1998 Château La Mondotte

The deepest, darkest crimson right out to the rim. Very rich and exotic and modern on the nose. Lots of sweet black fruits. Dark cocoa aromas. The acidity is a bit harsh – indeed the whole wine is a bit of an assault on the palate – like orange pith. Smooth texture but the acidity dominates the fruit and there’s a powderiness on the finish. Not beautiful. (JR)

Very oaky nose. Very chunky with lots of acidity and MASSES of tannin. Terribly exaggerated – even more so that wine 8. Hole in the middle. (JR)

An amazing tour de force in winemaking, this massive, opaque black/purple-colored offering boasts an extraordinarily pure nose of black fruits intermixed with cedar, vanillin, fudge, and espresso. It is unctuously-textured, with exhilarating levels of blackberry/cassis fruit and extract, as well as multiple dimensions that unfold on the palate. The 50-second finish reveals moderately high tannin. Despite its similarity to dry vintage port, it is not a wine to drink early. It is a colossal wine! Anticipated maturity: 2008-2035. The ultimate garage wine, La Mondotte is ultra-concentrated, frightfully expensive, yet worth every cent.