The Wine Advocate | RP 91
Published: Apr 23, 2001

A classic Margaux, the 1998 Palmer has put on weight and fleshed out during its elevage in barrel. It displays a dense purple color as well as a sumptuous bouquet of black fruits, licorice, melted asphalt, pain grille, and a touch of acacia flowers. Full-bodied, with brilliant definition, this blend of equal parts Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, with a dollop of Petit Verdot, will age well for 20-30 years. It is one of the Medoc's, as well as the Margaux appellation's finest wines of the vintage. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2028. 
Drink Date 2005 - 2028

Chateau-palmer.com

Blend
chateau palmer
Merlot 52% Cabernet sauvignon 43% Petit verdot 5%

Harvest
From 24th september to 9th october 1998

A true classic! There were few, if any, clouds in making this vintage, both literally and figuratively. Apart from a little rain in September, the grapes enjoyed warm, dry weather, ideal for reaching optimal ripeness.

1998 is an excellent Merlot vintage. The wine is fresh, aromatic, and complex. Conditions in the first months of the year were similar to those in 1997 – warm and sunny. March brought high temperatures with it, and the vines began to grow from the 22nd. However, April was one of the wettest months of the century. This slowed down vine growth and the first flowers did not appear until late May, although flowering was fairly fast and even.

In July, the weather was moderately hot and relatively dry. The start of the ripening also went smoothly. August was exceptional – one of the hottest and driest on record. This gave the harvest remarkable potential. The incredible feature of grape ripening in 1998 was the early halt of vine growth. This was due to low rainfall in July and a particularly hot, dry August. As a result, constant rainfall in September only slightly diluted the sugars, without affecting the phenolic compounds or grape quality. The subsequent vinification was facilitated by very rapid extraction.

‍The wines made from all three varieties combined grapes with a great tannic structure while preserving their elegance. The sublime Merlot grapes of the 1998 vintage provide the exceptional velvety complexity of this vintage, which is sunny, profound, and emblematic of the Palmer style.