1998 clos de l'oratoire
An opaque blue/purple color is accompanied by a sensational bouquet of melted fudge, plums, Asian spices, blackberries, and prunes. Smoky, barbeque-like spices also emerge with airing. Full-bodied, super-extracted, rich, pure, and mouth-saturating, this large-scaled effort can be consumed with pleasure, but it will age for two decades. Anticipated maturity: 2002-2020.

Intense aromas of black olive and blackberry, with a hint of grilled meat. Full-bodied, with chewy tannins and a long, rich finish. Very powerful and rich. Just starting to come around.—'88/'98 Bordeaux blind retrospective (2008).

You probably remember I am a great fan of 1998 Bordeaux, but only Right Bank and Pessac-Leognan. Well, here is another beauty and it shouldn't cost an arm and a leg! It's drinking beautifully now with very fine aromas of chocolate and beer. It's full body, with ultra-fine tannins and a juicy, succulent finish. Drink now. Decanting an hour would help.

Pale to medium brick in color, the 1998 Clos de l'Oratoire has an earthy / meaty nose with a delicate core of cranberry sauce, dried mulberries, oolong tea and cigar box. Medium-bodied and elegantly styled in the mouth, the earth laced red fruits have a chewy frame and give a refreshingly savory finish.

Red-ruby. Aromas of red berries, sweet butter, toffee, leather, smoked meat and nutty oak. Round and sappy in the mouth, with bright, intense flavors of currant, cherry and game. Finishes firmly tannic, with a slightly medicinal inky quality.Red-ruby. Aromas of red berries, sweet butter, toffee, leather, smoked meat and nutty oak. Round and sappy in the mouth, with bright, intense flavors of currant, cherry and game. Finishes firmly tannic, with a slightly medicinal inky quality.

Red-ruby. Aromas of red berries, sweet butter, toffee, leather, smoked meat and nutty oak. Round and sappy in the mouth, with bright, intense flavors of currant, cherry and game. Finishes firmly tannic, with a slightly medicinal inky quality.

Notably deep crimson with just a suggestion of age at the rim. Rich, opulent nose. Yet good freshness too. Velvety texture – real gloss to it. Racy start but masses of tannin underneath. Maybe just a little too tannic for the evolution of the fruit? Meaty. (JR)