Château Grand Corbin-Despagne 1998, Saint Émilion Grand Cru Classé

Grand Corbin-Despagne sits on the northwestern side of Saint Émilion, near the border with Pomerol, where clay and sandy gravel soils tend to produce wines that combine structure with generosity. The Despagne family has been connected to the property for more than two centuries, and today the estate is regarded as one of the more consistent names in its classification tier.

The 1998 vintage is one of the landmark Right Bank years of the modern era. While the Left Bank performed unevenly, Saint Émilion and Pomerol benefited from excellent late-season conditions that allowed Merlot to achieve remarkable ripeness and balance.

More than twenty-five years later, wines like this help explain why 1998 remains so respected on the Right Bank. The best bottles combine maturity and freshness in a way that younger vintages often still need time to reach.