Chateau Margaux 1998

WEINWISSER: "Sehr dunkle Farbe, noch jung, sattes, dichtes Purpur mit lila Schimmer. Würziges, tiefes Bouquet, reife, schwarze Pflaumen, Cassis und Damassine, Lakritze, Trüffelspuren, tolle Tiefe zeigend. Im Gaumen noch massiv, verlangende Adstringenz, eine Mischung von Kraft und Fleisch, schwarze Beeren, zu Beginn leicht zu unterschätzen, wird sich in Richtung eines ganz grossen Margaux entwickeln. Verglichen mit anderen grossen Margaux ist der 1998er noch relativ günstig."

JANCIS ROBINSON: "Deep crimson. Powerful, direct aroma. Strongly cassis. Fresh and yet mouth-filling and almost creamy/buttery on the palate in terms of texture. Very clean and fresh. Hint of char. Very convincing as a first growth. Long and rich. Direct with masses of fruit disguising the slightly grainy tannins. Tangy and lively… You could drink this with food now! Very good wine."

DECANTER: "The slightly lighter colour and developing aromas demonstrate that this is starting to mature. Still, the abundant blackcurrant fruit aromas are touched with mint and just a suggestion of cedar, gunflint and earth. The texture is still firm, but the tannins are smooth and supple, and the bright, fresh acidity leads to an impressively long finish. The wine is more about finesse, but it remains surprisingly youthful and should have a long life ahead of it."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Medium/full bodied, firm, tannic, masculine, structured style of Margaux. The perfume, with its floral, tobacco and black cherry aromas are more enticing at this stage of the game. The wine demands at least another 5-8 years in the cellar. With luck, the wine will soften as it evolves."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "The 1998 Margaux's color is a dense ruby/purple. The wine is tannic and austere, but elegant, with notes of asphalt, blackberries, acacia flowers, and sweet, toasty oak. Subtle, rich, nicely-textured, and medium-bodied, it is built for the long haul. Anticipated maturity: 2006-2030."

FALSTAFF: "Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, intensive violette Reflexe, in der Nase rauchig-röstige Note, ganz zart animalische Anklänge, zart blättrige Note und dunkle Schokolade im Hintergrund, am Gaumen feine Dörrobstaromen, mittlere Textur, wirkt nicht so druckvoll, dafür sehr elegant, feine Tannine im Finish, sehr ausgewogen."

WINE SPECTATOR: "Shows a lightly taut feel, with plum skin and cherry pit notes melded into the core of damson plum, blackberry and mulled cherry fruit. Shows the estate's telltale black tea and lilac hints through the finish, with lovely grace and charm that wins out over the sinewy structure."