1998 Certan De May

Tasted on three separate occasions in January, this wine performed significantly below the potential it revealed from barrel. One bottle was extremely vegetal as well as diluted. Essentially, this is a medium ruby/garnet-colored, lean effort lacking concentration. It reveals notes of herbs, saddle leather, spice box, red currants and cherries. Anticipated maturity: now-2010.

Milk chocolate with blackberry and cappuccino on the nose. Full-bodied, with a brown sugar and coffee flavor. Silky tannins. Long and caressing. Reminds me of old-style Pomerols from the '40s. This is a wine that has a lot of bottle variation, but this one is beautiful.¿'88/'98 Bordeaux blind retrospective (2008). Drink now.-James Suckling, Wine Spectator 2009

Tasted on three separate occasions in January, this wine performed significantly below the potential it revealed from barrel. One bottle was extremely vegetal as well as diluted. Essentially, this is a medium ruby/garnet-colored, lean effort lacking concentration. It reveals notes of herbs, saddle leather, spice box, red currants and cherries. Anticipated maturity: now-2010. Apr 2001, www.robertparker.com