1998 Pavie - St. Emilion

Decanted for 2 hours before consumption over the following 2.5 hours. Deep brooding purple coloration and full bodied this wine displayed concentrated dark fruits on the nose. In the mouth the wine coats the palate very well with finesse and strength. Black cherry, black raspberry, and a nice minerality encompased with a touch of oak lead into a good finish of 40+ seconds. Very good balance of fruit, tannin, and acidity this wine will be long lived. Drinking very well now, 4-5 more years in the cellar however will allow more changover to secondary flavors and complexity. 94+ points

Seek -- I'm pretty much in agreement with your notes. I've noticed an even stronger oak component and the '98 has always has been a little tight and unforgiving for me, but man all the elements are there for this to develop into a phenomenal wine. I bought a case, cracked one in the interest of science about a year ago, and now will wait till 2010-12 or thereabouts before cracking another. thanks for your notes. Will deplete my '99s in the interim.

I had the 1999 Pavie four months ago (sitting on a deck at midnight looking over the glass like Cape Cod bay reflecting the full moon setting and abundant stars) . I thought, when drinking the 1998, that the 1999 was not far off pace. The 1998 did seem to have a little more backbone than the 1999.

I agree that the '98 seems to have more backbone. It will eventually be a better wine than the '99 imo though the latter is currently more open, fruit-forward and easy to drink now. I have a decent stock of the '99 and wish I could find more '98 for an attractive price. Both great wines.

I own just a few bottles of thiis wine - 98 & 99. I've only had the 99 - somewhat less then a year ago - and I was quite disapointed with the wine - I found it to be rather flabbby and one dimensional. It wasn't bad - but it wasn't all that great or special either. I could have been drinking a Monbosquet really (alwasy nice and grapy but often lacking proper acidity IMO) - and this would have been my guess if it was served blind. I'm hopiong it was just the bottle (could have been slightly corked or heat damaged perhaps) and that my others will drink better. Particularly hopeful concerning the lone 98 I have...