1990s
411 items in 1990s
1997 Schramsberg Reserve California (750ml) |
$72.00
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| Wine Spectator 91 | |||||
| Austere, but with a tight, focused beam of spicy pear, ginger and creamy vanilla, all folding together nicely, gaining complexity and nuance, with a long, elegant creamy-textured finish. | |||||
| Wine Enthusiast 95 | |||||
| Most Americans don't think to age sparkling wine, but this is one for the long-term cellar. It's very good now and will eventually become great. Still very young at six-plus years, it brims with fresh citrusy acids, and is very dry. There's a great undertow of lush peach fruit, vanilla, bread dough and smoke that fades into a long finish. Defines elegance and class. | |||||
1997 Scopetone Brunello (750ml)
List Price:
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$68.00
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| Steve Tanzer's International Wine Cellar 86 | |||||
| Medium to dark garnet, with ruby highlights. Reticent aromas of sottobosco and tobacco. Rather unconvincing flavors of licorice, rhubarb and camphor, along with an unexpected and jarring note of tropical fruit. This straightforward midweight is fairly juicy, even a bit tart, and the tannins are ripe and soft. Finishes with a note that reminded me of lapsang souchong tea. | |||||
1997 Silverado Limited Reserve California (750ml) |
$109.00
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| Wine Spectator 92 | |||||
| "Sleek and elegant, rich and polished, with a pretty array of herb, black cherry, mint, wild berry, chocolate, anise and tar, finishing with firm yet supple tannins." | |||||
1997 Skewis Montgomery Vineyard California (750ml) |
$55.00
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| Wine Spectator | |||||
| Serves up a pretty stream of spicy wild berry and black cherry fruit accented by spice and cedar notes. Turns firm and crisp on the finish. Drink now through 2007. (250 cases produced). | |||||
| FineWine International | |||||
| Earthy, forest mulch, and spice on the nose. Red fruit and a supple tannins in the mouth. Lovely length. A classic mature California Pinot that is aging wonderfully. | |||||
1997 Taylor (750ml)
List Price:
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$135.00
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| James Suckling 94 | |||||
| Very ripe on the nose, with raisin and dried flowers. Full-bodied, medium-sweet and chewy, Racy and rich. Still needs time, but you can drink and enjoy if you decant a few hours before. '77/'85/'97 blind Port retrospective. | |||||
| Steve Tanzer's International Wine Cellar 95+ | |||||
| Saturated deep ruby. Great minerally aromas of black plum, black cherry, roasted meat and deep spices. Very sweet and very dense, with youthfully backward black fruit, mineral and bitter chocolate flavors. Finishes with wonderfully ripe, sweet tannins and superb persistence and grip. Has the verve most '97s lack. This may ultimately challenge the great 94. | |||||
1997 Tessier Meursault Genevrieres (750ml) |
$72.00
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| FineWine International | |||||
| "Hazelnut, pear, mineral and toasty notes, along with a long complex finish, combine to make this a classic example of Meursault at its best." | |||||
1997 Tiezzi, Enzo, Brunello (750ml)
List Price:
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$60.00
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| Wine Spectator 90 | |||||
| Attractive aromas of plums and cherries, with hints of flowers. Full-bodied, with silky tannins and a lingering aftertaste of berries and fresh cedar. Best after 2002. | |||||
1997 Trapet Gevrey Chambertin Petit Chapelle (750ml) |
$50.00
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| Steve Tanzer's International Wine Cellar 87-90 | |||||
| "Good full red...More sauvage aromas of blackberry, plum, graphite, espresso and gibiers. Sweet, oaky and seamless; enveloping chocolate. Fat and rich. Finishes with dusty tannins and sneaky length." | |||||
1997 Turley, Aida Vineyard California (750ml) |
$88.00
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| Robert Parker 90 | |||||
| "The 1997 Petite Syrah Aida Vineyard (from 80-year old vines) assaults the palate with such an overload of fruit, tannin, and extract that the taster's first impression is that this is something more than table wine. It is a massive, almost uncivilized, wildly out of control Petite Syrah that will require 10-15 years of cellaring, and last for 30 or more. I have been conservative in my judgment because the tannin nearly melted the fillings in my teeth, but this is an amazing, astonishing wine that will be fascinating to follow over the next 3-4 decades." | |||||
1997 Turley, Rattlesnake Acres California (750ml) |
$78.00
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| Robert Parker 91 | |||||
| "A new offering, the 1997 Petite Syrah Rattlesnake Acres is from a 50-year old plantation of Petite Sirah. The wine's notes suggested I needed to return to my hotel to grab my floss after tasting this wine. The color is a saturated, thick black/purple. The wine reveals surprising amounts of toasty new oak in the nose (Turley only uses 25%-30% new oak). In the mouth, it is "beyond immense, massive, and gargantuan," and should be purchased only by those seeking an adventurous wine experience." | |||||
