1998 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
Buying options
Tasting notes
Good medium ruby. Aromas of cassis, redcurrant, cocoa powder and tobacco, with a vegetal trace in the background. Focused and precise in the mouth, with lovely texture and sweetness. Notes of blueberry and tobacco. Finishes juicy and long. With extended aeration, this impeccably made wine showed richer aromas of black raspberry and mocha, and a fatter texture, with strong but harmonious acidity enabling the wine to maintain its shape. Certainly one of the half-dozen strongest cabernet-based wines from this difficult vintage.
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 1998 Cabernet Sauvignon, which was bottled in late June, has turned out even better that I thought last year. It boasts a saturated ruby/purple color in addition to an expressive bouquet of cassis, minerals, and smoke. This multi-textured, round wine exhibits sweet, well-integrated tannin, a great mid-palate and finish, as well as spectacular purity and palate presence. Consume it now and over the next 15-20 years.
About the producer
Screaming Eagle is one of the Napa Valley’s original cult Cabernets. Right from the first release, the now iconic producer garnered huge scores and a fanatic following.