1998 Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley

1998 Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley The 1998 vintage in Napa Valley was a cooler, later year, bringing an elegant restraint to Screaming Eagle. The bountiful fruit synonymous with California is still present but wrapped in a cloak of nuanced intricacy; raspberry, cassis and plum notes fluttering around a core of structured tannins. Velvety in texture, each sip is like touching an expertly-crafted piece of silk as it deftly flows from one flavor profile to another. Hints of cedar, graphite and fresh herbs crescendo into a finish of immeasurable grace. Critical Acclaim 94 Wine Advocate The 1998 Cabernet Sauvignon, which was bottled in late June, has turned out even better that I thought last year. It boasts a saturated ruby/purple color in addition to an expressive bouquet of cassis, minerals, and smoke. This multi-textured, round wine exhibits sweet, well-integrated tannin, a great mid-palate and finish, as well as spectacular purity and palate presence. 92 Wine Spectator Bright, rich and focused on a core of juicy black cherry, plum and blackberry fruit that's complex and concentrated, finishing with a hint of mint, a long, intricate aftertaste and mild, integrated tannins.