1997 Verget Chablis Valmur (750ml) |
$95.00
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| Robert Parker 92-94 | |||||
| The Chablis Valmur has toasted hazelnut, eucalyptus, lemon, and stone-like aromas. It is big and delineated and has a velvety-textured, precise, and complex core of white/red berries intermingled with spiced pears and anise. It lasts long on the palate. This blockbuster is an extraordinary wine, in addition to offering further evidence of Guffens' brilliant winemaking skills. Drink it between 2001 and 2007+. | |||||
1997 Verget Meursault Charmes (750ml) |
$75.00
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| Robert Parker 92-93 | |||||
| The magnificent Meursault Charmes Vieilles Vignes will provide consumers with years of pleasure. Its extremely expressive aromatics reveal earthy red fruit scents interspersed with new oak spices. On the palate, this full-bodied, broad, powerful, highly concentrated, and magnificently focused wine offers multiple dimensions of minerals, nuts, super-ripe apples, and grilled oak flavors. This huge, yet refined Meursault pleases the intellect with its purity and complexity, yet will also satisfy hedonists with its thick, chewy, and sultry depth of fruit. | |||||
1997 Verget Meursault Poruzots (750ml) |
$75.00
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| Robert Parker 92-94 | |||||
| Verget's Meursault Poruzots is a work of art. Its drool-inducing nose of candied hazelnuts and lemons leads to a full-flavored and humongous personality densely packed with tropical fruits, and nuts. This wine is amazingly ripe yet has impeccable precision and balance, an anomaly given its oily, almost viscous texture. Many wines, tasted at this stage of their elevage, appear to be holding some of their components in reserve. This offering flaunts everything it has in an unabashedly sexy and voluptuous manner. | |||||
1997 Williams Selyem Allen Vineyard California (750ml) |
$109.00
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| Wine Spectator 89 | |||||
| "Light in color, though blessed with ripe, pleasant black cherry, blackberry, strawberry, cedar and herb notes that gain complexity and nuance.Drink now through 2007." | |||||
| Allen Meadows, Burghound 91 | |||||
| This is a notable elegant wine that offers first class balance and fine harmony elements. Highly recommended. | |||||
1997 Williams Selyem Sonoma Coast California (750ml) |
$109.00
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| Wine Spectator 91 | |||||
| Starts out gamy and a touch peppery, but doesn't stray too far from its core of dense, ripe plum, black cherry and raspberry-laced fruit. Finishes with firm tannins.Best from 2001 through 2006. (350 cases produced) | |||||
1997 Williams Selyem Sonoma Coast California (750ml) |
$109.00
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| Wine Spectator 91 | |||||
| Starts out gamy and a touch peppery, but doesn't stray too far from its core of dense, ripe plum, black cherry and raspberry-laced fruit. Finishes with firm tannins.Best from 2001 through 2006. (350 cases produced) | |||||
1997 Williams Selyem, Ferrington California (750ml) |
$52.00
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1997 Yquem (375ml) |
$190.00
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| Robert Parker 96 | |||||
| A sensational Yquem, 1997 may be this estate's finest effort since 1990 (although I would not discount the 1996 turning out to be nearly as good). The 1997's light gold color is accompanied a gorgeous perfume of caramel, honeysuckle, peach, apricot, and smoky wood. Full-bodied and unctuously-textured, with good underlying acidity as well as loads of sweetness and glycerin, it looks to be a great vintage for this renowned Sauternes estate. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2055. | |||||
| Wine Spectator 95+ | |||||
| Extremely concentrated, yet subtle. Aromas of honey and spices, with an intense botrytis nose. Full-bodied, thick and fruity, with orange peel and lemon rind character. Medium sweetness. Balanced, yet thick and backward. This reminds me of the harmonious 1990--certainly the best since then. Best after 2008. | |||||
1997 Yquem (375ml)
List Price:
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$175.00
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| Robert Parker 96 | |||||
| A sensational Yquem, 1997 may be this estate's finest effort since 1990 (although I would not discount the 1996 turning out to be nearly as good). The 1997's light gold color is accompanied a gorgeous perfume of caramel, honeysuckle, peach, apricot, and smoky wood. Full-bodied and unctuously-textured, with good underlying acidity as well as loads of sweetness and glycerin, it looks to be a great vintage for this renowned Sauternes estate. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2055. | |||||
| Wine Spectator 95+ | |||||
| Extremely concentrated, yet subtle. Aromas of honey and spices, with an intense botrytis nose. Full-bodied, thick and fruity, with orange peel and lemon rind character. Medium sweetness. Balanced, yet thick and backward. This reminds me of the harmonious 1990--certainly the best since then. Best after 2008. | |||||
