Chateau Valandraud 1998

WEINWISSER: "Intensive Farbe, Granatrot. Ausdrucksvolle Nase mit Hagebutte, Kaffee und dunkler Schokolade. Im Mund überwältigend, ein Wein von grossem Format: Maulbeerfrucht, hinterlegt mit Extraktsüsse, kräftiger, muskulöser Körper, der das reife Tannin und die substanzielle Säure locker wegsteckt. Sehr konzentriert, dicht verwobene Struktur, imposante Länge. Mitreissender Trinkgenuss."

JAMES SUCKLING: "Super wine here. Aromas of spicy chocolate, almost jalapeño, then dark fruits. It’s full-bodied with silky tannins and a lovely finish. Balanced and refined. Just starting to come around. What depth of fruit. This has a long life ahead of it, but so good to drink now."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "Tasted blind at the Valandraud vertical at the property, the 1998 Valandraud has a sweet ripe bouquet with scents of dark berries, salted licorices, tobacco and cedar that is very intense and powerful. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin. Bizarrely, it almost seems Left Bank in style with cedar and tobacco notes infusing the black fruit, the mintiness suggesting a Pauillac! I love the drive here, the focus and the slight aloofness, a wine that demands respect and is worthy of it. What a great 1998: elegant yet intense, classy yet approachable. I envisage this offering another 10-15 years of drinking pleasure. Tasted December 2016." Drink: 2017 - 2035 - Neal Martin.

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: 93 THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Coffee bean, black cherry, plum, chocolate and fennel flavors lead to a sensually textured, St. Emilion that is already close to maturity."

WINE SPECTATOR: "Intense aromas of roses, blackberry and prune. Full-bodied, with lots of ripe fruit, vanilla and chocolate character. Polished and silky mouthfeel. Even a little dusty. Long and beautiful. A burly, muscular wine in a traditional style; give it time. One of the best Valandrauds ever.—´88/´98 Bordeaux blind retrospective (2008). Best after 2011. 1,000 cases made."