A friend had been given this a few years back and she shared it with us. She kept it in her cabinet (no temp control) for several years, at least, so I did not have high hopes for it. No matter, it was drinking beautifully! A really lovely and elegant, mature Cabernet, with silky mouthfeel and still an ample amount of fruit. Not sure how this bottle survived those conditions, but it was fantastic.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Quite a lovely wine. I doubt this ever was a barn-burner but there is a decent amount of quality fruit remaining in this otherwise fully resolved Cabernet.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Excellent aged well cherry bloom on opening and smooth tannins, little expression of stems in tannins. Lovely wine for its age! Table loved it more than 2017.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
BV Georges de Latour Vertical from 4 Decades: '64, '80, '84, '89, '98 (St. Paul, MN): Very dark red plus color with a 3mm clear margin. Splash decanted and drank a glass over almost 2 hours. A beautiful showing for the '98, eclpised only by the ethereal '64. It didn't start out that way though. Initial aromas suggested somewhat stewed fruit, mission fig and brown sugar and thoughts that this didn't hold up or was heat damaged. Yet there was none of those qualities on the palate ever. Then the dramatic evolution in glass began as first the stewed character slipped away and then a perfume emerged that cocntinued to build over the next hour. The perfume was a high pitched mix of crushed flowers and black and blue fruits, cedarbox, lead pencil and a fruitcake like mix of dried fruits and spices. The palate espoused those same characteristics in a well blended mix of dark berries, cassis and more subtle blue fruits, pencil, mineral, Medium body and round tannins. This really needed the oxygen to shed the old bottle aromas and blossom. Lots of life left here and a wine that will still reward further aging I think.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Large format.... surprisingly still quite nice knowing there were issues with GDL in 98-00. Structure solid. Fruit came to life after 20 min. Saved a glass for next day and still held up .
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Certainly past its prime but still very nice. Initially some black berries on the nose which fade quickly. Drinks very smooth with well rounded tannins at the finish. With longer decanting (+3hr) spicy notes take over and make it for a pleasant experience.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Wine was okay - probably 5 to 10 years past its prime. Color was brown on the edge, at first the was was tough to drink but after 45 minutes it was mellow and soft with little flavor.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted one hour and drank. A smooth and delicious wine. Smooth well integrated tannins, medium acidity, creamy oak and spice notes, black fruit that was rich but not cooked. Medium finish. Drinking very well in October 2014. Definitely age-worthy. No signs of decline at 16.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nice in Dec 2012. Needs time to open, vegetal and stewed fruits give way to cedar and strong black fruit flavors. Long finish. Well integrated medium tannins. Nice wine but not amazing. Drink now, it won't get better.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Georges de Latour Beaulieu Vineyard Private Reserve Vertical Tasting: Oh dear God, I could smell this all night. I am just dying of desire to blind some winegeek buddies on this and pawn it off as a noble aged BX. Just lovely wine, proof of nobility here at BV. Wish someone would give me a bottle free.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Wow. This bottle was far better than the last one. Loads of fruit on the nose, smooth as glass with a long finish. Blew everyone away. Best cab I've had in a long time. Wish i had a cellar full of this.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Inky black color with a nose of very dark fruits and wood. Very nice, somewhat lean texture with good balance and structure, and an unexpectedly long and slightly drying finish. There is a flatness or dullness to the fruit flavor that is certainly not surprising for this vintage. Not a great Georges de Latour, but still a very nice, enjoyable wine. Not going to improve - drink up. Update: After about 2-3 hours, the fruit almost disappears.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This much maligned vintage actually is drinking a little better than it was five years ago. Color is deep, nose is sufficient, tannins have softened nicely, not too complex though. Clearly not a good example of what a BV can be, but not bad either. Drink now if you have any.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted 1.5-2 hours. This was probably too long. I felt the bouquet faded after opening. Still a very fine wine and should be consumed in the next 2 years
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
All in all, a nice bottle of wine. A little stiff on the first taste, opened up with 20 minutes of decanting. A little past its prime, the fruit was a bit muted, but the tannins were fully integrated into the decent finish. Would have been better a year or two ago, but still very good.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
What a difference a couple months make. Same bottle drank 2 months ago was perfect though clearly about to begin declining. Now too late, a bit flabby. Still good but it's time is over.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I've been slowly sampling a case of this wine since the early 2000's. In my opinion it peaked in 2005. I had my penultimate (i.e., second to last) bottle tonight and found it to be a huge disappointment. It is thin, and totally one-dimensional with only minerality on the palate, not even a hint of fruit or wood, and delivered a pitiful finish. I can only hope that some miraculous metamorphosis will transform my last, remaining bottle into something more enjoyable. So, I'll roll the dice and in 5 to 10 years and drink my final 1998 then to see if it's totally unpalatable or miraculously transformed (as the label does say it "has the structure to age and improve for decades"). Despite being a huge fan of this wine, albeit not this vintage, I have my doubts....
