BV, Napa Valley, George De Latour, Private Reserve, Cabernet Sauvignon 1998

Base of neck 94 Points CellarTracker Member Rutherford dust... a little higher residual sugar than I prefer in reds, but still very enjoyable and in a great spot here. 10/1/2024 93 Points CellarTracker Member A friend had been given this a few years back and she shared it with us. She kept it in her cabinet (no temp control) for several years, at least, so I did not have high hopes for it. No matter, it was drinking beautifully! A really lovely and elegant, mature Cabernet, with silky mouthfeel and still an ample amount of fruit. Not sure how this bottle survived those conditions, but it was fantastic. 12/18/2022 92 Points Vinous Our first bottle showed a slightly dull medium red color and an element of pruney oxidation, not to mention a peppery herbal streak and a distinct mid-palate dryness. But a second bottle showed a much darker, fresher color and an altogether juicier character. Yes, there's an element of peppery herbs that few 1998 California Cabernets totally avoid, but