1998 Altare Barolo Arborina (750ml)
List Price:
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$95.00
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| Steve Tanzer's International Wine Cellar 92 | |||||
| Good full red. Red cherry, minerals and a hint of goat cheese on the vinous nose. Cool and lively in the mouth, with a note of candied red fruits. Not hugely deep for an Altare Barolo, but vinous and penetrating. Quite classy for a wine from a vineyard that Altare has always described as premier rather than grand cru quality. | |||||
| Robert Parker 91-93 | |||||
| The 1998 Barolo Arborina boasts a glorious perfume of overripe black cherries intertwined with Asian spices, new oak, and flowers. Layered, gorgeously concentrated, superbly balanced and seamless, with fabulous fruit, good underlying tannin, and a long, 40+ second finish, it can be drunk now and over the next 15 years. | |||||
| Wine Spectator 93 | |||||
| Bright yet subtle aromas of plums, strawberries and raspberries. Full-bodied, with a solid core of ripe tannins and a long, long finish. A finely chiseled wine with great precision. | |||||
1998 Araujo Eisele California (750ml) |
$190.00
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| Robert Parker 91 | |||||
| "Medium-deep red. Complex, inviting aromas of plum leather, spice, game and Burgundian earth tones. Lush and sweet in the mouth, with plum, meat and leather flavors. Harmonious acids give shape to the wine without drying it. Finishes with sweet, rich tannins and very good length. This has filled in very nicely since I tasted it from barrel a year ago. A real standout of the vintage." | |||||
| Wine Spectator 90 | |||||
| A supple, harmonious, well-crafted effort, with rich yet subtle earthy currant, tobacco, toasty-cedary oak and spicy anise notes. Very complete and focused, with fine-grained tannins on the finish. | |||||
1998 Araujo Eisele California (750ml) |
$98.00
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| Steve Tanzer's International Wine Cellar 91 | |||||
| Bright red-ruby. Very complex aromas of raspberry, tar,smoked meat and burnished oak. Big, rich and smoky,with a sophisticated texture and hints of exotic fruits. Very suave, smooth syrah. | |||||
| Robert Parker | |||||
| "The 1998 Syrah Eisele vineyard is a soft, supple-textured, opulent, civilized effort that can be drunk now as well as over the next 8-10 years. Not a blockbuster, it is elegantly rendered, pure, and filled with blackberry/cassis fruit as well as a hint of honeysuckle provided by 8% Viognier in the blend." | |||||
1998 Cheval Blanc (750ml)
List Price:
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$775.00
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| Wine Spectator 98 | |||||
| "Subtle, complex and refined, with aromas of cherry, licorice, mineral, berry and other sweet, ripe fruit. Full-bodied, compacted, with fine, silky tannins. Long finish." | |||||
| Steve Tanzer's International Wine Cellar 95 | |||||
| "Full, bright medium ruby. Nose shows an almost liqueur-like ripeness, along with notes of bitter chocolate and menthol; a great expression of ripe but youthfully unevolved cabernet franc. Extremely dense and pure but still quite tight and showing a minty austerity. Wonderful acids give the wine superb clarity of flavor. This will require another decade to unfold. Finishes impressively persistent and juicy. Drink 2010 through 2030." | |||||
| Neil Martin, Wine Journal, eRobert Parker 98 | |||||
| Slightly light in colour than Ausone 1998 with a little more maturity on the rim. The nose is more extrovert than Ausone, opulent and fleshy, not dissimilar to a more cultured version of the La Mondotte. It develops further nuances of sloes and black plum with ten minutes in the glass. The palate is very impressive: wonderful structure, a forceful assertive Cheval Blanc with a tad more weight and depth than Ausone. Very harmonious on the finish, the merlot dominating, although you can tell that the Cabernet Franc is lurking in the sidelines waiting to take over from 2010. A great Cheval Blanc fulfilling all its initial promise. Tasted March 2008. | |||||
| Robert Parker 93 | |||||
| This blend of 55% Cabernet Franc and 45% Merlot exhibits a dark ruby/purple color as well as classic aromas of menthol, plums, mulberries, and assorted black fruits. The oak, texture, acidity, and tannin are all beautifully integrated. While full-bodied, elegant, concentrated, and impeccably balanced, it requires several years of cellaring. Anticipated maturity: 2004-2020. | |||||
| Steve Tanzer's International Wine Cellar 98 | |||||
| Enticing nose offers minty blackcurrant, rose petal, cedar, and red cherry liqueur aromas. Then rich, suave and dense in the mouth, with voluptuous red cherry, raspberry, mineral and cocoa flavors complicated by tobacco and flinty nuances. The finish is smoothly tannic and extremely long, with a strong mineral nuance and just a hint of phenolic dryness. An extremely refined Cheval Blanc, exhibiting impeccable balance and breed; very cabernet franc-dominated and hence very Cheval Blanc. The year was memorable for a bout of frost on May 29 that sharply reduced crop levels; the summer started hot, then turned cool, but temperatures warmed up again during a magnificent September. The harvest took place from September 18 to 27. Only 160 barriques were made from a freakishly low yield. I have encountered bottle variation with the 1961 Cheval Blanc, which I've tasted 11 times through the years, but this particular bottle was pretty unforgettable. Dan Agata | |||||
