1998
Moulin Touchais Coteaux du Layon 1998
Brilliant gold in the glass, with rich apricot, baked apple and dried fruit joined by honeyed spice and a subtle botrytised complexity. The palate is luscious yet disciplined, balancing mature sweetness with a bright seam of acidity and gently savoury depth. Long and poised on the finish, it is excellent with blue cheese, tarte tatin or fruit-based desserts.
Pétrus 1998 Pomerol
Intense and opulent, with plum, blackberry, blueberry and chocolate-coated cherry framed by truffle, flowers, smoke, liquorice and a cool menthol lift. Full-bodied and concentrated, the palate is rich yet polished, with silky texture, fresh acidity and a long, limestone-tinged finish. Allow two to three hours in a decanter and serve with beef, lamb or truffle-accented dishes.
Soldera 1998 Brunello di Montalcino
Pure red fruit and dried cherry rise with rose, violet, herb and warm spice. The palate is intense yet remarkably composed, adding red berries, liquorice, smoke and a gentle leather note as it opens. Fresh acidity and finely resolved tannins give the mature fruit lift, carrying the wine into a long, balanced and quietly mineral finish.
Château Margaux 1998 Margaux
Mature garnet with a fine amber rim, offering blackcurrant, dried plum and fig alongside mint, cedar and an earthy gunflint note. The palate is elegant and layered, combining graceful bottle-aged complexity with polished tannins, fresh acidity and a restrained core of dark fruit. Long and composed on the finish, it opens beautifully with a thoughtful decant.
Château Lafite Rothschild 1998 Pauillac
Deep garnet with a faint brick edge, showing cassis and dark berry layered with sandalwood, cedar, tobacco and subtle mineral spice. The palate is concentrated yet remarkably poised, with polished fruit, fine-grained tannins and fresh acidity carried through a long, savoury finish. Give it generous air before serving with roast lamb, beef or earthy mushroom dishes.
Château Mouton Rothschild 1998 Pauillac
Powerful and still youthful, with crème de cassis and dark fruit layered with pencil lead, roasted espresso, tobacco, smoke, saddle leather and Indian spice. Full-bodied and concentrated, the palate combines depth with fresh structure, fine tannins and a long savoury drive. Decant for about ninety minutes and serve with roast beef, lamb or venison.
Chateau Rieussec 1998 Sauternes
Deep gold and richly layered, with candied apricot, honeyed fig and marmalade opening into toasted almond, saffron and gentle oak. The palate is concentrated yet composed, balancing dried lemon peel, pear and marzipan with mature earthy detail. Fresh acidity keeps the sweetness precise. The finish is long and persistent, carrying honey, vanilla, citrus and a subtle savoury lift.
Tahbilk 1998 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
A mature Cabernet Sauvignon of remarkable freshness and structure, led by mulberry, dark berries and a cool thread of mint. Coffee, cedar, dark chocolate and polished French oak add savoury depth without overwhelming the fruit. The palate remains rich and firmly shaped, with dry, persistent tannins carrying the wine through a long finish. Decant carefully and pair with roast beef or aged hard cheese.
Château Latour 1998 Pauillac
Black currant and morello cherry sit beneath tobacco, black tea, earth, smoke and a gamey savoury note. Medium-bodied and tightly structured, the palate combines fresh acidity with substantial tannins, finishing elegant, long and spicy. Give it about two hours in a decanter to soften the frame, then serve with roasted meat, duck or lentils with mushrooms.
Margaux 1998 Margaux
Mature garnet with a fine amber rim, offering blackcurrant, dried plum and fig alongside mint, cedar and an earthy gunflint note. The palate is elegant and layered, combining graceful bottle-aged complexity with polished tannins, fresh acidity and a restrained core of dark fruit. Long and composed on the finish, it opens beautifully with a thoughtful decant.
Lafite Rothschild 1998 Pauillac
Deep garnet with a faint brick edge, showing cassis and dark berry layered with sandalwood, cedar, tobacco and subtle mineral spice. The palate is concentrated yet remarkably poised, with polished fruit, fine-grained tannins and fresh acidity carried through a long, savoury finish. Give it generous air before serving with roast lamb, beef or earthy mushroom dishes.
Mouton Rothschild 1998 Pauillac
Powerful and still youthful, with crème de cassis and dark fruit layered with pencil lead, roasted espresso, tobacco, smoke, saddle leather and Indian spice. Full-bodied and concentrated, the palate combines depth with fresh structure, fine tannins and a long savoury drive. Decant for about ninety minutes and serve with roast beef, lamb or venison.
Château Le Pin 1998 Pomerol
Macerated black cherry and cassis lead into dark chocolate, truffle and warm spice. The palate is rich and full, but an ethereal, silky texture keeps the concentrated fruit from feeling heavy. Graphite and fine mineral detail bring definition, carrying plum, liquorice and earthy complexity through the exceptionally persistent finish.