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nicely-aged by now, soft tannins, mellow, jammy. Glad we drank now, outstanding wine but nearing it's end. A pleasant surprise after holding ~10 years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Ruby no browns. Soft nose. Fruit has faded but nice leather and a hint of cakebread. Moderate finish with late tannins. Nice wine but won't last much longer.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This wine is still drinking well. I agree that some of the fruit has probably faded but it feels the changes that have taken place are appropriate of an age-worthy wine versus the first signs of degredation. It is probably somewhere between an 89 (excellent) and 90 (outstanding) so I am giving it the extra point- it is not a generic cab and probably deserves the 90.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I liked this wine, quite a lot. It stood well together with it's siblings with more notoriety. I welcomed the place where this wine is now and won't hesitate to buy it when I see it.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very impressive considering the pathetic 98 vintage. Nicely structured, very well balanced, mellow tannins. A solid core of dark fruit surrounded by hints of leather, tobacco, spice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Medium to light in Body, color and clarity is still good. Like many Latours this has aged gracefully/ The 1998 vintage was not a favorite but this wine is just fine. Good fruit, soft. Past its prime but still enjoyable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I thought this was a rocking bottle. Attractive red fruit on the nose, in the mouth it was rich and fully bodied, and struck me as being still tight. Still with serious tannins. I think it could afford to sit around for a while. Still young.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Poured into decanter through aerator. Over the hill. Has maintained generous tannins, but these have become harsh as the fruit has disappeared. The tannins and oak are all that remain of this wine. Have one more bottle to confirm. Will update if warranted.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nothing really wrong with the wine, the 98 vintage was weak anyway. The wine is very soft, hints of fruit remain, even the finish is OK, there just isn't a lot here.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Opened side by side with a 2006 Rioja. The BV was restrained, resolved and poilshed, although not flashy in any way. It did not, however, have any of the glaring flaws of the young Rioja.
Drink up soon.
40+5+5+15+17+7=89
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Drank with BV over a great steak and roasted peppers. Needed to open and initial nose and taste was like licking a leather baseball glove but opened to have some dark currant with leather and tobacco. Was a great match to the ribeye steak
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Great friends, great steak, great wine! So if you still have any, it's ready now, in 2009. Maybe not the top Latour ever, but still showed well after a half hour of air, I wouldn't decant as you'll lose what's left of the fruit, but watch it open up in the glass over a meal and enjoy.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I had a bottle of this a few months ago, and was pretty disappointed, even for the $30 I got these for. This bottle, however, is showing far better. Nice blood red color with a clear hue. Slightly candied nose with violets and cassis. Some cherry up front with faint notes of leather and spice. Hollow in the middle, with resoved tannins and a touch of acid on the decent finish. Clearly the victim of a weak vintage, but glad I grabbed a couple on the cheap.
40+5+5+15+16+7=88
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very tight on open so left open 2 hours. Some leather and smoke. Very thin mouth with sharp acid. Not much of a finish. Not that pleasant.another day didn't help at all.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Servicable for casual every day usage. Nothing exceptional on the nose, thin fruit on the front, not enough to carry through the flat tannins in mid palate, and no fullness on the follow through. Did not improve with aeration or on the second day. Fortunately the expectations were low.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
90 - Leather, blue berry and dark fruit with the latter coming in mid palette. Definitely not as good as the 1996, but balanced after a 3 hour decant. Went well with a grilled steak. Short finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
As of 2008 the wine is holding up well. We had it with grilled steak and it quite a nice choice- but not a blow-me-away big cabernet. What I will say is that it works with food better than it does on its own where it still has more of an edge to it that I would expect at this point (does it need more time in the bottle?).