1998 Ciacci Piccolomini Brunello (750ml)
List Price:
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$65.00
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| Robert Parker 90 | |||||
| The 1998 Brunello di Montalcino exhibits a soft, supple, elegant, sweet nose of underbrush, licorice, jammy currants and cherries, spice box, and tobacco. Medium-bodied and luscious, this sexy, kinky Brunello will drink well for 5-10 years. | |||||
| Wine Spectator 93 | |||||
| Wild berry, cherry and floral aromas to this Brunello. Full-bodied, with big, silky tannins and loads of exciting fruit. Lively, yet refined. These wines are a joy to taste. Giuseppe Bianchini is a master in the vineyards. Best after 2004. | |||||
1998 Ciacci Piccolomini Brunello Vigna di Painrosso Ris (750ml)
List Price:
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$110.00
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| Wine Spectator 93 | |||||
| Wild berry, cherry and floral aromas to this Brunello. Full-bodied, with big, silky tannins and loads of exciting fruit. Lively, yet refined. These wines are a joy to taste. Giuseppe Bianchini is a master in the vineyards. Best after 2004. | |||||
1998 Ciacci Piccolomini Brunello Vigna di Pianrosso (750ml)
List Price:
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$110.00
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| Wine Spectator 93 | |||||
| Wild berry, cherry and floral aromas to this Brunello. Full-bodied, with big, silky tannins and loads of exciting fruit. Lively, yet refined. These wines are a joy to taste. Giuseppe Bianchini is a master in the vineyards. Best after 2004. | |||||
| Steve Tanzer's International Wine Cellar 91 | |||||
| Good deep red. Brooding aromas of deep dark fruits and tar, with a liqueur-like suggestion of kirsch Juicy, fresh and focused, with sweet dark berry and black cherry flavors framed and intensified by gripping but harmonious acids. Not huge or especially fleshy but sappy, dense and delicious. Finishes with ripe, fine tannins; mouthwatering acidity; and excellent length. | |||||
1998 Clarendon Hills Astralis (750ml) |
$260.00
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| Robert Parker 98 | |||||
| Just beginning to emerge from a relatively dormant state, this prodigious wine was showing the best it has yet performed., suggesting again that Clarendon Hills wines behave more like European wines in terms of needing time in the bottle. The saturated blue/purple color offers up notes of ripe black fruits intermixed with graphite, vanilla, mineral, and spice. Extremely thick, with a viscous texture, good underlying tannin and acidity, and fabulous length (nearly 50 seconds), this is certainly a prodigious effort that is now living up to the fame and extraordinary quality of this vintage. Nevertheless, I thought the wine needed about five years of cellaring two years ago, but now I tend to think it needs at least another 5-7 years of cellaring before it will begin to become an adolescent. It is a majestic, multi-dimensional, individualistic wine that certainly is world-class and undoubtedly profound. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2030. | |||||
| Wine Spectator 93 | |||||
| "Deep, dark and dense, a powerfully concentrated mouthful of cherry, blackberry, plum and exotic spice flavors that linger on the beautifully crafted finish. Stylish and graceful, it also has power." | |||||
1998 Climens (750ml) |
$82.00
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| Robert Parker 91-95 | |||||
| FineWine International | |||||
| An elegant, classic Climens. Lemony fruit aromas and excellent length in the finish. | |||||
1998 Cos d'Estournel (750ml)
List Price:
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$105.00
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| Steve Tanzer's International Wine Cellar 90 | |||||
| Red-ruby. Currant, black olive, minerals and currant leaf on the nose. Bright, pure and focused, with aromatic inner-mouth flavors of cedar and lead pencil. Austere but not dry. More fruity and less tannic than the '96, but of roughly similar weight. Finishes firmly tannic, with sneaky persistence. | |||||
| Robert Parker 88 | |||||
| Bottled in April, 2000, this elegant, stylish, graceful wine is an attractive, dark ruby/purple-colored effort with subtle notes of sweet oak, licorice, herbs, and black fruits. While not massive, it is medium-bodied and ripe, with sweet tannin. Forty-eight percent of the production was utilized in this blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot. | |||||
| Neil Martin, Wine Journal, eRobert Parker 88 | |||||
| Tasted at the Cos d?Estournel dinner at St. John. The nose is quite smoky and dusty, with a touch of green pepper, lacking a little vigour like the ?96. Very masculine, as is the palate that is foursquare, with dusty tannins, cigar box and blackberry leaf. It is very Saint Estephe with its earthy finish, although it could do with more depth and length. Noticeable salty tang just on the aftertaste. Mediocre for this estate. Drink now-2014. Tasted March 2009. | |||||
