1998 Barde Haut St Emilion Grand Cru

1998 Barde Haut St Emilion Grand Cru

A deep ruby/purple color is accompanied by pure, sweet aromas of blackberry and blueberry jam revealing nicely integrated oak. This wine exhibits medium to full body, a fat, concentrated mid palate with structure as well as definition, admirable length and richness, low acidity, and abundant fruit and extract. Anticipated maturity: now 2018. Last tasted, 3/02.
Score: 90

The above review was done by Robert Parker in March of 2002. For tasting notes, I am semi agreeable to his notes, although I found a lot of prune and plums on the nose, while on the body the acid is elevated (not low), although the mouth feel was very smooth and well integrated fruits with the oak. But for his anticipated maturity of 2002 to 2018, I would have vigorously disagreed on such observation. As you can see on my drinking date, this was done in Nov 2019, and by Parker’s standard, this wine was probably over the hill already. Quite the contrary, this wine just entered it’s grown up stage, and this maturity stage will easily last another decade before entering middle age. Bear in mind this 1998 was one of the best vintages for right bank, and it should easily last 4 to 6 decades of drinking period, so please take Parker’s tasting note as a pinch of salt.