1998 Cain Five
Market price
Buying options
Tasting notes
The 1998 Cain Five (82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot, 2% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Malbec) reveals a complex, evolved bouquet of licorice, blackberries, and subtle sweet oak. It possesses silky tannin, fine balance, elegance, medium body, and excellent concentration. Drink it over the next 8-9 years. Tel. (707) 963-1616
Critic scores
Robert Parker
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
A very creditable 1998 picked as late as November with less hillside fruit than usual. Cooler, leaner style but well made and mouthfilling. Good balance. (JR)
Moderately saturated red-ruby. Aromatic nose of cherry, raspberry, smoke, licorice, chicory and menthol; shows both roasted and green notes. Nicely delineated and bright, but smaller-scaled and lacking real dimension. Somewhat skinny on the finish, with slightly dry tannins and modest sweetness and length. Still, this sample was more consistent than a blend of estate fruit, which showed a hole in the middle.