1998 Dalla Valle California (750ml) |
$152.00
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| Robert Parker 94 | |||||
| "The 1998 Cabernet Sauvignon is even better from bottle than it was from barrel. It is a terrific wine with an opaque blue/purple color and a gorgeously sweet nose of black fruits interrmixed with licorice, mineral, and spice. Full-bodied, opulently textured, and drinkable at an earlier age than most vintages, it should keep at least two decades." | |||||
1998 David Arthur Elevation 1147 (750ml) |
$115.00
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| Robert Parker 91 | |||||
| "There are only a few hundred cases of this 1998 Cabernet Sauvignon. Extremely ripe notes of prunes, blackberries, and currants intertwine with coffee and chocolate in this surprisingly dense, low acid, concentrated 1998. A dense ruby/plum/purple color is accompanied by a full-bodied, unctuously-textured, fully mature wine. I am not sure it possesses the structure necessary for extended aging, but it will provide immense pleasure over the next 10-15 years. " | |||||
| Wine Spectator 91 | |||||
| "Dark, rich, intense and focused, with ripe, spicy currant, plum and black cherry fruit, plus shadings of herb and cedar. Turns a touch prickly, with a slight vinegary edge. Finishes with dry, earthy tannins. " | |||||
1998 Domaine la Crau des Papes, Chateauneuf-du-Pape (750ml) |
$47.00
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| FineWine International | |||||
| A traditionally made Chateauneuf-du-Pape that is ready to drink. | |||||
1998 Dunn Napa California (750ml) |
$75.00
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| Robert Parker | |||||
| "The 1998 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa (a composite blend) is highly-extracted, but very light. It obviously reflects the challenges presented by this vintage. Dry tannin in the finish might turn out to be cause for concern, but there is still plenty of cassis fruit in this medium to full-bodied Cabernet, but it is more compressed than usual. Dunn will undoubtedly build more flesh and fruit into it before bottling, but we will have to wait another year to find out. If Godzilla drank California Cabernet Sauvignon, would there be any doubt as to what choice it would be? Anyone who has regularly tasted Randy Dunn's Cabernet Sauvignons (first produced in 1979) realizes several things. They all possess the following characteristics: (1) remarkable color and richness, (2) massive personalities with huge tannic structures, (3) gorgeous purity and unreal aging potential." | |||||
| Wine Spectator | |||||
| "Highly reliant on green, cedary oak for its flavor, this tight, tannic, intense youngster finds enough ripe fruit to counter the wood, with hints of earthy currant, bell pepper, sage and tar. Requires patience." | |||||
| Steve Tanzer's International Wine Cellar 90 | |||||
| Bright ruby-red. Aromas of cassis, licorice, graphite and game. Dense, supple and rich in extract; juicy flavors of cassis and licorice. Offers impressive texture for the vintage, but comes across as distinctly less sweet than the Howell Mountain bottling. Finishes with very good length and ripe, fairly substantial tannins that grew slightly dry with aeration. | |||||
1998 Frescobaldi Brunello Castelgiacondo (750ml)
List Price:
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$85.00
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| Wine Spectator 93 | |||||
| Really well-made, with Indian spice, incense, berry and raspberry character. Full-bodied, with fine, silky tannins and a finish that goes on for a very long time indeed. Frescobaldi knows how to make Brunello. | |||||
1998 Kistler, Les Noisetiers California (750ml)
List Price:
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$40.00
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1998 La Couspaude (750ml)
List Price:
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$65.00
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| Robert Parker 91-93 | |||||
| The multidimensional 1998 La Couspade exhibits a dense purple color as well as a big-framed, muscular personality, abundant tannin, and thrilling levels of extract, concentration, and ripe fruit. Black raspberries, blackberries, and currants galore jump from the glass of this extraordinary wine. The same characteristics inundate the palate, almost detonating with their richness and explosive thickness. | |||||
1998 Lafite (750ml) |
$895.00
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| Robert Parker 98 | |||||
| A blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon and 19% Merlot, this wine represents only 34% of Lafite's total harvest. In a less than perfect Medoc vintage, it has been spectacular since birth, putting on more weight and flesh over the last year. This opaque purple-colored 1998 is close to perfection. The spectacular nose of lead pencil, smoky, mineral, and black currant fruit soars majestically from the glass. The wine is elegant yet profoundly rich, revealing the essence of Lafite's character. The tannin is sweet, and the wine spectacularly layered yet never heavy. The finish is sweet, super-rich, yet impeccably balanced and long." | |||||