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
BV night at the "Old World Brother In Law's." The OWBIL’s LA daughter spent all day preparing Beef Bourguignon for a family dinner and the OWBIL commemorated these efforts by bringing up three BVs to enjoy with the meal. We tried Private Reserves from 1995, 1997 and 1998. The 1998 presented deep black fruits, earth and cedar on a flat and poorly delineated palate. Not bad but I agree with an early poster here that this vintage may not have warranted a reserve bottling.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Classic older Cab nose and taste with muted fruit, leather and some tar. The currant was still there with a good tannic structure. Excellent match for chateaubriand!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nice bottle that is probably ready to drink once it opens. Has some tabaco and leather mixed in with the dark fruits. A good match with a big kona encrusted steak
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Had with a 98 sterling reserve, and it paled in comparison to the fruit factor, but in a sense was still good. This wine was a bit green with its flavor but it wasn't off puting. After an hour or so, I came back to this wine and liked it. This is a hard one to rate on a 100 scale, because it didn't hit me at first as a prime wine, but after time it grew on me.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very good, but not great. I've had some Georges de Latour's that were great (like 2002). This didn't have enough fruit in my opinion, but nice oak and tannins. Like someone else said, you can really tell this is a premium wine, but you have to judge it a little tougher because of that.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Ruby with a tint of brown colour. Rose and cedar nose. Vanilla and oak up front followed by spice and a little too much alcoholic medicine. The fruit needs more presence. It still tastes like an expensive wine but it loses points for balance and fruit impact. BV should not realease GDL's when the vintage doesn't live up to the reputation.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A quick glass at the end of the evening at the brother in law's. No complaints here. While there’s lots of cedar present, I found a fairly rich palate with nice dark fruit and none of the green steminess described by previous posters. And, this was my last wine of the night following four other exceptional wines. I wouldn’t buy any of this but if the brother in law wants to open any more I’ll be right down.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
BV Georges de Latour Vertical (Zoe): Green, thin, astringent. I don't even know why I put any '98s in my mouth any more. You just can't beat this vintage.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tough year. Decent Napa cab for the year, but green, stemmy, and herbaceous on the nose and palate. I have had better wines from BV and better wines from Napa that year. This is an average example.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A pleasant surprise from a weak year. Nice maturing nose that is driven by spice and dark currants. On the palate, the tannins are still present, but are relatively soft and round. As can be expected, there isn't a lot of fruit present, but this is nice to drink, nonetheless. Drink now. Worth the $40 I paid on closeout.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This wine was made in a difficult vintage, and BV was not able to overcome the lack of concentration in the fruit. This wine should not have been made as George De Latour in 1998. It should have been decalssified. It would have made the Napa cab a very good wine for 1998.
The George de Latour PR is one of the top 5 American wine legends in my opinion, but has not been treated (by the winery) with the respect that it deserves. I think bottling it only when it lives up to its legacy would be a smart move. I recall drinking this stuff back in the 1970's and 1980's (1974 and 1978 were very good and capable of keeping 25 years or more) when it, Caymus, and Heitz were the best California had to offer.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Still an enjoyable wine, but did not find it as great the second time. Still a very dense nose, with blackberry covered in oak. Plenty of acidity, but has a short and dry finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This wine has a dense, dark red/brick color. Powerful nose, with aromas of dark cherry and cassis, with lots of spice. Noticable acidity and plenty of tannin to keep it balanced. I found this to be a very enjoyable bottle of wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
No TCA taint in this bottle - but I didn't like what was there anyway. The taste buds get whacked with oak and vanilla upfront before the fruit gets there. The fruit is pretty flattering considering the vintage, but this is hardly $100/bottle Private Reserve material - the balance is just lousy. Good thing this was a gift rather than a purchase.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
7/6/2023 - Margaux Bro wrote: 91 Points
Very uninspiring bottle, i've had 98 tapestry that has showed better than this. Hoping just bottle variation.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/27/2023 - Joelene wrote: 93 Points
Drinking well, delicious, especially for an average at best vintage.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/18/2022 - PIntag wrote: 93 Points
