Bordeaux Wine Enthusiasts

98 d'Aiguilhe [Cotes de Castillon] from a 375ml, popped and poured, cork looks great, purchased far after release so provenance unknown but a sound bottle fortunately. A middle of the road, 13% abv older right bank. Fully mature, better when younger, but it's been a decade since I've had one. Color is now garnet, a hint of lightening. Has a nose showing spice and blood, with a nicely textured palate. Very smooth - no tannin nor acidic edges here. Finish is ok but only 20 seconds, some beef and toffee flavors here too. Sounds odd but a nice wine. IIRC this is the last vintage made before the new consultants came on board, and took a more modern international approach to their work. No high expectations for this, just grabbed a half to take to a corkage friendly rotisserie as the SO didn't want any alcohol. It get's a B on my ledger, which is similar to my thoughts ten or fifteen years ago on this too. However this 98 is tipping over, and should be consumed.

Not bad at all after 17 years and from a '375. I love d'Aiguilhe!

Believe you're correct on the timing. I had this about 12-14 years ago too and thought it OK but nothing remarkable. A great example of the regime change was the 2001, so dense, plush and furry like it had the furs of a dozen minks inside the bottle.

A dozen minks running loose sounds even worse that 90 lbs of wet muddy dog bounding about the house.

A weeks worth of rain has been no help.

I've not tasted recent vintages here.