| Wine Spectator 93 | |||||
| Beautifully proportioned. Aromas of blackberry and spice, with a hint of toasted oak. Full-bodied, with well-integrated tannins and a long finish. Very well done. Best of the Medoc first-growths. | |||||
1998 Latour (750ml) |
$550.00
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| Wine Spectator 90 | |||||
| "A harmonious Latour which shows refinment for the vintage. Loads of crushed black cherries and currants on the nose and the palate. Full-bodied, with very well integrated tannins and a long, long finish. This will improved in the barrel -- just watch." | |||||
| Robert Parker 90 | |||||
| "Not a blockbuster, super-concentrated classic such as the 1996,1995,1990, or 1982, the 1998 possesses a dark garnet/purple color in addition to a complex bouquet of underbrush, cedar, walnuts, and locorice-tinged black currants. Although medium to full-bodied and moderately tannic, it lacks the expansiveness in the mid-palate necessarry to be truly great." | |||||
1998 Leonetti Washington (750ml) |
$73.00
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| Wine Spectator 93 | |||||
| "Firm, flavorful and distinctly spicy, with cinnamon and nutmeg overtones to the yummy, focused black currant and blackberry flavors. A racy red with great style and depth. Fine-grained tannins can use cellaring." | |||||
| Robert Parker 94 | |||||
| Medium to full-bodied and hugely ripe, it is crammed with Asian spices, chocolate, blackberry juice, and a cascade of cherries. This expansive, rich lively Melrot is unquestionably great stuff! There are no hard edges in its sultry character or exceptionally long, fruit-filled finish. Enjoy it over the next 7-9 years. | |||||
| Wine Enthusiast 95 | |||||
| The 1998 vintage shows its forward, fat, lip -smackinly luscious qualities in this meaty, oaky Cab that boasts firm, tongue-lashing tanins and plenty of red berries and cassis. It's delicius and strong, with coffee, bitter chocolate and licorice lining the extended finish. | |||||
| Steve Tanzer's International Wine Cellar 90 | |||||
| "Bright, deep ruby-red. Spicy aromas of blackberry, boysenberry, black plum and sexy oak. Juicy, intense and tightly wound, with flavors of red berries, mint and spice. Rather tannic today and in need of aging, but spicy, chocolatey and very long." | |||||
1998 Leoville Las Cases (750ml) |
$195.00
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| Robert Parker 93 | |||||
| "Only 40% of the harvest was included in this wine, which along with Lafite-Rothschild, is one of the finest Medocs of the vintage. It boasts an opaque black/purple color, superb intensity, surprising weight for a 1998 Medoc, and classic, blackberry and cassis flavors interwtwined with vanillin and minerals. Full-bodied, with remarkably mature, sweet tannin, this blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot and 9% Cabernet Franc is an exceptional effort in a tricky Medoc vintage." | |||||
| Steve Tanzer's International Wine Cellar 92+ | |||||
| Medium ruby. Spicy, highly aromatic nose combines currant, lead pencil, licorice, minerals and roasted nuts. Dense, spicy and penetrating, with lovely clarity of fruit and considerable power. Quite suave and stylish. Finishes very long, with firm tannins that are quite fine for the year. "We'll prefer the '99 for the first ten years, but afterwards this '98 may be better," notes Jean-Hubert Delon. | |||||
| Neil Martin, Wine Journal, eRobert Parker 93 | |||||
| A deep garnet core with ruby rim ? still quite unevolved for a nine-year old Las-Cases. The nose is relatively light and leafy, but with great definition. Blackberry, a touch of cassis, mineral, limestone with a touch of cold black tea. The palate is medium-bodied, well balanced with lots of freshness and vitality. Good acidity, quite lively and spritely, an attractive lightness of touch you do not often find with Las-Cases. Blackberry, blueberry, cedar, a touch of orange peel leading to an almost citrus-like finish. A very attractive wine, quite feminine in style like the 2001. Excellent. Drink 2012-2025+. Tasted December 2007. | |||||
| Wine Spectator 93 | |||||
| Impressive dark, almost purple color. Intense aromas of crushed blackberries, minerals, mint and currant follow through to a full body, with licorice and berry character and a long, velvety finish. Needs a bit of time still, but very enjoyable already. Very serious for the vintage.?'88/'98 Bordeaux blind retrospective | |||||
1998 Leoville Las Cases (750ml-12pk OWC) |
$1,760.00
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| Robert Parker 93 | |||||
| "Only 40% of the harvest was included in this wine, which along with Lafite-Rothschild, is one of the finest Medocs of the vintage. It boasts an opaque black/purple color, superb intensity, surprising weight for a 1998 Medoc, and classic, blackberry and cassis flavors interwtwined with vanillin and minerals. Full-bodied, with remarkably mature, sweet tannin, this blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot and 9% Cabernet Franc is an exceptional effort in a tricky Medoc vintage." | |||||
