Montrose - St. Estephe 1998

Montrose - St. Estephe 1998A classic effort, the 1998 Montrose exhibits a dense purple color in addition to a sweet nose of jammy cassis, licorice, earth, and smoke. It is a powerful and full bodied wine with well integrated tannin. Given Montrose's tendency to shut down, it is performing better out of bottle.

A classic Napa Cabernet Sauvignon with sweet tannin

fresh and energetic medium full flavors that are supple

an aroma of pen ink

Really—it isn't far off the 2016

The wine is full-bodied

There is excellent complexity to the blend of plum

the expressive nose displays fully mature aromas and the initial hints of sous-bois

intense and explosively persistent finale

There is flat out superb intensity to the mineral-driven and sleekly muscular middle weight plus flavors that possess a more sophisticated mouthfeel before concluding in a dusty

A discreet but not invisible touch of wood sets off a more deeply pitched and intensely floral nose that in particular displays notes of violet and lavender along with plum

tea and spice notes plus an interesting green bark component

There is more than enough freshness and verve to support many years of fine drinking