Saint-Émilion Red Bordeaux Blend

Outstanding wine!

For once, we allowed this to relax in the air for 3+ hrs.
On the nose, we detect mint and hints of tobacco.
The palette is very interesting, as for a 98, this is very fruit-forward. Maraschino cherries, plums and cinnamon play nicely together. Texture is plush with a lovely mouthfeel. Finishes with sandalwood and a hint of sweetness - excellent, but a biased review.

Update - this will not go to a better place. If you have them, strike now...

Predominantly a merlot and cab franc blend, and these notes come through on the nose.
On the palette, there is excellent clarity of dark fruits with tertiary notes of sage, smoke and sweet spice cake. It has an excellent presence on the mid palette. Tannins are focused, suggesting this wine is peaking now. I may have under-clubbed the score.

Additional note: this wine was allowed to stretch out for 3 hrs prior to consumption.

Needs plenty more time and a bit of a bruiser for St. Émilion, but enjoyable nonetheless.

Powerful for a youngster.

Med + tannin Med acidity wonderful leather, dried dark fruit, chocolate .. great wine to celebrate Christmas Day

Bright fruit and nice acidity. Not a lot of the woodsy or leather notes but so elegant.

cedar notes, graphite, tobacco, pine needles, leather, paprika, spice, flowers, minerality, fruits des bois. Nice!

Right age at last

Tobacco, earth, dark cherry and plum on the nose (surprising fruit for its age). Long silky tannins. Spicy pepper, woody grey earth and leather. Very complex and well balanced.