A friend had been given this a few years back and she shared it with us. She kept it in her cabinet (no temp control) for several years, at least, so I did not have high hopes for it. No matter, it was drinking beautifully! A really lovely and elegant, mature Cabernet, with silky mouthfeel and still an ample amount of fruit. Not sure how this bottle survived those conditions, but it was fantastic.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/2/2022 - VDLT Wine Likes this wine:
Quite a lovely wine. I doubt this ever was a barn-burner but there is a decent amount of quality fruit remaining in this otherwise fully resolved Cabernet.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/7/2022 - Rgentile wrote: 93 Points
Some black fruit, dried berry, forest floor. Resolved, mature but still a bit of acidity to keep it fresh. Solid mature Napa!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/3/2022 - EBDM wrote:
VSI FFOM Cult Wines
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/27/2022 - RTP Likes this wine: 88 Points
Excellent aged well cherry bloom on opening and smooth tannins, little expression of stems in tannins. Lovely wine for its age! Table loved it more than 2017.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/6/2021 - alexlb06 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Still drinking beautifully. Strong but overwhelming tannins. Long finish. Dark red fruits, some sweet tobacco. Had at Charter Oak in St Helena
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/8/2019 - mjemurph wrote: 93 Points
Holding well .decanted for an hour .it has 5+ years longer at least ..it drank wonderful!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/22/2019 - rocknroller wrote: 94 Points
BV Georges de Latour Vertical from 4 Decades: '64, '80, '84, '89, '98 (St. Paul, MN): Very dark red plus color with a 3mm clear margin. Splash decanted and drank a glass over almost 2 hours. A beautiful showing for the '98, eclpised only by the ethereal '64. It didn't start out that way though. Initial aromas suggested somewhat stewed fruit, mission fig and brown sugar and thoughts that this didn't hold up or was heat damaged. Yet there was none of those qualities on the palate ever. Then the dramatic evolution in glass began as first the stewed character slipped away and then a perfume emerged that cocntinued to build over the next hour. The perfume was a high pitched mix of crushed flowers and black and blue fruits, cedarbox, lead pencil and a fruitcake like mix of dried fruits and spices. The palate espoused those same characteristics in a well blended mix of dark berries, cassis and more subtle blue fruits, pencil, mineral, Medium body and round tannins. This really needed the oxygen to shed the old bottle aromas and blossom. Lots of life left here and a wine that will still reward further aging I think.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/2/2019 - spectrumphoto Likes this wine: 90 Points
Large format.... surprisingly still quite nice knowing there were issues with GDL in 98-00. Structure solid. Fruit came to life after 20 min. Saved a glass for next day and still held up .
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/6/2017 - vintage_whine wrote:
solid and still going strong
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/2/2016 - Tabitha wrote:
Bad cork, broke off when opening. Past prime but drinkable.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/10/2016 - vinelouse wrote: 92 Points
Certainly past its prime but still very nice. Initially some black berries on the nose which fade quickly. Drinks very smooth with well rounded tannins at the finish. With longer decanting (+3hr) spicy notes take over and make it for a pleasant experience.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/24/2016 - bryon m wrote: 86 Points
Wine was okay - probably 5 to 10 years past its prime. Color was brown on the edge, at first the was was tough to drink but after 45 minutes it was mellow and soft with little flavor.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/26/2015 - pvbjbd wrote:
Save for Marky's 21st!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/12/2014 - vinorsk wrote: 92 Points
Decanted one hour and drank. A smooth and delicious wine. Smooth well integrated tannins, medium acidity, creamy oak and spice notes, black fruit that was rich but not cooked. Medium finish. Drinking very well in October 2014. Definitely age-worthy. No signs of decline at 16.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/22/2014 - g289519 wrote: 91 Points
Fully integrated tannins. Mature, but not gone. Pop & pour, drink now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/3/2014 - flashpwb Likes this wine: 94 Points
Big but very approachable for the age. Classic Napa, black fruit, smooth tannins. Drink now or for another 2 decades.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/26/2013 - BoulderWine wrote: flawed
TCA-tainted. Unfortunate.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/27/2013 - CCoulombe wrote: 94 Points
Amazing
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/14/2013 - Acohen Likes this wine: 89 Points
Ruby violet color, nose of tea and currant with a touch of tobacco and cigar box and a medium finish
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/12/2013 - Acohen Likes this wine: 89 Points
Nice mature cab with dark fruit, currants, cigar box and a medium finish. Should be fully developed and probably not getting any better.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/6/2013 - helicopterbob wrote: 90 Points
