WTN: 1998 Leoville Las Cases

This is supposed to be an ok not great vintage of Leoville Las Cases. We had this bottle with some grilled meat, potato pancakes (well, it is Hanukah), and some steamed broccolini.

The color is deep purple inky, with a shiny coat and a subtle nose that opens up later to some graphite and a little mint. On the palate, the wine is all focus and precision. The texture is refined and the fruit is bright and vibrant. The finish is long.

I have very rarely had wines that were so focused, sometimes they could seem monolithic but in this case the flavors were quite complex - fine dark chocolate and cherries, but also blackberries - I think this will keep improving but I really liked it at this stage and I will not wait much longer before opening my other bottle.

Hi, Jacques, was sorry to hear about your Dad on BWE. Hope you're well!

[David M. Bueker]

Jacques,

Thank you for the note. I had the 1998 Leoville Barton in March with similar impressions - showing very complex even if it was tightly wound. I like the structure of 1998 left bank wines (as well as the 2002s and 2004s).

I've become much more upbeat about 1998 lefties over last couple years. There still are a fair percentage I think mediocre to dreadful, but there are some quite good ones out there, and I'd put all three Leovilles in that category. I still prefer Right overall, but the gap isn't what I thought originally.
Thanks for notes!

Hi, Jacques, was sorry to hear about your Dad on BWE. Hope you're well!

Thank you Oswaldo, I really appreciate the thought. I went to Israel twice the last month to make sure my mother is ok. I've been in a constant state of jet-lag.

Dale and David, I agree. I am also pleasantly surprised by the strucure of the 1998 left bankers, especially in St Julien, and I am a big fan of the Leoville Las Cases and Poyferre. I am not a huge fan of Leoville Barton, but that's just me. I also think that both Graves and Margaux did well that year. I don't think any 1998 Pauillac or St Estephe has impressed me (perhaps with the exception of Lafite but I cannot remember ever having an unimpressive Lafite)