1998

Marked by extremes and regional contrasts — 1998 delivered greatness where the weather aligned, especially for Rhône, Barossa, and parts of Napa. A warm El Niño year pushed ripeness in many regions, favoring plush, fruit-forward wines with early appeal and age-worthy exceptions.

🗓️ Historic Moments

  • 🌪 El Niño weather disrupts global climate patterns

  • 🔬 Google is founded, reshaping access to information

  • 🎬 Saving Private Ryan dominates box office and Oscars

  • 🇫🇷 France wins the World Cup at home

  • 📱 iMac G3 launches with colorful consumer appeal

  • 💰 Long-Term Capital Management collapses, nearly triggering global financial crisis

  • 💣 U.S. embassies bombed in Kenya and Tanzania

🇫🇷 Bordeaux (1998)

  • Weather Summary: A tale of two banks — hot and dry late summer benefited Merlot

  • Challenges/Highlights: Right Bank excelled; Left Bank struggled with earlier rain

  • Harvest Window: Mid-to-late September into early October

  • Reception & Scores: Pomerol and Saint-Émilion widely praised; Left Bank mixed

  • Aging Potential: Right Bank wines aging beautifully; Left Bank shorter lived

🇫🇷 Burgundy (1998)

  • Weather Summary: Warm but inconsistent season with late rains

  • Challenges/Highlights: Pinot Noir hit-or-miss; white Burgundy fared better

  • Harvest Window: Mid-September

  • Reception & Scores: Uneven, with some top reds developing complexity

  • Aging Potential: Modest; best domaines showing finesse now

🇫🇷 Rhône Valley (1998)

  • Weather Summary: Hot, dry, exceptional growing season in the South

  • Challenges/Highlights: Historic year for Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Gigondas

  • Harvest Window: Early September to early October

  • Reception & Scores: Critically acclaimed; lush, structured, long-lived

  • Aging Potential: Still peaking for top Southern Rhône reds

🇫🇷 Champagne (1998)

  • Weather Summary: Warm vintage with ripe fruit and moderate acidity

  • Challenges/Highlights: Good overall quality; rich vintage style

  • Harvest Window: Mid-September

  • Reception & Scores: Balanced vintage Champagne, early maturing

  • Aging Potential: Most drinking well now or declining

🇮🇹 Piedmont (1998)

  • Weather Summary: Warm season with small, concentrated yields

  • Challenges/Highlights: Nebbiolo achieved ripeness but lacked acid structure in some areas

  • Harvest Window: Mid-to-late October

  • Reception & Scores: Mixed reviews; overshadowed by 1996 and 1999

  • Aging Potential: Best Barolo and Barbaresco at peak

🇮🇹 Tuscany (1998)

  • Weather Summary: Hot, dry summer followed by ideal harvest conditions

  • Challenges/Highlights: Excellent year for Sangiovese and Super Tuscans

  • Harvest Window: September

  • Reception & Scores: Highly regarded vintage across the region

  • Aging Potential: Many wines aging gracefully; top cuvées still strong

🇪🇸 Rioja (1998)

  • Weather Summary: Favorable weather during key ripening periods

  • Challenges/Highlights: Slow, balanced ripening; considered a very good vintage

  • Harvest Window: Late September to early October

  • Reception & Scores: Classic style; not flashy but well-made

  • Aging Potential: Reserva and Gran Reserva holding well

🇩🇪 Mosel (1998)

  • Weather Summary: Cool, damp conditions with sporadic botrytis

  • Challenges/Highlights: Uneven ripeness; few great wines made

  • Harvest Window: Late October into November

  • Reception & Scores: Modest vintage with some pretty Kabinetts

  • Aging Potential: Light and delicate; best consumed

🇺🇸 Napa Valley (1998)

  • Weather Summary: Wet El Niño spring delayed budbreak; hot harvest

  • Challenges/Highlights: Uneven ripening, mildew pressure; winemakers had to triage

  • Harvest Window: October

  • Reception & Scores: Initially panned, now rediscovered with age

  • Aging Potential: Best bottles showing elegance and restraint today

🇺🇸 Sonoma (1998)

  • Weather Summary: Similar to Napa, with late start and heat spikes

  • Challenges/Highlights: Quality varied by site and grape; Pinot Noir and Zin fared well

  • Harvest Window: Late September into October

  • Reception & Scores: Solid but less age-worthy than neighboring years

  • Aging Potential: Mostly for near-term enjoyment

🇺🇸 Willamette Valley (1998)

  • Weather Summary: Very warm and dry, rare for Oregon

  • Challenges/Highlights: Pinot ripened fast; some overripe characters

  • Harvest Window: Early to mid-September

  • Reception & Scores: Plush, ripe wines; less typical

  • Aging Potential: Peaking now or fading

🇺🇸 Washington State (1998)

  • Weather Summary: Warm, dry vintage with small berries and thick skins

  • Challenges/Highlights: Excellent for Cabernet, Merlot, and Syrah

  • Harvest Window: Late September to mid-October

  • Reception & Scores: Breakout year for Washington reds

  • Aging Potential: Long-lived; many wines still vibrant

🇦🇺 Australia (1998)

  • Weather Summary: Dry season, ideal for ripening across regions

  • Challenges/Highlights: Barossa and McLaren Vale produced benchmark Shiraz

  • Harvest Window: February to April

  • Reception & Scores: Legendary in South Australia

  • Aging Potential: Powerful wines with long-term aging curves