Very good drinking perfect
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/31/2012 - vinorsk wrote: 92 Points
Nice in Dec 2012. Needs time to open, vegetal and stewed fruits give way to cedar and strong black fruit flavors. Long finish. Well integrated medium tannins. Nice wine but not amazing. Drink now, it won't get better.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/25/2012 - TheBigD52 wrote:
Losing its fruit but still good. Ate with Tenderloin roast.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/8/2012 - TheBigD52 wrote:
aged very well. mature and nicely balanced. dark colors, tastes of dark fruit.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/24/2012 - Gargantua wrote: 93 Points
Georges de Latour Beaulieu Vineyard Private Reserve Vertical Tasting: Oh dear God, I could smell this all night. I am just dying of desire to blind some winegeek buddies on this and pawn it off as a noble aged BX. Just lovely wine, proof of nobility here at BV. Wish someone would give me a bottle free.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/18/2012 - USKiwi Likes this wine: 90 Points
Delicious mature Cabernet. No tannin left unlike the '99
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/10/2011 - truckseller wrote: 94 Points
Wow. This bottle was far better than the last one. Loads of fruit on the nose, smooth as glass with a long finish. Blew everyone away. Best cab I've had in a long time. Wish i had a cellar full of this.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/13/2011 - Santafewiners Likes this wine:
WE purchased this wine 10 years ago at the winery. It has aged very well. We enjoyed its full body after all these years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/12/2011 - Acohen wrote: 88 Points
Good mature classic cab
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/12/2011 - rickspicks wrote: 90 Points
Inky black color with a nose of very dark fruits and wood. Very nice, somewhat lean texture with good balance and structure, and an unexpectedly long and slightly drying finish. There is a flatness or dullness to the fruit flavor that is certainly not surprising for this vintage. Not a great Georges de Latour, but still a very nice, enjoyable wine. Not going to improve - drink up. Update: After about 2-3 hours, the fruit almost disappears.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/9/2011 - g289519 wrote: 89 Points
Delicious. Good balance of fruit and tannins. Pleasantly surprised this wine is still holding up nicely.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/8/2011 - Acohen wrote: 88 Points
Nice mature cab with nice secondary characteristics
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/3/2011 - Burkep wrote:
Awesome still
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/3/2011 - MFC wrote: 89 Points
This much maligned vintage actually is drinking a little better than it was five years ago. Color is deep, nose is sufficient, tannins have softened nicely, not too complex though. Clearly not a good example of what a BV can be, but not bad either. Drink now if you have any.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/22/2011 - Midniterasta wrote: 93 Points
Who says 98 are not good?! This wine was beautiful
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/7/2011 - rwgray wrote: 90 Points
Decanted 1.5-2 hours. This was probably too long. I felt the bouquet faded after opening. Still a very fine wine and should be consumed in the next 2 years
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/7/2011 - wpd wrote: 89 Points
Deep red color, dusty nose of old cab. Decanted in the glass for 45 min. Nice wine, not much fruit left, but tannins are soft and the finish was long.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/20/2011 - 12design21 wrote: 90 Points
delicious decanted for 30 min. pared with ribeye.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/25/2011 - truckseller wrote: 89 Points
All in all, a nice bottle of wine. A little stiff on the first taste, opened up with 20 minutes of decanting. A little past its prime, the fruit was a bit muted, but the tannins were fully integrated into the decent finish. Would have been better a year or two ago, but still very good.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/14/2011 - Mhorne2 wrote: 83 Points
What a difference a couple months make. Same bottle drank 2 months ago was perfect though clearly about to begin declining. Now too late, a bit flabby. Still good but it's time is over.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/17/2010 - Drbacchus wrote: 85 Points
I've been slowly sampling a case of this wine since the early 2000's. In my opinion it peaked in 2005. I had my penultimate (i.e., second to last) bottle tonight and found it to be a huge disappointment. It is thin, and totally one-dimensional with only minerality on the palate, not even a hint of fruit or wood, and delivered a pitiful finish. I can only hope that some miraculous metamorphosis will transform my last, remaining bottle into something more enjoyable. So, I'll roll the dice and in 5 to 10 years and drink my final 1998 then to see if it's totally unpalatable or miraculously transformed (as the label does say it "has the structure to age and improve for decades"). Despite being a huge fan of this wine, albeit not this vintage, I have my doubts....
