Château Beychevelle 1998

This elegant, stylish, well-delineated Beychevelle offers finesse and beauty in a medium-bodied, firmly-structured, flavorful format. Red and black currants, licorice, minerals, spice, and tar notes are subtle, but persuasive. While it does not cut an enormous swath across the palate, the wine's acidity, alcohol, and tannin are well-balanced. Anticipated maturity: 2002-2016.

Tar, berry and fresh herb character. Medium-bodied, with medium tannins and an herbal finish. Not as good as from barrel. Best after 2005. 20,830 cases made.

Medium-full bodied, the classically styled wine shows some herbal, leafy nuances along with its red fruits, cranberry and cassis. A bit stoic, the finish offers dusty tannins with its sweet and tart red pit fruits.

Bright, luminous garnet, fairly deep at the core. An intoxicating nose: a sweet bouquet with aromas of caramel, vanilla and ripe Merlot, with sandalwood notes. On the palate, lots of fruit—blackberries—along with velvety, almost buttery tannins; a very sensual, early-drinking St-Julien.

98: Barrel sample (17/20): Intense bouquet, lots of Cabernet notes, with cassis and Cabernet spice behind. On the palate, likewise terrific aromatics, a blackberry finish, plenty of flesh and body. A great St. Julien! 03: Lightening garnet, bright, fairly dense at the core. An intoxicating, sweet bouquet scented with caramel, vanilla and ripe Merlot, with sandalwood. On the palate the wine shows plenty of fruit—blackberries—velvety, almost buttery tannins; a very sensual, early-drinking St. Julien (17/20). Now in a fragrant tertiary phase. More fun on the palate than on the slightly withered nose, finishing with a light red bell-pepper note.

Sweet, light bouquet: forest floor, decaying wood, strawberries. Medium-bodied, rustic palate with a lightly sweet aromatic profile, powdery tannins, and a sweet finish. 16/20 drink now

Made from 49% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, and 6% Petit Verdot, the 1998 Beychevelle is medium to deep brick in color. It features evocative scents of kirsch, plum preserves, and licorice, leading to suggestions of potpourri, cigar box, and mocha with a touch of leather. Light to medium-bodied, the palate has a muscular core of dried fruit with plenty of mineral sparks and a chewy texture, finishing with compelling freshness.

A warm, welcoming nose, like coming back to a chalet after a long day out in the cold, with the gentle scent of fruitcakes with candied fruit baking in the oven. Notes of cherry jam and plum mingle with mentholated aromas. On the palate, this wine is pure pleasure, brimming with vibrant fruit, freshness and cheerfulness, unfurling like a ribbon of silk.

Deep red color. Good intensity. Nose of medium intensity. Smoky and woody. Quite fresh. Blackcurrant. A touch of alcohol when swirled. Very fruity and flavorful on the palate, rather round, with judiciously extracted tannins. The wine has plenty of flavor (blackcurrant, incense, fine oak) and finishes with medium length and fairly fine tannins. It is better than many other vintages, no doubt in line with a stricter selection introduced in 1997.