1998 Château Saint-Nicolas, Fronsac
£24
per case
1998 Château Saint-Nicolas, Fronsac
Pulling the cork on the 1998 Château Saint-Nicolas is akin to opening the doorway to a manor house drawing room; adorned with leather, button-backed chairs, a smouldering log fire with fine mahogany furniture. Shelves laden with thick, leather-bound books and silverware which has been lovingly polished for decades. It is glorious composition of old fashioned, comforting aromas. There's so much to savour and unravel, you really need to take time to enjoy the experience.
On the palate there's a surprising swathe of sweet, mulberry fruit with a hint of red currant, it's quite remarkable, you have to keep reminding yourself that this is over twenty years old, lesser wines would have faded long ago. Then there's the evolution from delicate fruit to those wonderful notes of leather, polish, wood-smoke and sweet spice, the balance is impeccable with a hint of warmth. The length of the finish is magnificent, and that sweet, mulberry fruit character returns, with the most delicate of tannic grips.
You're compelled to re-taste again and again to understand the complexity, this is exactly why Bordeaux enthusiasts get so excited about cellaring their wines for future enjoyment, the best made wines really do age beautifully, and this is a stunning example.
I can't quite get my head around the price, under £20 for a fine claret which has been cellared for over two decades makes no sense to me, but I'm not going to argue.
Stand for 24-hours prior to service, decant only to remove the fine sediment and gently aerate, as little as 15 minutes will work wonders.
James Russell-Grant | Mr.Wheeler










On all gifts and orders over £180 in value.
Smaller orders are subject to a £9.95 charge
We aim to deliver your wines within our standard 1 to 4 working days. 90% of orders are delivered within 48 hours. There are certain wines which are on a pre-order status and these are clearly marked on the product themselves and at the checkout stage. Deliveries take place between 8am and 5pm Monday to Friday.
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Inevitably there will be the occasional breakage upon transit. If your wine doesn’t arrive in perfect condition, please contact our sales team on 01206 713560 or [email protected] and we will be very happy to arrange a suitable solution or straight replacement.
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We’re confident in every bottle of wine we sell at Mr.Wheeler
if you don’t like any bottle, for whatever reason, please let us know and we will replace the wine or refund you. Faulty or unenjoyable bottles of any description, reported within a reasonable time after purchase, will be refunded without question or delay. Please contact our sales team on 01206 713560 or by [email protected] if you are not entirely happy with your purchase.