1998 Screaming Eagle
By Screaming Eagle
1998 Screaming Eagle from Screaming Eagle, Napa Valley
In the pantheon of fine wines from USA, the 1998 Screaming Eagle from Screaming Eagle has turned heads and changed perceptions of what Californian Cabernet Sauvignon can achieve.
A delight worth the investment
In 1998, the great balancing act of power and elegance was accomplished with masterful precision. The Screaming Eagle team dared to dream, orchestrating a wine that was as notable for its finesse as for its potency, proving doubters wrong and exceeding expectations of wine investors alike.
Your guests will be captivated by the intriguing complexity this wine presents on both nose and palate. It unfolds much like a well-written epic or a finely executed symphony, with each intoxicating note making a distinct yet harmonious contribution to the whole.
California Dreaming
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.
The 1998 Screaming Eagle from Screaming Eagle shatters all preconceived notions of Californian Cabernets. It showcases the viticultural dexterity possessed by those daring enough to defy tradition and expectation.
This is not simply a testament to the enduring appeal of Napa Valley, but a glittering curtain call in the history of fine wines from USA. And for the seasoned wine investor, the 1998 Screaming Eagle encapsulates the potential that lies in every carefully aged bottle.
Market price (CAD)
$56,440.00
12x75cl
Highest score
94
POP score
2422.86
Scores and tasting notes
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. Consume it now and over the next 15-20 years. There are 500 cases of this wine. As most readers know, this wine has become the ultimate collector's Cabernet Sauvignon, routinely fetching $800 to as much as $2000 a bottle at wine auctions. Of course, this makes no sense to me or Screaming Eagle's owner, the amiable Jean Phillips, who sells the wine for $125 a bottle. Unquestionably an exquisite wine, it offers remarkably rich creme de cassis aromas and flavors in an unmanipulated, compelling fashion. The winemaking is assisted by well-known consultant Heidi Barrett. From the red, iron-rich soils of the Oakville District, the wine is aged in 65% new French oak for 18-20 months. (Release date 10/01) Tel. (707) 944-0749; Fax (707) 944-9271
Robert Parker Jr - The Wine Advocate, 22 December 2000