Provenance

Private Client

Critics Ratings

‘The 1998 La Mission Haut-Brion is deep garnet-brick colored with a pretty perfume of potpourri, spice box, menthol, sandalwood, tobacco and new leather. The palate is medium-bodied and elegant with tons of fragrant layers, finishing with loads of mineral and tons of energy. Drink up to 2030.’ – Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate, 97/100 (May 2018)

‘The 1998 La Mission Haut Brion has always been a quite brilliant wine and at 20 years of age it continues to cruise at high altitude. Showing little signs of ageing in the glass, it has a very pure and refined bouquet that is perhaps not as precocious as a decade ago. This unfolds beautifully with black cherries, black olive, mineral and a touch of cigar box. The palate is very well balanced with a fine thread of acidity. The 1998 remains very youthful and vigorous with a sweet core of fruit, quite linear towards the finish with great tension. You come away with the feeling it will have more secondary aromas and flavours with another few years of bottle age. Marvelous. Tasted at the château. Drink 2018 - 2040.’ – Neal Martin, Vinous, 96/100 (May 2018)

'Very dark ruby color still. The nose is deep and dense, with intense aromas of licorice, blackberry, warm stones and a hint of sweet tobacco. Full-bodied, with flavors of berries, iodine and chocolate. The tannin structure builds on the palate. Still needs to come together. A baby.’ – James Suckling, Wine Spectator, 96/100 (2008)

Château Langoa Barton Saint-Julien 1998

A dense ruby/purple color as well as a muscular, ageworthy personality are found in this "no BS" sort of wine. It possesses loads of body, impressive concentration, and firm tannin in the finish. However, it is a wine for those who are able to defer their gratification as it requires another 4-5 years of cellaring. Anticipated maturity: 2006-2025.’ – Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, 89/100 (Apr 2001)

‘The 1998 Langoa Barton is a wine that I have not tasted since just after bottling. It has a curious menthol tincture on the nose that lends it a slightly medicinal personality. Underneath lies pencil lead and autumn leaf scents, though there is sufficient fruit to back that up. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, quite fresh in the mouth, maybe a little simplistic but with freshness towards the minty finish. Fine. Tasted at the château. Drink 2018 - 2032.’ – Neal Martin, Vinous, 88/100 (May 2018)

‘The 1998 Léoville Barton has a simple but clean and fresh bouquet: blackberry, wild hedgerow, a touch of fennel and tarragon. There is a hint of tobacco that becomes more evident with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, potent tobacco and leafy notes, a relatively lightweight Léoville Barton that just attenuates a little swiftly on the bay leaf and black tea-tinged finish. There is a sense of elegance here but I would drink this now and over the next decade. Tasted at the château. Drink 2018 - 2028.’ – Neal Martin, Vinous, 90/100 (May 2018)

‘This opaque purple-colored, muscular, full-bodied, classically made St.-Julien displays impressive concentration, chewy, highly-extracted flavors of black fruits, iron, earth, and spicy wood, and a powerful mouth-feel. A pure, uncompromising, traditionally-styled wine, it is to be admired for its authenticity, class, and quality. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2035. Readers seeking classic, muscular, extremely long-lived Bordeaux should always keep this outstanding classified growth in mind. It continues to sell for a price well below its intrinsic value.’ – Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, 91/100 (Apr 2001)