| Steve Tanzer's International Wine Cellar 92+ | |||||
| Medium ruby. Spicy, highly aromatic nose combines currant, lead pencil, licorice, minerals and roasted nuts. Dense, spicy and penetrating, with lovely clarity of fruit and considerable power. Quite suave and stylish. Finishes very long, with firm tannins that are quite fine for the year. "We'll prefer the '99 for the first ten years, but afterwards this '98 may be better," notes Jean-Hubert Delon. | |||||
| Neil Martin, Wine Journal, eRobert Parker 93 | |||||
| A deep garnet core with ruby rim ? still quite unevolved for a nine-year old Las-Cases. The nose is relatively light and leafy, but with great definition. Blackberry, a touch of cassis, mineral, limestone with a touch of cold black tea. The palate is medium-bodied, well balanced with lots of freshness and vitality. Good acidity, quite lively and spritely, an attractive lightness of touch you do not often find with Las-Cases. Blackberry, blueberry, cedar, a touch of orange peel leading to an almost citrus-like finish. A very attractive wine, quite feminine in style like the 2001. Excellent. Drink 2012-2025+. Tasted December 2007. | |||||
| Wine Spectator 93 | |||||
| Impressive dark, almost purple color. Intense aromas of crushed blackberries, minerals, mint and currant follow through to a full body, with licorice and berry character and a long, velvety finish. Needs a bit of time still, but very enjoyable already. Very serious for the vintage.?'88/'98 Bordeaux blind retrospective | |||||
1998 Leoville Las Cases (750ml) |
$195.00
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| Robert Parker 93 | |||||
| "Only 40% of the harvest was included in this wine, which along with Lafite-Rothschild, is one of the finest Medocs of the vintage. It boasts an opaque black/purple color, superb intensity, surprising weight for a 1998 Medoc, and classic, blackberry and cassis flavors interwtwined with vanillin and minerals. Full-bodied, with remarkably mature, sweet tannin, this blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot and 9% Cabernet Franc is an exceptional effort in a tricky Medoc vintage." | |||||
| Steve Tanzer's International Wine Cellar 92+ | |||||
| Medium ruby. Spicy, highly aromatic nose combines currant, lead pencil, licorice, minerals and roasted nuts. Dense, spicy and penetrating, with lovely clarity of fruit and considerable power. Quite suave and stylish. Finishes very long, with firm tannins that are quite fine for the year. "We'll prefer the '99 for the first ten years, but afterwards this '98 may be better," notes Jean-Hubert Delon. | |||||
| Neil Martin, Wine Journal, eRobert Parker 93 | |||||
| A deep garnet core with ruby rim ? still quite unevolved for a nine-year old Las-Cases. The nose is relatively light and leafy, but with great definition. Blackberry, a touch of cassis, mineral, limestone with a touch of cold black tea. The palate is medium-bodied, well balanced with lots of freshness and vitality. Good acidity, quite lively and spritely, an attractive lightness of touch you do not often find with Las-Cases. Blackberry, blueberry, cedar, a touch of orange peel leading to an almost citrus-like finish. A very attractive wine, quite feminine in style like the 2001. Excellent. Drink 2012-2025+. Tasted December 2007. | |||||
| Wine Spectator 93 | |||||
| Impressive dark, almost purple color. Intense aromas of crushed blackberries, minerals, mint and currant follow through to a full body, with licorice and berry character and a long, velvety finish. Needs a bit of time still, but very enjoyable already. Very serious for the vintage.?'88/'98 Bordeaux blind retrospective | |||||
1998 Margaux (750ml) |
$545.00
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| Robert Parker 91 | |||||
| The 1998 Margaux's color is a dense ruby/purple. The wine is tannic and austere, but elegant, with notes of asphalt, blackberries, acacia flowers, and sweet, toasty oak. Subtle, rich, nicely-textured, and medium-bodied, it is built for the long haul. Anticipated maturity: 2006-2030. | |||||
| Wine Spectator 92 | |||||
| Complex aromas of crushed blackberries and toasted oak, with hints of tar. Full-bodied, with big, chewy tannins and hints of vanilla bean and coffee underneath. A bit chewy still, and needs a couple more years to resolve the angular tannins."88/'98 Bordeaux blind retrospective (2008). | |||||
1998 Marilyn Merlot California (750ml) |
$98.00
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| Wine- Maker Notes | |||||
| This is the 14th vintage. It is a supple blend of 92% Merlot and 8% Cabernet Franc grapes from the Napa Valley viticultural areas of Oakville, Rutherford and Yountville. Cinnamon and vanilla aromas from the oak compliment the milk chocolate and black cherry flavors of the fruit. | |||||
1998 McCray Ridge California (750ml) |
$49.00
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| FineWine International | |||||
