Ratings & Tasting Notes:

90 points Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate, October 2000

This review calls it one of the finest editions of the wine the critic has tasted, describing a powerful bouquet of black cherry jam, kirsch, and Provençal spice, noting “tannin and structure are present, but they play second fiddle to the forward fruit, glycerin, and power.” Anticipated maturity was estimated at 2000–2012.

Cult Wines International Notes:

Domaine La Roquète has been owned by the Brunier family — best known as proprietors of the celebrated Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe — since 1986, when Henri Brunier purchased the estate from René Laugier and handed it to his sons Daniel and Frédéric. The domaine takes its name from Roquète, one of the historic lieux-dits where its vines are planted, and its wines are traditionally vinified using classic Châteauneuf-du-Pape methods: concrete vats followed by aging in large old oak tuns. The estate is known for producing wines that evolve and become approachable somewhat faster than its sibling property Vieux Télégraphe, making it an excellent window into how a well-pedigreed Châteauneuf-du-Pape develops with real bottle age.

The 1998 vintage is widely regarded as one of the truly great years in modern Châteauneuf-du-Pape history — commonly cited as the finest vintage for the Southern Rhône since 1990. A hot summer was followed by well-timed early September rains, allowing the grapes to reach both high sugar levels and full phenolic ripeness. The result was a run of rich, ripe, well-balanced reds that critics across the board praised extensively; Robert Parker famously called the vintage “sumptuous,” suggesting it might one day rival the legendary 1989 and 1990 vintages. Now approaching three decades of age, well-stored bottles from this vintage are entering a graceful, fully mature drinking window.

Bottle Size:

750 mL

Storage History:

Always stored on its side in a climate-controlled cellar.

Condition:

Please note: The bottle shown is the exact bottle being sold.

Labe is stained as shown, otherwise outstanding condition.