David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

Nearly 20 years in bottle. It is still ascending will drink well for another 15 days plus years.

From a warm vintage. Beautiful, even toned fruits with elegant earth & amazing lead pencil bloom for days.

This is approaching its peak, another 5 years from its peak.

Well resolved wine-fruits. The fruits are juicy, blackberries, black raspberries, plum skin, dark cherries & slightly, poached strawberries with a highlight of pomegranate. Mocha, dark chocolate, black tea, sandalwood, sandstone, limestone, some mushroom notes, dark, rich turned earth w/ dry leaves, dry tobacco, dry leather, dry herbs, dry stone, caramel notes, dry, withering, dark, purple & red flowers with excellent acidity, balance, tension, structure and finish for days that lasts 90 seconds. — a month ago

Akira Arroyo

9.0

Fruity on the nose and dry on the palate. Goes well with a white fish. — 7 months ago

with Jorge

Ruud Verhagen

9.1

90-95 , found it hard to score, probably drink from 2030-2035…🤔 — 10 months ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Part of a Chateau Mouton Rothschild vertical from 1988-1990. The 1988 shows great color and is quite charming with notes of cassis, tobacco, leather some bell pepper and a cinnamon bark sort of thing on the nose. Structure remains firm and this was a little greener than the ‘89 and ‘90. There is no risk of this falling off anytime soon; probably good through 2038. — 2 months ago

Delectable Wine

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9.3

The 1998 Vieux Château Certan saw both the Merlot and Cabernet reaching maturity early and, unusually, around the same time due to the Cabernet Franc suffering during the drought. Ergo, the blend is 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. Harvest was September 21 to 26 and cropped at 34hl/ha. The bouquet is far superior to the 1996, as you would expect, quite vivacious and sensual black cherry and raspberry fruit, touches of wild mint, though it becomes pretty Bretty in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with fine grain tannins, fresh and lively, with fine grip with a crunchy blackberry, tar and allspice finish. This might actually constitute the best bottle of the 1998 that I have tasted. Tasted at the VCC vertical in Etikhove. (Neal Martin, Vinous, July 2024)
— 5 months ago

Jeremiah Diaz

9.1

Fruit and oak on the nose, plum and blackberry notes. A really good cab. — 2 years ago

Ron Siegel

9.5

Served together where both wines showed well. The 89 had more structure where the 90 was more open & approachable with beautiful aromatics of berry fruit, spice & tobacco — 2 months ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.6

Love this vintage for Yquem, one of my favorites in this time period along with 88, 90 and 01. Halfsie tonight to pair with the foie gras and then dessert! Nectar of the gods 😚 — 2 months ago

Karen

8.9

Don’t think organic. March/April/May 2024. Bought for office, finished at home. — 8 months ago

Peter van den Besselaar

9.2

Vintage 2016 | a rather sophisticated Fronsac, with the characteristics of a nobleman. Dark colour. Nice summerfruit in smell. Sultry in taste, especcialy after 24 hours aeration. Beautiful concentration. Good acidity, lively. Classic. Biowine. 90% Merlot, 10% Cab Franc. | Paired with beef tenderloin first day, a vegan salad and cheeses second day. — 3 years ago