Bordeaux Wine Enthusiasts

The Commanderie de Bordeaux of Puerto Rico held recently a tasting of 1988 Bordeaux hosted by Commandeur Alex Canals. The wines tasted were a good balance between communes and all wines showed very well.

Calon Segur
Cos D'Estournel
Beychevelle
Gruad Larose
Rausan Segla
Chateau Margaux
Vieux Chateau Certan
Cheval Blanc
Haut Brion
Mission Haut Brion
Latour
Mouton

In general 1988 continues to drink as a structured and classic vintage in which the right bank wines display gentler fruit and complex aromatics versus the structured balance of the left bank wines. The first growths all showed well and Chateau Margaux and Haut Brion provided a spectacular aromatic and taste complexity. The bottles of Mouton and Latour were classy but unyielding and monolithic same as Mission and Cos.

In terms of pure hedonistic pleasure Vieux Chateau Certan and Chateau Margaux were clear winners due to purity of fruit while Haut Brion and Cheval Blanc were amazing examples of class, breed, and elegance.

Thanks for reading.

Thanks for such a concise and informative post. JM

1988 is in my top 5 favorite vintages since 1982.

Nice to see that these great wines performed well.

Alex R.

I can still smell 1988 Lafite from the one time I had it.

That's a BWE members dream.

I too was underwhelmed by a 1988 La Mission of mine about 3 years ago - edgy and drying, so chalked it up to more time needed. I only have one bottle left, but I'm not sure it will ever come into balance. How long to wait . . .?

--Gary Rust

I have long been a fan of 88 Medoc's. With time the wines have mellowed out and improved. I still have Mouton and Rausan Segla.

Nice report, Carlos. Count me as a fan of the '88s, a structured but underappreciated vintage that has benefitted from time in the bottle. I've had the Lynch Bages and Haut Brion within the last few months and have loved them both. The Haut Brion's aromatics and complexity on the palate are exactly as you described them, and are why we cellar Bordeaux.