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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: 92 points
An old style Pauillac, yet made with far more purity and richness than the estate's ancient vintages, this broad-shouldered, muscular, classic wine exhibits a saturated purple color, and sensationally dense, rich, concentrated, cassis flavors that roll over the palate with impressive purity and depth. The wine is tannic and closed, but powerful and rich. It appears to possess length and intensity similar to the 1996. This is a great young Pauillac. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2025.
Review Date: February 1998

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar: 90 points
Dark ruby-red. Black- and redcurrants and smoke on the nose less oak-spicy today than the '96. Silky and harmonious but currently rather withdrawn. Not quite as sweet as the '96. Here the substantial toothcoating tannins come across as somewhat tougher, but there enough sheer extract for balance. Interestingly, this backward, rather powerful wine suggests the structure and grip of cabernet, while the silkier mouth feel of the '96 suggests a high percentage of merlot.
Review Date: May 1998