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/11/2010 - Mhorne2 wrote: 90 Points
Nicely-aged by now, soft tannins, mellow, jammy. Glad we drank now, outstanding wine but nearing it's end. A pleasant surprise after holding ~10 years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/24/2010 - diastole wrote: 88 Points
Ruby no browns. Soft nose. Fruit has faded but nice leather and a hint of cakebread. Moderate finish with late tannins. Nice wine but won't last much longer.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/21/2010 - Renster wrote: 90 Points
I found it has aged well and is excellent with or without food. But I do not think it will last much longer so this is the time to enjoy it
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/13/2010 - gautamv wrote: 88 Points
light nose, savory, medium length finish. Subdued fruity flavor, may have had more punch in the past. Fairly mellow tannins.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/19/2010 - markellen.foodies@gmail.com wrote: 90 Points
Popped and poured. Very good out of the bottle. Cassis notes,
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/31/2010 - willthethrill wrote: 88 Points
There is definitely something good and perhaps sophisticated buried amidst the licorice candy, but not enough.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/10/2010 - tonyelkin wrote:
At Frances wt Darwin and Deo. Drinking
Very nice. well integrated ...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/22/2010 - tonyelkin wrote:
In La Jolla. Not decanted but great.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/16/2010 - Whecht wrote: 90 Points
This wine is still drinking well. I agree that some of the fruit has probably faded but it feels the changes that have taken place are appropriate of an age-worthy wine versus the first signs of degredation. It is probably somewhere between an 89 (excellent) and 90 (outstanding) so I am giving it the extra point- it is not a generic cab and probably deserves the 90.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/7/2010 - Serge Birbrair Likes this wine:
I liked this wine, quite a lot. It stood well together with it's siblings with more notoriety. I welcomed the place where this wine is now and won't hesitate to buy it when I see it.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/6/2010 - Acohen wrote: 89 Points
Strong mature cab that still shows aged cab characteristics with some fruit
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/27/2010 - winedinners wrote: 89 Points
Very impressive considering the pathetic 98 vintage. Nicely structured, very well balanced, mellow tannins. A solid core of dark fruit surrounded by hints of leather, tobacco, spice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/27/2010 - jcgarcia wrote: 88 Points
Dry. A tad bit sour. Still a good bottle of wine though. Appropriately mature. No grade inflation -- this is honestly a very good wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/7/2010 - Acohen wrote: 89 Points
Dry and not a ton of fruit left, but some current and nice leather and tobacco
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/20/2009 - candyman wrote:
some vegitable nose ,warm dry finish best of the 3 older bottles we had with beef tenderloin
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/14/2009 - bryon m wrote: 89 Points
Medium to light in Body, color and clarity is still good. Like many Latours this has aged gracefully/ The 1998 vintage was not a favorite but this wine is just fine. Good fruit, soft. Past its prime but still enjoyable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/18/2009 - Acohen wrote: 90 Points
Smooth and integrated with classic currant, leather and tar
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/1/2009 - tonyelkin wrote:
Tasted with Joy and San Diego couple. Needed to be decanted for 1 hour.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/29/2009 - rmcnees wrote: 89 Points
Classic left bank Bordeaux aromas and tastes - earthy leather, dark cherry, cedar, creosote, and tar on the firm finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/28/2009 - jgdavis wrote: 90 Points
Opened up well.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/27/2009 - soyhead wrote: 91 Points
I thought this was a rocking bottle. Attractive red fruit on the nose, in the mouth it was rich and fully bodied, and struck me as being still tight. Still with serious tannins. I think it could afford to sit around for a while. Still young.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/25/2009 - Acohen wrote: 89 Points
Classic aged cab with less fruit and cedar, leather and some curant
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/21/2009 - the godfather wrote: 85 Points
from magnum, a bit over the hill, started nice but faded fast
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/13/2009 - Alfalfa323 wrote: 84 Points
Poured into decanter through aerator. Over the hill. Has maintained generous tannins, but these have become harsh as the fruit has disappeared. The tannins and oak are all that remain of this wine. Have one more bottle to confirm. Will update if warranted.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/28/2009 - beaver wrote: 90 Points
good not great . lacks flavour
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/1/2009 - mjerome wrote: 88 Points
Nothing really wrong with the wine, the 98 vintage was weak anyway. The wine is very soft, hints of fruit remain, even the finish is OK, there just isn't a lot here.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/29/2009 - dannyk8232 wrote: 89 Points
Opened side by side with a 2006 Rioja. The BV was restrained, resolved and poilshed, although not flashy in any way. It did not, however, have any of the glaring flaws of the young Rioja.
