Château Jacques-Blanc 'Cuvée du Maitre' Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 1998

Château Jacques-Blanc ‘Cuvée du Maître’ – Saint-Émilion Grand Cru 1998: A mature classic from Saint-Étienne-de-Lisse

The Château Jacques-Blanc “Cuvée du Maître” Saint-Émilion Grand Cru 1998 is a wine of remarkable depth and character, bearing the time-honoured hallmark of one of the oldest estates in the Saint-Émilion appellation. Château Jacques-Blanc is situated near the medieval village of Saint-Étienne-de-Lisse, one of the eight communes that have formed the jurisdiction of Saint-Émilion since 1289. The estate’s name derives from Jacques Blanc, a settler who established himself in the depopulated region following the Hundred Years’ War and gave the village its name. The Blanc family lived on the estate for centuries; documented references date back to 1642. At the end of the 19th century, under the ownership of Mr Saint-Brice-Belliquet, Château Jacques-Blanc was one of the most prominent producers in the Saint-Émilion appellation. The Guide Ferret wrote in 1898: “The Jacques-Blanc estate, situated between Castillon and Saint-Émilion, was completely rebuilt in 1889. It produces a remarkable wine in terms of colour and finesse”.

The Cuvée du Maître is one of the estate’s two Grand Cru cuvées – alongside the Cuvée Aliénor. The name refers to the estate’s artistic tradition; the label illustration depicts a classic master winemaker holding a goblet. The vineyards of Château Jacques-Blanc cover around 27 hectares on clay-limestone soils, planted with Merlot (85 per cent) and Cabernet Franc (15 per cent). The average age of the vines is 40 years.

The 1998 vintage ranks among the very best vintages ever produced by Château Jacques-Blanc. In the estate’s official list of ‘Meilleures années’, 1998 features alongside legendary vintages such as 1928, 1929, 1945, 1947, 1949, 1953, 1955, 1959, 1961, 1966, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1989 and 1990 – an exclusive group that underlines the outstanding quality of this vintage. After more than 25 years of ageing in the bottle, the wine has fully developed its tertiary aroma profile: notes of leather, truffle, dried fruit and undergrowth characterise the bouquet, accompanied by the tobacco and cedarwood notes typical of mature Saint-Émilion. The tannins are silky and well-integrated, the structure is balanced and the finish is impressive.

The condition of the bottles from this vintage is described as well documented: fill level ‘into neck’, capsule corroded, cork in good condition, label slightly dust-covered – an appearance typical of its age. The existence of the 1998 vintage is also attested by auction lots at Bonhams. For lovers of mature Bordeaux wines, the 1998 Château Jacques-Blanc ‘Cuvée du Maître’ offers a rare opportunity to experience a Saint-Émilion Grand Cru from a top vintage at the peak of its maturity – a wine that embodies the quiet grandeur of an appellation steeped in tradition.