1998 Chateauneuf du Pape Beaucastel, Rhône (0,75l)

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate - 1998 Chateauneuf du Pape, Beaucastel

The atypically Grenache-dominated 1998 Chateauneuf du Pape is fully mature and gives up tons of kirsch, garrigue, licorice and a touch of gaminess in its full-bodied, layered and ripe personality. More rounded and sexy than most vintages, it has no hard edges, plenty of mid-palate depth and a great finish. I see no reason to delay gratification, but it will certainly hold for 5-10 years. - Jeb Dunnuck, Aug. 2015

Wine Spectator - 1998 Chateauneuf du Pape, Beaucastel

Very youthful, with a juicy blast of red plum and fig fruit flavors on a racy frame, this also has plenty of spice, tar, plum cake and mineral in reserve, as the finish shows more structure and slowly darkens with time in the glass. Only just starting to hit its stride.--1998 Châteauneuf-du-Pape retrospective. Drink now through 2027. 15,000 cases made. - Sep. 2007

Vinous - 1998 Chateauneuf du Pape, Beaucastel

Saturated ruby-red. Superripe but reticent, grenache-dominated aromas of roasted plum, cherry jam, tar and humus. Fat, lush and stuffed with fruit; almost heavy today compared to the '99. But this is utterly silky and its firm underlying structure is buried by fruit and baby fat. Intriguing meat and licorice notes. A wine of superb finesse and superfine tannins. - Stephen Tanzer, Jan. 2001