Drink up soon.
40+5+5+15+17+7=89
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/25/2009 - Acohen wrote: 89 Points
Drank with BV over a great steak and roasted peppers. Needed to open and initial nose and taste was like licking a leather baseball glove but opened to have some dark currant with leather and tobacco. Was a great match to the ribeye steak
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/28/2009 - PackerJon wrote: 92 Points
Great friends, great steak, great wine! So if you still have any, it's ready now, in 2009. Maybe not the top Latour ever, but still showed well after a half hour of air, I wouldn't decant as you'll lose what's left of the fruit, but watch it open up in the glass over a meal and enjoy.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/6/2009 - dannyk8232 wrote: 88 Points
I had a bottle of this a few months ago, and was pretty disappointed, even for the $30 I got these for. This bottle, however, is showing far better. Nice blood red color with a clear hue. Slightly candied nose with violets and cassis. Some cherry up front with faint notes of leather and spice. Hollow in the middle, with resoved tannins and a touch of acid on the decent finish. Clearly the victim of a weak vintage, but glad I grabbed a couple on the cheap.
40+5+5+15+16+7=88
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/31/2008 - Beachgrub wrote: 79 Points
Very tight on open so left open 2 hours. Some leather and smoke. Very thin mouth with sharp acid. Not much of a finish. Not that pleasant.another day didn't help at all.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/9/2008 - Blcmdpa@gmail.com wrote: 87 Points
Servicable for casual every day usage. Nothing exceptional on the nose, thin fruit on the front, not enough to carry through the flat tannins in mid palate, and no fullness on the follow through. Did not improve with aeration or on the second day. Fortunately the expectations were low.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/18/2008 - dannyk8232 wrote: 86 Points
Fully mature and ready to roll
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/9/2008 - qualjohn wrote:
90 - Leather, blue berry and dark fruit with the latter coming in mid palette. Definitely not as good as the 1996, but balanced after a 3 hour decant. Went well with a grilled steak. Short finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/25/2008 - Whecht wrote: 89 Points
As of 2008 the wine is holding up well. We had it with grilled steak and it quite a nice choice- but not a blow-me-away big cabernet. What I will say is that it works with food better than it does on its own where it still has more of an edge to it that I would expect at this point (does it need more time in the bottle?).
