Wine Advisor
Quinault l'Enclos 1998
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
This is a breakthrough for this small vineyard owned by Dr. Alain Raynaud. The harvest, completed by September 27, produced a wine of exceptional richness and complexity. It exhibits a saturated blue/purple color, and a compelling bouquet of blackberries, blueberries, cassis, minerals, and beautifully integrated subtle oak. The 1998 is rich in the mouth, yet is neither heavy nor excessively extracted. The tannin is sweet, and the wine long, medium to full-bodied, and gorgeously seamless. Dr. Raynaud intends to bottle this wine with neither fining nor filtration. Anticipated maturity: 2001-2018.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
A fabulous effort, the 1998 tastes even better after nine months in cask. Aromas of blueberry/raspberry ice cream are followed by a wine with spectacular concentration, a full-bodied palate, and superb purity, all allied to rare gracefulness and symmetry. An extraordinary, distinctive expression of St.-Emilion, this compelling effort will be bottled without filtration. Anticipated maturity: 2002-2020.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
An elegant as well as powerful effort, this dense ruby/purple-colored 1998 reveals notes of plums, black raspberries, vanillin, minerals, licorice, and spice. Exceptionally rich with an outstanding texture, this medium to full-bodied wine possesses a distinctive, individualistic style, largely because of its floral, blueberry fruit flavors. Although accessible, it will age for two decades. Anticipated maturity: 2002-2020.
Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer
Good ruby-red. Youthful but complex aromas of black cherry, iron, tar, game, espresso and chicory. Lush, deep and oaky, with good finesse and sound structure. Finishes with noteworthy length and substantial but ripe tannins.
Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer
Saturated black-ruby color. Superripe, liqueur-like aromas of kirsch, iron filings, espresso, smoke and rose petal; smells more like Pomerol than St. Emilion. Sweet, lush and very concentrated; quite full in the mouth. Real chocolatey ripeness. Very long and consistent, with substantial sweet tannins buried in berry flavor. An estate to watch.
Reviewed by: Lisa Perrotti-Brown
The 1998 Quinault l'Enclos has faded to a pale brick color and gives up mature notes of dried mulberries, raisin cake and prunes with touches of dried roses, star anise, incense, leather and dried mint. The medium to full-bodied palate reveals a wine at its peak or perhaps on the downward slide, depending on your preferred state of "maturity," offering powdery tannins and a lively line of acid to frame the earth and spice-inspired layers, finishing on a lingering aniseed note.
About the Producer
Chateau Quinault l'Enclos is located in the Saint-Emilion appellation of Bordeaux, France, and dates back to the 17th century. The winery takes its name from a writer named Philipe Quinault. In 1930, the estate of the Château de Montréal was only 8 hectares. Until the 1990s, when Chateau Quinault l'Enclos came under the wing of the famous winemaking family - Raynaud Family, Dr. Alain Raynaud invested heavily in Chateau Quinault, eventually making it one of the most famous châteaux in Saint-Emilion. In 2008, Quinault l'Enclos was taken over by Bernard Arnault and Albert Frere, owners of the LVMH group. Then the winery became part of the LVMH group, along with the famous Chateau Cheval Blanc and Chateau La Tour Figeac, and the estate's vineyard area was expanded. The winemaking team became the Pierre Lurton team of Château Cheval Blanc. Michel Rolland, the famous "flying winemaker", was also hired as a consultant. Now, the vineyard is approximately 20 hectares, planted with 83% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. The oldest vines were planted in 1930, and the average age is 45 years. The vineyard was taken over by LVMH in 2008 and was converted to organic farming, and in 2012 it was successfully certified as such. When Dr. Alain Raynaud was at the helm of Château Grand Cru, the wines produced were straightforward, sweet and ripe, round and soft, in the typical style of Saint-Emilion wines, suitable for drinking in their youth, with an optimum age of 10 to 12 years. Today's winemaking team, Pierre Lurton's team, produces wines that are clearer and fresher on the palate, with pleasantly soft tannins and well-integrated oak flavours.
