November 7, 2023 - Faint fruit on the nose good color thin smooth finish
March 22, 2023 - Ageing rim. Distinct mature cab sav nose with spices. Certainly left bank claret!
Palate deep black currant and cassis. Sweeter cherry and touch of cedar on end. Maturer notes of tobacco and ash along with earth. Balanced and decent finish.
Tasted blind and rather enjoyed - revealed to be 1998 Batailley so punching above its weight!
February 13, 2022 - This has lasted better than I expected - drink soon, but it's certainly not falling over. Classic Pauillac cedar, some sweet spice and fading but still evident blackcurrant fruit. Lovely stuff!
August 21, 2020 - im Vgl m 98 er d‘Arenberg eleganter, weniger Kraft trotz hoher Cabernet %
June 22, 2020 - Decanted an hour ahead and classically paired with roast beef, just excellent. Deep plum colour, great balance of wood and fruit flavours. It had a depth suggesting that it would keep for longer without anything bad happening, but I think the balance is such that it's unlikly to improve further.
April 12, 2020 - Brick colour with tinges of brown, blackcurrant aromas and fruit, quite lovely and long. Decanted 15 minutes before drinking it improved for 30 minutes but seemed to fade a little within the hour. The little that was left has not survived overnight. I would think this wine should be drunk within the next year or so. Perfect with roast lamb as you would expect.
April 8, 2020 - Bell pepper nose, later on cassis, ashes, forest floor; very balanced on the palate, herbs and spices; some eukalyptus and mince; tannins completely resolved; seems to be at peak now; medium long finish; superb claret
March 29, 2020 - I see I've been writing tasting notes on this case since 2007 and it has never disappointed. This is my penultimate bottle and it is still superb. I can't believe it will be so good for much longer, but who knows? Dark plummy colour. The nose is beautiful, plummy, cinnamon, spice, leather. The palate is smooth and silky, forest floor, aniseed, vanilla. Finish rich and long. Wonderful.
February 4, 2020 - Blind
Left Bank bx but I was wrong in region and vintage, elegant with a good acidity grip. Balanced at his beginning peak. 92-93
July 3, 2019 - Tasted in a vertical with a 2005 and 2010. While both these others were more complex and with longer finishes, the 98 won the night because of its lovely mature flavour. Not especially complex but deep and rich, and still drinking well.