1998 Lascombes
By Chateau Lascombes
1998 Lascombes from Chateau Lascombes, Margaux, Bordeaux, France
Among the celebrated commune appellation wines of the Left Bank lies the dignified 1998 Lascombes from Chateau Lascombes – a wine of enduring finesse and complexity. This particular vintage tells a tale of climatic challenges, which resulted in highly concentrated flavours, deeply embraced by collectors and connoisseurs alike.
A Symphony of Climate and Craft
The 1998 vintage in Margaux was one marked by a battle with the elements, where a damp spring gave way to a dry and sultry summer. While some estates scrambled to preserve grape integrity, Chateau Lascombes showcased its viticultural prowess. As if coaxing the vines to unveil their full potential, the harbingers at Chateau Lascombes finessed this vintage into an opulent display of Margaux’s classic grace.
Investment-Calibre Elegance
As for its current standings as an investment piece, the 1998 Lascombes holds steady in provenance-driven portfolios. It’s a vintage that, while sleeping quietly for years, now unfolds with an exquisite bouquet – ripe with blackberry confit and forest floor fragrances surging forth upon decanting. On the palate, one discovers a lavish tapestry woven with silken tannins and an acidity that pirouettes elegantly through notes of aged leather and cured tobacco leading to a prolonged dénouement.
The velvety texture and reverent balance of the 1998 Lascombes gift it with long-term cellaring capability. Admirably, this offering from Chateau Lascombes rises as a testament to how meticulous stewardship can triumph over a capricious climate – elevating it beyond mere survival to thrive amongst Bordeaux’s elite circles.
In essence, the 1998 Lascombes from Chateau Lascombes illustrates not only the poetic resilience of Margaux terroir but also illuminates why savvy investors continue to anchor their trust in such storied vintages. As it gracefully matures, both on palates and in cellars, it bestows a sense of refined anticipation for those who have had the foresight to clasp this nuanced specimen within their holdings.
Market price (GBP)
£630.00
12x75cl
Highest score
86
POP score
105
Scores and tasting notes
An intense liquorice, chocolaty nose which like the 1996 has that odd, though not necessarily detrimental seaweed note. The palate is backward with good concentration though lacking some finesse and style. Needs another 2-3 years to open up. Decent but nothing startling. Tasted April 2003.
Neal Martin - Wine Advocate - Wine Journal
The light-styled 1998 Lascombes offers sweet cherry fruit intermixed with cedar, spice box, and dried herbs. Although it lacks depth, this offering is symmetrical, well-balanced, and elegant. Enjoy it over the next 10-12 years.
Robert Parker Jr - The Wine Advocate, 22 April 2001