1998 Jean Grivot, Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru 1x75cl

Vinous – 88+

Medium-deep red. Very tight nose hints at red berries, licorice and menthol. Quite tight and ungiving today, but with obvious intensity of flavor. Tannins are a bit tough, even dry, but there also plenty of lingering flavor. This is not currently showing the flesh it displayed a year ago from barrel, but then just-bottled Clos Vougeot is rarely a fun drink. [Stephen Tanzer, 03/01/2001]

Burghound – 92

As young Clos de Vougeot often is, this wine is a good deal less generous now than the ’98 Echézeaux and is borderline austere yet there is plenty of solid material beneath the sober veneer. There is good sappy pinot extract with big, heavily soil inflected flavors and good length. A big wine needing 10 to 12 years to resolve its structure but it should amply reward the patient. [18/05/2002]