Question for all those who tried the 1998 Bordeaux...

[Musigny 151]

...at the convention.

On its twentieth anniversary, I was thinking of doing a really comprehensive tasting of Right Bank and Graves, but it seems that a large percentage of the wines are not showing well. Should I postpone?

Thanks

[SF Ed]

To me it depends at what level you are thinking of having the tasting and what you want to learn.

It is too early for the really great Graves like Haut Brion and especially La Mission Haut Brion. But Pape Clement is fantastic right now.

I haven't tasted Cheval Blanc or Ausone, but most of the St. Emilions are open for business. I think tasting St. Emilions now makes loads of sense, as there was widely differing views on many of the wines we tasted in DC.

We had fewer Pomerols, but the ones I had tell me that they are drinking fantastically well now. L'Evangile was amazing, and that isn't a wine that drinks well young.

I would go for it, but consider holding back the top top wines. The vast majority of 1998s are drinking well in my opinion, and I usually like wines with a lot of age on them.

SF Ed

[JimHow]

I agree with what Ed said, and I like my wines on the younger side.
I thought they were just about all superb.

[Comte Flaneur]

I wasn’t at the convention but in my more limited experience a lot of these wines could use more time, but it would be an enlightening experience. And you can always do it again in 2028. Figeac certainly fits the good but still evolving and improving template. Otoh La Tertre Roteboeuf is absolutely ready to go (assuming your bottle is not corked). OTOH Cheval Blanc has been very awkward on the two occasions I have tried it.

[JimHow]

I agree on the '98 Figeac, I think it is great now and is going to be a superstar with a little more age.
Drinking the 1982 and 1998 Figeac side by side was one of my highlights of the convention.

[DavidG]

I agree it depends on what you are looking for. The Pomerols and St Ems were drinking well and are indeed open for business as Ed says. But if you want them to show off the glorious complexity for which they’re known another 5 years or more would be in order. The Haut Brion and La Miss showed great potential but they are not really strutting their stuff right now.

[JimHow]

I think they need to be blanquitoed.

[DavidG]

Kept under cover, so to speak.

[stefan]

Pape Clement was the only forward one. The great Pomerols, of which VCC was my favorite (edging out l'Evangile), are excellent now but still improving. All of the St Emillions that I tasted are in their "plateau of maturity" but none should decline any time soon. "Hold or drink" is my advice. I would definitely hold off five years on La Mission Haut Brion, but try an Haut Brion if you have half a case or so.

[Nicklasss]

I did not sample many 1998 right bank before 2018 BWE convention. I realize that night how great they are.

If open now, 2 hours decanting would be ok. But it is a great right bank vintage. They were basically all exçellent or "something special". Évangile and Fleur-Petrus my favorites, Évangile a diamond buried in clay, while the Fleur-Petrus is a sunset that never turn to night. but tomorrow could be different. VCC big, calm rhinoceros, in a tobacco field and baslt rock. In 10 years, the rhino will blast everything and mix the flavors and perfumed. like Pavie Macquin, rasberry field, aromatic herbs, wet minerals, a black hole that will turn back to a star. Pavie incisive picture perfect, controlled power, a lion. Mission Haut Brion a powerful beautiful thunderstorm, with rainbow later. Haut Brion, a peacock, already an art, but will be the greatest when it will open it feders.

Hope it help.

Nic

[sdr]

I vote for Nic as BWE Poet Lauriate.

Stu

[Nicklasss]

Thanks sdr. That comment from you, it is like 1976 Yquem.

Nic

Ps see you soon.

[Winona Chief]

I think Nic got t just about perfect.

Chris Bublitz

[Comte Flaneur]

William Shakespeare - eat your heart out

[JimHow]

We'll sell his work in quartos.

[DavidG]

You might sell his works in quartos, but his inspiration clearly comes in fifths.