1998 was a late flowering year but the grapes achieved perfect ripeness by harvest time. It's an excellent vintage that's generally known as a Right Bank year, but is more than holding its own over in St-Julien. At this point we are starting to see what a mature Léoville can do: the edges are softening to a russet colour and the cigar-box edge is apparent, alongside notes of hedgerow, undergrowth, rosemary, black cherry, cassis, and a touch of menthol on the finish. Drinking Window 2019 - 2038
Tasted by Jane Anson (at Decanter's Fine Wine Encounter 2018, Shanghai, 17 Nov 2018)
Part of Anson: Tasting Léoville Las Cases wines back to 1989

The 1998 Léoville Las Cases is a blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot and 9% Cabernet Franc. Deep garnet colored with a touch of brick, it delivers pronounced, beautifully pure crème de cassis, blackberry preserves and prunes scents with an undercurrent of cigar box, licorice, pencil lead and hoisin, plus a touch of espresso. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has impressive richness and depth, coating the mouth with velvety tannins and just enough freshness, finishing long and spicy. Still very youthful, this wine is in that sweet spot where it has considerable evolution and yet bags of fruit. Drink it now and for the next 20 years+.

Black-ruby to the rim. High-pitched, extremely primary aromas of blackberry, minerals and mint. Brilliantly delineated black fruit flavors are totally unevolved; has a brooding austerity that contributes to the impression of impenetrability. The major but ripe tannins coat the teeth. Very long and strong on the finish. Has the powerful structure of a Pauillac first growth, but the acidity level is not particularly high. Impressive for the vintage, but a very difficult wine to read at this early stage.

The 1998 has turned out to be one of the vintage's superb Medocs. It boasts an opaque black/purple color as well as a classic Leoville Las Cases display of lead pencil, gorgeously pure black raspberries and cherries, smoke, and graphite. A broad yet focused entry on the palate reveals firm tannin, medium to full body, superb concentration and purity, as well as a totally symmetrical mouthfeel. Anticipated maturity: 2006-2025.

The 1998 Léoville Las-Cases is a blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot and 9% Cabernet Franc. This is fresh and lively on the nose, quite backward and certainly one of the most “undeveloped” of the 1998 Left Banks that I tasted. I appreciate the delineation on display here, the black fruit opening with time, secondary scents of seaweed, pencil lead and a touch of truffle emerging with time. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, plenty of taut black fruit laced with iron and that beguiling marine-like tincture that runs from start to finish. This is a solid Las-Cases and 20 years of age that probably still needs another four or five years in bottle. Excellent and moreover and it improved with aeration after a two-hour decanting. Tasted at the château. www.vinous.com

Impressive dark, almost purple color. Intense aromas of crushed blackberries, minerals, mint and currant follow through to a full body, with licorice and berry character and a long, velvety finish. Needs a bit of time still, but very enjoyable already. Very serious for the vintage.--'88/'98 Bordeaux blind retrospective (2008). James Suckling

Not developing the most interesting nose, and the tannin is unfortunately tough on the palate. Pretty fierce and forceful, but not sufficiently complex in flavour. (RH)