1998 Right Bank Bordeaux vs. New World Cab Blindtasting

Skirball Center, Los Angeles, California
Tasted Sunday, August 28, 2005 by rjonwine@gmail.com with 623 views

Introduction

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Bob Henry organized this comparison of a dozen Parker favorite '98 Right Banks vs. three selected U.S. Cabs. The Right Banks virtually all fared better for me than the U.S. Cabs. A few of these wines performed surprisingly poorly, e.g., the Quilceda Creek, and I've had better samples since. On the whole, the lineup would have benefited from decanting and airing, but Bob's comparison rules call for popping and pouring.
Bob Henry
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Flight 1 - pre-tasting, warm up wines (2 Notes)

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Flight 2 - My Rankings, 1-15 (15 Notes)

The Gracia was my surprise winner, closely followed by the Canon la Gaffeliere and Cheval Blanc. I've tasted much better versions of the Angelus than we had at this tasting. The Plumpjack was virtually everyone's last place wine.
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  • 1998 Gracia 95 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru

    Caramel, berry, mocha nose; nice, concentrated, mocha, caramel, berry palate; long finish (90% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc)

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  • 1998 Château Canon-la-Gaffelière 94 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru

    Lovely espresso, caramel nose; tasty, tight, but lovely espresso, black fruit, tobacco palate; medium finish 94+ pts.

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  • 1998 Château Cheval Blanc 94 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru

    Vanilla, mocha, caramel nose; tight but tasty, elegant, black fruit, caramel palate; long finish 94+ pts.

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  • 1998 Tertre Rôteboeuf 94 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru

    Lovely classic Bordeaux, plum, cedar nose; tasty, plum, black fruit, mocha, elegant palate, drinking well now; medium-plus finish

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  • 1998 Château Monbousquet 93 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru

    Elegant cassis, espresso nose; big, seamless, espresso, black fruit palate; medium-plus finish 93+ pts.

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  • 1998 Clos l'Église (Pomerol) 93 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol

    Toasty caramel nose; nice, medium-bodied, mocha, caramel, black fruit palate; medium finish

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  • 1998 Château Péby Faugères 92 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru

    Herbal, blackberry nose initially, that adds espresso after 15 minutes in the glass; very tannic, dark, big, blackberry, black fruit, well structured palate, needs more time; medium finish 92+ pts.

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  • 1998 Leonetti Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley 92 Points

    USA, Washington, Columbia Valley

    Lovely blackberry, cassis, mulberry nose; tasty, but tight, red cherry, cassis, oak palate; medium finish

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  • 1998 Château Angélus 91 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru

    Reticent vanilla oak nose; tasty, black fruit, plum, caramel palate; medium finish 91+ pts.

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  • 1998 Vieux Château Certan 91 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol

    Faint caramel oak nose; tight, red cherry, plum palate, opens up a lot after an hour in the glass; medium finish

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  • 1998 Château Le Bon Pasteur 90 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol

    Minty, green nose; tight, green, herbaceous palate with firm tannins; medium finish

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  • 1998 Château Troplong Mondot 87 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru

    Tight, mint nose; dense, angular, sawdust, eucalyptus palate; medium finish 87+ pts.

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  • 1998 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon 87 Points

    USA, Washington

    Vanilla, mint, oak nose; very tannic, cassis, caramel palate; medium finish

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  • 1998 Château Pavie Macquin 86 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru

    Green, herbal nose; tight, herbaceous palate, a little thin and tannic; medium finish 86+ pts.

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  • 1998 Plumpjack Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 85 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville

    Mint, cassis nose; high pitched cassis, lime palate; medium finish

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