WTN: 1998 Clos de l'Oratoire (the Bdx, not the CdP)

Betsy was in city for a workshop, I was in charge of dinner. She called as she left city, timing worked well as she got home just as skirt steak (in Riesling/soy/chili oil marinade),squash, and eggplant came off grill. Wine was a 375 of the 1998 Clos de l'Oratoire (St Emilion). Nice modern styled Merlot, I'd say ready to go from half bottle. Rich creamy texture, nose of raspberries and cedar, on the palate dark plums and red berrries. Some cedar/cigarbox and a little chocolate. Tannins are pretty well integrated, acidity is on low side, but not flabby. Lush. No one is going to mistake this for Figeac, Canon, or Magdelaine, it wears its "modernity" on its sleeve, but it wears it well. B+

Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent wine, B a good wine, C mediocre. Anything below C means I wouldn't drink at a party where it was only choice. Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivity, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.

Hi Dale,

I have a bottle of this in my cellar, so it was interesting to read your notes. Thanks.

Clos de l'Oratoire has the reputation here of being a wine that needs considerable ageing, but you see it as pretty much ready to go now at the age of ten.

I'll think about opening my lone bottle soon and will be especially interested to see how "modern" it is in style (will be more on the lookout than ususal in light of our remarks).

I don't know when you bought your wine, but Clos de l'Oratoire has shot up in price.
Like so many of them...

Best regards,
Alex R.

Alex, you'll note that this was a half bottle. While I don't think there's an exact formula for 375/750 aging, I'd expect that full bottles would be showing a bit more tannic (this was a very tannic wine when released). I generally kind of figure 10 years in 375 is maybe same as 15-17 in full bottles.
This was about $17/375 on release, so probably $28-30 for 750.