1998 Château Lagrange
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Tasting notes
The 1998 Lagrange has a fresh and vibrant bouquet with blackberry, wild hedgerow, Cuban cigar and pressed flower aromas. This remains delineated and demonstrates good vigour. The palate is medium-bodied with good backbone. Quite Pauillac in style, it is underpinned by good acidity with a harmonious, ferrous finish that leaves a pleasant pepperiness on the aftertaste. This has always been one of the better 1998 Left Banks and it continues to give pleasure. Tasted at the Lagrange vertical at the estate.
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
The 1998 Lagrange is a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot and 7% Petit Verdot. Despite its twenty years of age, it is quite backward at first but gradually unfurls to reveal light blackcurrant notes mixed with hints of brine and seaweed. There is a Graves-like element to this Lagrange that I have not noticed previously. The palate is medium-bodied with soft tannin, indeed, this Lagrange needs a little more backbone and structure to support the dusky black fruit laced with tobacco and clove. It does offer decent length but it remains rather conservative and it is difficult to see it evolving more positive attributes with bottle age. Not a bad Lagrange, but I feel that it was better at around 10 to 12 years of age. Tasted at the château.
Deep crimson. Very rich and glossy yet with lovely straight-backed gloss. Just a tiny bit severe but lovely gloss and purity. Lots of drive and focus. Sweet and polished. (JR)
(65% cabernet sauvignon, 28% merlot and 7% petit verdot) Bright, deep ruby. Fresh, fruit-driven aromas of cassis, blackberry, black cherry and licorice. Juicy, clean and tightly wound, with lovely inner-palate energy. Cabernet-dominated flavors of black fruits, licorice, cedar and herbs. Finishes with fine-grained cabernet tannins. Built for the long haul, and likely to be at its best between 2010 and 2020. A possible sleeper: I would not be surprised if this youthfully firm wine ultimately merits a 90+ rating. Ducasse describes this wine as "a riper version of the 1988, more modern and less green. "