1998 Clos de Sarpe
Buying options
Tasting notes
This was one of the first vintages to be aged in oak, seeing 80% new wood for its élevage. It was a great vintage for the Right Bank – as is clear from this wine. The 1998 Clos de Sarpe is beautifully mature, with savoury, leathery aromas and darker bramble fruit versus the more red-fruited 2001 shown alongside. The palate has a savoury iron seam, the tannins still offering a satisfying chewy grip to frame the juicy hedgerow fruit. This blossomed in the glass, revealing further complexity and vibrancy. Long, balanced and very impressive. Blend: 85% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc
Critic scores
Average Score
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
The 1998 Clos de Sarpe was the first vintage to use 100% new barrels (the previous vintage had been matured in 50% new oak and the remainder in tank). It is also the first year where the Grand Vin came exclusively from the older vines; the younger vines were from the deuxième vin. It has quite a high-toned bouquet with mulberry and blackcurrant fruit, peppermint and a touch of clove. This is far superior to the previous vintages that were aged in tank. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, a little more roundness and certainly more generosity than the 1985 or 1990. This does not possess finesse or refinement, but the oak gives the wine cohesion that was missing up until this point. Bottles of perfect provenance will still give pleasure.
The 1998 Château Clos de Sarpe is another start of a dramatic change in winemaker, with new oak being introduced to the estate in 1997 (that wine was brought up in equal parts new oak and concrete) and the 1998 to present being brought up all in new barrels. The 1987 was also the first vintage to be completely destemmed (by hand) and the estate started using a mechanical destemmer in 2005. The 1998 reveals a still youthful ruby color as well as a big, ripe, sexy nose of blackcurrants, cigar wrappers, toasted spice, and sweet oak. These carry to a powerful, full-bodied Saint-Emilion that has a wonderful sweetness of fruit, a stacked mid-palate, sweet tannins, and a great finish. It's drinking brilliantly today yet has a long life ahead of it.
The 1998 Château Clos de Sarpe is another start of a dramatic change in winemaker, with new oak being introduced to the estate in 1997 (that wine was brought up in equal parts new oak and concrete) and the 1998 to present being brought up all in new barrels. The 1987 was also the first vintage to be completely destemmed (by hand) and the estate started using a mechanical destemmer in 2005. The 1998 reveals a still youthful ruby color as well as a big, ripe, sexy nose of blackcurrants, cigar wrappers, toasted spice, and sweet oak. These carry to a powerful, full-bodied Saint-Emilion that has a wonderful sweetness of fruit, a stacked mid-palate, sweet tannins, and a great finish. It's drinking brilliantly today yet has a long life ahead of it.
About the producer
This small Saint-Emilion Grand Cru Classé estate is a FINE+RARE favourite. Run by Maylis Marcenat, the fourth generation of her family to do so, the 3.7-hectare vineyard has old vines and limestone soils, producing wines of incredible freshness and great ageability.