Information & scores : 1988 Bordeaux

• Red 17/20
• Blanc liquoreux 19/20
• Still white 17/20

Vintage description 1988 Bordeaux

This vintage is often overshadowed by the next one. Médoc had a magnificent summer. Some of the estates, concerned about rot and late rain, harvested the Cabernet Sauvignon too early. The domains that avoided this mistake, had some very good wines, particularly in the Margaux appellation. Colourful, strong and excessively tannic, the great wines of northern Médoc distinguish themselves with their incredible cellaring capacity. Harvested at optimal maturity, the Pomerols and Saint Emilions are lovely and rich. Graves is probably the appellation with the best wines. The dry white wines are rich and perfectly-balanced. This is a great vintage for sweet wines, one of the best in the century. The Sauternes, marvellously rich and concentrated, have an incomparable aromatic strength.