Well done. Aromas of black truffles and ripe fruit introducing a full-bodied wine with lots of fruit and velvety tannins. A mouthful. Amazing for the vintage in the Médoc. JS

Slightly deeper in colour than the 1997. The nose has a real succulence to it: black cherries, blood orange, touch of tobacco and iodine. Very good lift. It reminds me of Ribena after ten minutes in the glass! The palate is surprisingly rich, very well structured with lovely, grainy tannins. Very dense of the vintage, cohesive and focused with layers of ripe, slightly gamey black fruits on the finish. Of all the Poyferre’s, this comes closest to Las-Cases in style (though without the level of concentration). A commendable 1998. Drink 2012-2025 Tasted March 2008.

Red-ruby. Aromatic nose of cassis, cherry, flowers, mint, vanilla and coffee bean. Firm and juicy in the mouth, with a tighter structure than the '99. Finishes with very firm tannins but also sneaky sweetness. Dourthe prefers the '99 for its finesse and sweeter tannins; certainly these two vintages could hardly be more different in shape and style.

The dark ruby-colored, medium-bodied 1998 offers aromas of underbrush, black currants, cherries, minerals, and vanillin. While sweet, rich, and stylish, it lacks the depth necessary to merit an outstanding score. Drink it over the next 12-14 years.
-Robert Parker, Wine Advocate #134 Apr 2001

(88-89 pts)
Smoky, roasted herb, and black currant aromas emerge from this dense ruby/purple-colored, very good to excellent 1998. There is fine ripeness and moderately high tannin, as well as a better mid-palate and finish than it exhibited last year. It is a fine effort with sweet, well-balanced tannin. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2015.
-Robert Parker, Wine Advocate #128 Apr 2000

(87-89 pts)
The 1998 Leoville-Poyferre has turned out well. The color is an attractive dark ruby/purple. The modest aromatics reveal toasty new oak, lead pencil, and jammy black currant fruit. The wine is medium-bodied, with good ripeness as well as a nice follow through to the mid-palate. On a cautionary note, hard tannin makes an appearance in the abrupt finish. There are fine raw materials here, and if the wine puts on a bit of weight and integrates the tannin, it could merit a higher score. Anticipated maturity: 2004-2018.
-Robert Parker, Wine Advocate #122 Apr 1999