1988 Chateau Margaux, Margaux, Bottle (750ml)

WS95 "This has both sinew and flesh, with taut dried red currant, blackberry and plum skin notes that are forced to expand outward as the core of black tea, charcoal, plum paste and dark humus fills in quickly behind them. The charcoal-tinged grip carries the finish, with more bass than treble at first, but there's perfume here as well. Seriously long and the most overlooked of the truly great vintages here. *Ranked #6 in Top 100 Wines of 1991*" JM for WS 2014

VM94 "The 1988 Château Margaux is another wine I have not tasted for several years. It has a pure nose that is unmistakably this First Growth, with layers of black and blue fruit mixed with iodine and that signature pressed violet scent. The palate is velvety smooth, displaying a tad more glycerin than other First Growths. It's smooth with more blue fruit towards the finish. It is a seductive wine, perhaps less austere than bottles a decade ago. It's classy and more-ish. Tasted at the 1988 Bordeaux dinner at Noble Rot Mayfair." NM for VM Jul 2024