| One of the best Merlots to emerge from California comes from this small vineyard high above Dry Creek Valley in Sonoma. We have sung the praises of this wine since its debut with the 1996 vintage. This year, fans of McCray Ridge Merlot will not be disappointed. In style, the 1998 vintage is more like the 1996 than the 1997. The color is a beautiful blueish-purple with deep scarlet highlights. The nose is rich and full with exotic notes of plum, blueberry, allspice, along with hints of licorice, smoke and olive. The flavors echo the nose and the finish is long and full. A wine with real grip. The only bad news is the size of the crop, only 370 cases, less than half of the 1997. | |||||
1998 McCray Ridge California (750ml) |
$49.00
|
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| FineWine International | |||||
| One of the best Merlots to emerge from California comes from this small vineyard high above Dry Creek Valley in Sonoma. We have sung the praises of this wine since its debut with the 1996 vintage. This year, fans of McCray Ridge Merlot will not be disappointed. In style, the 1998 vintage is more like the 1996 than the 1997. The color is a beautiful blueish-purple with deep scarlet highlights. The nose is rich and full with exotic notes of plum, blueberry, allspice, along with hints of licorice, smoke and olive. The flavors echo the nose and the finish is long and full. A wine with real grip. The only bad news is the size of the crop, only 370 cases, less than half of the 1997. | |||||
1998 Meo Camuzet Nuits St. Georges Les Boudots (750ml) |
$245.00
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| Clive Coates 17.5 | |||||
| "Medium-full colour. Full, rich with a touch of oak on th enose. Plenty of depth. Full body. Good fruit. Not a bit over-done. Very good grip. This again is harmonious, classy, long and positive. Fine." | |||||
| Fine Wine Review 90-93 | |||||
| "The Nuits-Boudots shows a nice complexity of black fruits that mix with oak, and round texture. I would sum this wine up with the word sensual." | |||||
1998 Meo Camuzet Nuits-St-Georges Murgers (750ml) |
$125.00
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| Clive Coates 17.5 | |||||
| "Full, tannic, oaky, of course, but not to much so. Rich and fat. Fine." | |||||
| Fine Wine Review 95 | |||||
| "The Nuits-Murgers has more black fruits, especially plums, and is rounder with a nice precision. Tannins are notably present." | |||||
1998 Mondavi Reserve California (750ml) |
$78.00
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| Wine Enthusiast 92 | |||||
| "Soft and succulent blackberry and cassis fruit upfront, framed by squeaky clean tannins and solid oak elements. This is most notable for its voluptuous, velvety texture, which coats the palate with sweet flavors. It?s not a big wine but a balanced, harmonious one, and a success for the vintage." | |||||
1998 Mouton (750ml) |
$495.00
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| Robert Parker 96 | |||||
| Like many of its peers, the 1998 has filled out spectacularly. Now in the bottle, this opaque black/purple-colored offering has increased in stature, richness, and size. A blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, and 2% Cabernet Franc (57% of the production was utilized), it is an extremely powerful, super-concentrated wine offering notes of roasted espresso, creme de cassis, smoke, new saddle leather, graphite, and licorice. It is massive, with awesome concentration, mouth-searing tannin levels, and a saturated flavor profile that grips the mouth with considerable intensity. This is a 50-year Mouton, but patience will be required as it will not be close to drinkability for at least a decade. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2050. | |||||
| Wine Spectator 90 | |||||
| "Cigar tobacco, cedar and red fruit aromas. Medium- to full-bodied, with silky tannins and a delicate finish. Elegant, seductive Mouton." | |||||
| Neil Martin, Wine Journal, eRobert Parker 92 | |||||
| Tasted at the Claret Club Mouton-Rothschild dinner. The 1998 Mouton has a very deep garnet hue. The nose has good intensity and fine definition with blackberry, cassis, graphite and a touch of sous-bois. The palate is tight at first...a dense ball of Pauillac stubbornness are the exact words that I wrote. But it unwinds nicely: graphite and cedar interlacing the black fruit, almost brutal towards the finish that needs more persistency. This will been another 4-5 years in bottle. Tasted November 2010. | |||||
| Steve Tanzer's International Wine Cellar 93+ | |||||
| "Very deep saturated ruby. Archetypical cabernet sauvignon-dominated nose offers fresh blackcurrant, lead pencil and flowers complicated by strong spice notes. Bright and juicy on entry, with very pure flavors of dark berries, underbrush and dried herbs, then slightly austere and linear in the middle palate. Finishes with a lingering saline nuance and very good length. A very refined and impeccably balanced Mouton, but I would have liked a little bit more concentration and opulence for an even higher score. This classic Mouton possesses relatively high acidity and a solid tannic structure; it offers early accessibility but should age effortlessly for another 15 or 20 years. In 1998, after a couple years of experimentation, Mouton began to de-leaf in a systematic fashion on both sides of the vine rows. Another vintage with a large crop, 1998 featured an unsettled September with rain falling during the cabernet sauvignon harvest (one of the reasons why 1998 is widely considered a Right Bank year.)" Ian D'Agata | |||||