Andy Rodker's photos with the keyword: 1998

A special wine and one I'd been looking forward to for quite a while. Glad I was patient! After 25 years, it was still fruity and was perfectly in balance with a fairly hefty thwack of tannin, but the latter wasn't too aggressive. I reckon this would still be enjoyable in 50 years time! As it was only my mum and me (my dad would have loved to have drunk this but can't drink alcohol these days), we have enough in the decanter for a glass and a half each with tomorrow's meal. Even though it is 25 years old, I have no doubt that it will be just as good tomorrow having been opened 30 hours previously. I know the light wasn't great so I'll write what it says on the label: Léoville Las Cases, St Julien 1998. A second class grand cru, generally referred to as a 'super-second' and commanding prices up near the first class grand cru claret level (in other words into the stratosphere!). My excuse is that I bought it before the explosion of classed growth claret prices when the market was skewed by the Chinese putting pressure on demand ... and that it was my 65th birthday! Maybe I should have thought to give the table a quick wipe with a cloth first! In summary what was so astonishing to me was that this wine was like a classic from the early 2010s, At a blind tasting I would have guessed the year as 2015 or thereabouts. Only 17 years out!