1998 ChAtildecentteau de Valandraud Grand Cru ClassAtildecopy

A particularly successful vintage showing lovely classical proportions, no doubt helped by the high percentage of Cabernet Franc found in the wine. The colour shows a slightly evolved appearance with intense garnet and a ruby rim. Upon opening, the nose is a bit discrete and reveals oak and brown sugar notes but it develops wonderfully and with precision, showing wonderfully ripe and elegant Cabernet Franc as well as some spiciness provided by a touch of cinnamon. The palate confirms the wineAcirc8217s potential fully balanced from start to finish, full bodied and endowed with a very good tannic structure, no unnecessary oak, very good purity of fruit with a bitter chocolate finish. Elegant and seamless, it leaves a very different impression from the rumoured over extraction.