1998

Vintage 1998: A Balanced Vintage with Great Successes

The 1998 vintage was marked by varied weather conditions, with a cooler start to the season followed by a warm summer, but without excess. The harvest was relatively homogeneous, with wines that stand out for their beautiful structure, remarkable aromatic maturity, and interesting aging potential. In general, the reds are well-balanced, with ripe tannins and great complexity. On the other hand, the whites are more inconsistent, with some regions delivering beautiful successes, particularly in Burgundy and Alsace.

Bordeaux 1998: A Vintage of Great Quality, Especially in Pomerol and Saint-Émilion

The 1998 vintage in Bordeaux was overall very successful, but the best wines are found particularly in Pomerol and Saint-Émilion. The weather conditions that year allowed for good fruit concentration, and the wines show beautiful complexity with solid tannic structure and great acidity.

Best Wines:

• Château Pétrus (Pomerol): One of the most iconic wines of this vintage, with remarkable depth, black fruit aromas, cedar, and a silky texture.
• Château Le Pin (Pomerol): A wine of great finesse, with notes of ripe fruits, truffle, and a velvety structure.
• Château Cheval Blanc (Saint-Émilion): An elegant and concentrated wine, with aromas of red fruits, spices, and great complexity.
• Château Figeac (Saint-Émilion): A more classic wine, with fine tannins, black fruit aromas, and great minerality.

To Buy: Pomerol wines, particularly Pétrus and Le Pin, as well as great Saint-Émilion wines like Château Cheval Blanc, are among the best successes of this vintage. These wines have excellent aging potential and are already accessible for those seeking finesse and complexity.

Burgundy 1998: Very Successful Wines, Especially in Côte de Nuits

In Burgundy, the 1998 vintage was relatively successful, especially for red wines. The weather conditions allowed for good grape maturation, resulting in powerful and balanced wines with a beautiful concentration of black fruits and undergrowth aromas. White wines are more variable, but some producers succeeded in creating beautiful offerings.

Best Wines:

• Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (Côte de Nuits): A wine of great finesse and complexity, with black fruit, earth, and floral aromas, and an elegant structure.
• Domaine Armand Rousseau (Gevrey-Chambertin): A concentrated wine with aromas of black cherry, licorice, and a long finish.
• Domaine Leroy (Côte de Nuits): An intense and deep wine with black fruit, underbrush aromas, and great power.
• Domaine Ponsot (Clos de la Roche): A structured wine with notes of ripe red fruit, earth, and a beautiful length.

To Buy: The great wines of Côte de Nuits, such as those from Romanée-Conti and Rousseau, are perfect choices for this vintage. They offer great complexity and are well-suited for long aging.

Rhône Valley 1998: A Solid Vintage, But More Variable

The Rhône Valley, particularly in appellations like Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Côte-Rôtie, experienced a fairly uneven vintage. The best wines are characterized by good concentration and solid tannic structure, but some may lack freshness and complexity.

Best Wines:

• Château de Beaucastel (Châteauneuf-du-Pape): A rich and powerful wine with black fruit, spice, and garrigue aromas.
• Guigal (Côte-Rôtie): An elegant and complex wine with black fruit, violet, and beautiful minerality.
• Domaine Jean-Louis Chave (Hermitage): A wine of great intensity with black fruit, chocolate, and spice notes.

To Buy: The Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines from Château de Beaucastel and the Côte-Rôtie wines from Guigal are the best options from the 1998 vintage, with great aging potential.

Piedmont (Italy) 1998: A Vintage of Great Finesse for Nebbiolo Wines

Piedmont experienced an exceptional 1998 vintage for Barolos and Barbarescos, which are of great finesse and complexity. The climatic conditions allowed for wines with a beautiful tannic structure and balanced acidity, ideal for long aging.

Best Wines:

• Gaja (Barbaresco): An elegant and complex Barbaresco with black fruit, violet, and leather aromas.
• Bruno Giacosa (Barolo): A Barolo of great finesse, with cherry, licorice, and great length.
• Vietti (Barolo): A wine of great power and structure, with ripe red fruit, spice, and earth aromas.

To Buy: The Barbarescos from Gaja and the Barolos from Bruno Giacosa and Vietti are wines to prioritize in this vintage for their finesse and aging potential.

Champagne 1998: An Exceptional Vintage with Wines of Great Complexity

1998 is an excellent vintage for Champagne, offering complex, elegant, and balanced wines. The climatic conditions of the year allowed for optimal grape maturation, producing champagnes with great freshness, ripe fruit aromas, and great finesse.

Best Wines:

• Krug (Vintage Champagne): A Champagne of great complexity with ripe fruit, brioche, and hazelnut aromas.
• Dom Pérignon (Vintage Champagne): An elegant and refined wine with fresh fruit, floral notes, and beautiful minerality.
• Bollinger (Vintage Champagne): A powerful and complex wine with dried fruit, brioche, and honey aromas.

To Buy: The 1998 Vintage Champagnes from Krug, Dom Pérignon, and Bollinger are must-haves for this vintage, with excellent aging potential.

1998 Vintage Summary:

• Bordeaux 1998: A great success in Pomerol and Saint-Émilion, with powerful, concentrated, and balanced wines.
• Burgundy 1998: Wines from Côte de Nuits of great finesse and complexity, with good aging potential.
• Rhône Valley 1998: Powerful wines, but more uneven, with notable successes in Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Côte-Rôtie.
• Piedmont 1998: A vintage of great finesse for Barolos and Barbarescos, with excellent aging potential.
• Champagne 1998: An exceptional vintage, with complex and elegant wines, to be kept for a few more years.

The 1998 vintage stands out for its great wine quality, but the successes are mostly found in certain regions and appellations. For those seeking wines with aging potential and great complexity, the grand crus of Bordeaux, Burgundy, Piedmont, and Champagne are the best options.