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/4/2008 - DaleW wrote: flawed
corked
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/6/2008 - Acohen wrote: 89 Points
Smooth and quite well balanced with underlying fruit and classic leather and tobacco on the palate
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/31/2007 - greenblanket wrote:
BV night at the "Old World Brother In Law's." The OWBIL’s LA daughter spent all day preparing Beef Bourguignon for a family dinner and the OWBIL commemorated these efforts by bringing up three BVs to enjoy with the meal. We tried Private Reserves from 1995, 1997 and 1998. The 1998 presented deep black fruits, earth and cedar on a flat and poorly delineated palate. Not bad but I agree with an early poster here that this vintage may not have warranted a reserve bottling.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/31/2007 - Acohen wrote: 90 Points
Classic older Cab nose and taste with muted fruit, leather and some tar. The currant was still there with a good tannic structure. Excellent match for chateaubriand!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/19/2007 - Acohen wrote: 89 Points
Classic older cab tastes with leather, tobacco and some tar. The fruit is not the lead here but it retains nice balance and feel
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/2/2007 - Acohen wrote: 89 Points
Nice bottle that is probably ready to drink once it opens. Has some tabaco and leather mixed in with the dark fruits. A good match with a big kona encrusted steak
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/17/2007 - oski wrote: 91 Points
Had with a 98 sterling reserve, and it paled in comparison to the fruit factor, but in a sense was still good. This wine was a bit green with its flavor but it wasn't off puting. After an hour or so, I came back to this wine and liked it. This is a hard one to rate on a 100 scale, because it didn't hit me at first as a prime wine, but after time it grew on me.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/15/2007 - whittyj wrote: 88 Points
Very good, but not great. I've had some Georges de Latour's that were great (like 2002). This didn't have enough fruit in my opinion, but nice oak and tannins. Like someone else said, you can really tell this is a premium wine, but you have to judge it a little tougher because of that.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/2/2007 - fingers wrote: 87 Points
Ruby with a tint of brown colour. Rose and cedar nose. Vanilla and oak up front followed by spice and a little too much alcoholic medicine. The fruit needs more presence. It still tastes like an expensive wine but it loses points for balance and fruit impact. BV should not realease GDL's when the vintage doesn't live up to the reputation.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/30/2006 - greenblanket wrote:
A quick glass at the end of the evening at the brother in law's. No complaints here. While there’s lots of cedar present, I found a fairly rich palate with nice dark fruit and none of the green steminess described by previous posters. And, this was my last wine of the night following four other exceptional wines. I wouldn’t buy any of this but if the brother in law wants to open any more I’ll be right down.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/22/2006 - Acohen wrote: 88 Points
Nice but not as rich as other GDTs
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/17/2006 - raadams wrote: 88 Points
A very pleasant and typical Napa Cabernet. Notes of cassis, black cherries, spice, a touch toasty oak, and a silky finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/7/2006 - bsherwin wrote:
BV Georges de Latour Vertical (Zoe): Green, thin, astringent. I don't even know why I put any '98s in my mouth any more. You just can't beat this vintage.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/5/2006 - mmyette wrote: 85 Points
Tough year. Decent Napa cab for the year, but green, stemmy, and herbaceous on the nose and palate. I have had better wines from BV and better wines from Napa that year. This is an average example.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/4/2006 - dwhsieh wrote: 88 Points
God, but maybe needs more time?
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/11/2005 - jerhardt wrote: 89 Points
A pleasant surprise from a weak year. Nice maturing nose that is driven by spice and dark currants. On the palate, the tannins are still present, but are relatively soft and round. As can be expected, there isn't a lot of fruit present, but this is nice to drink, nonetheless. Drink now. Worth the $40 I paid on closeout.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/22/2005 - N2Vin wrote: 86 Points
This wine was made in a difficult vintage, and BV was not able to overcome the lack of concentration in the fruit. This wine should not have been made as George De Latour in 1998. It should have been decalssified. It would have made the Napa cab a very good wine for 1998.
The George de Latour PR is one of the top 5 American wine legends in my opinion, but has not been treated (by the winery) with the respect that it deserves. I think bottling it only when it lives up to its legacy would be a smart move. I recall drinking this stuff back in the 1970's and 1980's (1974 and 1978 were very good and capable of keeping 25 years or more) when it, Caymus, and Heitz were the best California had to offer.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/18/2005 - Tom_B wrote: 89 Points
Still an enjoyable wine, but did not find it as great the second time. Still a very dense nose, with blackberry covered in oak. Plenty of acidity, but has a short and dry finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/31/2004 - brianofthevine wrote: 90 Points
Bold fruit up front but quickly dies.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/28/2004 - Tom_B wrote: 92 Points
This wine has a dense, dark red/brick color. Powerful nose, with aromas of dark cherry and cassis, with lots of spice. Noticable acidity and plenty of tannin to keep it balanced. I found this to be a very enjoyable bottle of wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/25/2004 - DChan wrote: 83 Points
No TCA taint in this bottle - but I didn't like what was there anyway. The taste buds get whacked with oak and vanilla upfront before the fruit gets there. The fruit is pretty flattering considering the vintage, but this is hardly $100/bottle Private Reserve material - the balance is just lousy. Good thing this was a gift rather than a purchase.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment