic. Dark ruby color with hints of purple. Glorious aromas of blackberry, tobacco, cedar and slightly wet earth. Full-bodied, with supersilky tannins and a fabulous finish. This is subtle and refined. Wonderful length. Tasted side by side with the 2000 Pétrus, it is clearly better. Today, I give it two points higher than previous tastings. Perfection.--Pétrus non-blind vertical. Best after 2012.

Vinous - Stephen Tanzer (85)

Medium red. Cherry, licorice, mint and a whiff of raw oak on the nose. Juicy and fairly intensely flavored, but with somewhat green flavors. Finishes with rather dry tannins. My sample of the 2000 was tart and underripe; it hard to believe that the sample was representative. The '99 was also green, and the tannins were astringent.

Wine Spectator (95-100)

Massive yet balanced '98, with lots of mineral, mint, wet earth, berry and cherry character. Full-bodied, with loads of round, velvety tannins and a long, long aftertaste. Score range: 95-100

Wine Spectator (95-100)

Massive yet balanced '98, with lots of mineral, mint, wet earth, berry and cherry character. Full-bodied, with loads of round, velvety tannins and a long, long aftertaste. Score range: 95-100

Vinous - Neal Martin (96)

The 1998 Lafite-Rothschild is served from double magnum directly from the château reserves, in fact with the man who made it sitting opposite me – Charles Chevalier. I must admit to being quite amazed how well this shows at 20-years of age, trouncing all the other First Growths except Haut-Brion. Lucid in colour, it has a vivid bouquet of pure blackberry, blueberry, vanilla and graphite, perhaps just a little uncharacteristically showy in style, but beautifully defined and intense. The palate is perfectly balanced with layers of ripe black fruit, perfectly pitched acidity and a silky smooth texture that renders this utterly seductive. It is almost too good for me to recommend cellaring longer. Whatever...it is a sublime Lafite-Rothschild that on this showing, may well challenge the supremacy of the 1996. Tasted at the Académie du Vin dinner in Bordeaux.

Vinous - Neal Martin (96)

The 1998 Lafite-Rothschild is served from double magnum directly from the château reserves, in fact with the man who made it sitting opposite me – Charles Chevalier. I must admit to being quite amazed how well this shows at 20-years of age, trouncing all the other First Growths except Haut-Brion. Lucid in colour, it has a vivid bouquet of pure blackberry, blueberry, vanilla and graphite, perhaps just a little uncharacteristically showy in style, but beautifully defined and intense. The palate is perfectly balanced with layers of ripe black fruit, perfectly pitched acidity and a silky smooth texture that renders this utterly seductive. It is almost too good for me to recommend cellaring longer. Whatever...it is a sublime Lafite-Rothschild that on this showing, may well challenge the supremacy of the 1996. Tasted at the Académie du Vin dinner in Bordeaux.

Vinous - Neal Martin (96)

The 1998 Lafite-Rothschild is served from double magnum directly from the château reserves, in fact with the man who made it sitting opposite me – Charles Chevalier. I must admit to being quite amazed how well this shows at 20-years of age, trouncing all the other First Growths except Haut-Brion. Lucid in colour, it has a vivid bouquet of pure blackberry, blueberry, vanilla and graphite, perhaps just a little uncharacteristically showy in style, but beautifully defined and intense. The palate is perfectly balanced with layers of ripe black fruit, perfectly pitched acidity and a silky smooth texture that renders this utterly seductive. It is almost too good for me to recommend cellaring longer. Whatever...it is a sublime Lafite-Rothschild that on this showing, may well challenge the supremacy of the 1996. Tasted at the Académie du Vin dinner in Bordeaux.

Vinous - Neal Martin (96)

The 1998 Lafite-Rothschild is served from double magnum directly from the château reserves, in fact with the man who made it sitting opposite me – Charles Chevalier. I must admit to being quite amazed how well this shows at 20-years of age, trouncing all the other First Growths except Haut-Brion. Lucid in colour, it has a vivid bouquet of pure blackberry, blueberry, vanilla and graphite, perhaps just a little uncharacteristically showy in style, but beautifully defined and intense. The palate is perfectly balanced with layers of ripe black fruit, perfectly pitched acidity and a silky smooth texture that renders this utterly seductive. It is almost too good for me to recommend cellaring longer. Whatever...it is a sublime Lafite-Rothschild that on this showing, may well challenge the supremacy of the 1996. Tasted at the Académie du Vin dinner in Bordeaux.

Wine Spectator (94)

Tar, berry and dry stone aromas, with wet earth. Full-bodied, thick and chewy, with velvety tannins. Big and rustic, but I like this textbook Latour à Pomerol. Best in decades. Best after 2008. 3,000 cases made.

Wine Spectator (94)

Tar, berry and dry stone aromas, with wet earth. Full-bodied, thick and chewy, with velvety tannins. Big and rustic, but I like this textbook Latour à Pomerol. Best in decades. Best after 2008. 3,000 cases made.

Vinous - Stephen Tanzer (88)

Dark red. Sappy red fruits and smoke on the nose. Cedary, minerally and uncompromisingly dry, with strong acidity giving the flavors penetration and cut. Finishes firmly tannic, with very good grip. This is always a second wine with character, rather than simply a receptacle for the fruit that doesn't make it into the grand vin