Alexandre Pagliano

9.2

No specific notes but very good vintage and a classical Pauillac, ready to drink but no rush. — 15 days ago

with Jose, veronique and 1 other

Doug Powers

9.7

Tight, backwards, and structured, dark berry, garrigue, deeply-flavored and very complex, long, lingering finish, drinking well now, but has the stuffing to easily go another 10-15 years, a great Vieux Donjon!! — 5 months ago

with Jim

John Van Trijp

9.7

Bordeaux 98 is getting better and better — 7 months ago

Mark Rosse

9.2

Great cork. A bit of a let down after the Fonsalette. — 24 days ago

Christian Fischer

9.7

Wow. 1998 was a great year and this is an awesome iteration. 2nd maturation phase. Perfectly (yes, honestly) balanced flavor profile and still vibrant - not sure what we can drink next to keep going upwards - let’s see. — 3 months ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.5

Medium ruby garnet core , garnet rim . More dusty cassis , spicy blackberry , tobacco , sea spray, hot bricks. On the palate refreshing acidity and more gritty tannin , cassis , blackberry, mineral and tobacco notes . Slightly more linear on the mid palate with good balance and excellent length with mineral tobacco hints . This is drinking well now with time in the decanter , but will continue to improve over the next 5-10 years and last well a further 10-15 years. Really benefited from time in the decanter . — 5 months ago

Ron Siegel

9.4

Youthful when 1st opened that needed some air to develop. This was polished with notes of graphite, cedar, leather, menthol, savory spice & tobacco — 7 months ago

Ron Siegel

9.4

Seems to be in a perfect spot that kept developing in the glass showing rich dark berry fruit, savory spice, cedar, earth, leather, graphite & sweet tobacco — a month ago

Conrad Green

9.6

A wonderful expressive nose. Rich gamey fruit, black pepper, blood and deep tangy stuff. Long rich and supple. Exceptional — 4 months ago

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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