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  • Country ranking ?

    1 234
  • Producer ranking ?

    61
  • Decanting time

    2h
  • When to drink

    now to 2040
  • Food Pairing

    Blanquette de veau

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Each year, Wine Spectator editors survey the wines reviewed over the previous 12 months and select our Top 100, based on quality, value, availability and excitement. This annual list honors successful wineries, regions and vintages around the world.

Château Mouton-Rortschild 1988  was on the second place in the Wine of the Year list in 1991

A magnificent wine that's ripe, powerful, seductive and amazingly deep. Massively concentrated and...

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The Story

Château Mouton Rothschild A Premier Cru Classé in 1973, Château Mouton Rothschild, owned by Baroness Philippine de Rothschild, consists of 205 acres of vines near Pauillac, in the Médoc, North West of the city of Bordeaux. This Premier Cru benefits from exceptionally good natural conditions, both in the quality of the soil, the position of its vines and their exposure to the sun. It is regarded today as one of the world's greatest wine. 


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Wine Information

Château Mouton Rothschild 1988 / Climatic conditions
The winter was particularly mild, free of frost but very wet, and there were many more rainy days than the average during the first quarter of the year. The heavy rainfall continued during the spring, with higher than average temperatures.

Under these conditions the vines started budding relatively early, on 4 April for the Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon and 7 April for the Cabernet Franc...

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Vintage 1988

The first of a trio of great vintages and which was rather overshadowed by the 89s and 90s. Certainly the most "classic" of the trio, with many wines which are not overtly fruit-focused, but which have levels of extract and concentration which make them perfect candidates for prolonged storage.

The first half of the year was exceptionally cold and wet and the vintage was saved by a long, dry and hot summer. Harvest began in mid-September an...

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Tasting note

color

Deep, Purple and Bright

ending

Long, Smooth and Round

flavors

Blackberry, Blackcurrant, Vanilla and Meaty

nose

Complex, Fresh, Generous and Open

recommend

Yes

taste

Average in Acidity, Medium tannin, Balanced, Well-structured, Complex, Developing, One-dimensional, Round, Harmonious, Rich, Dry and Drying tannins

Verdict

Oxidised

Written Notes

1988 had a better nose than I expected, classic in style with its cedar, walnut, cassis, minerals and earth. Frank said that it was still 'austere. So dry, it gives me goose bumps.' He was a little ahead of me already! The nose was stereotypically perfect, almost, and slate and plum rounded it out but cedar was the dominating factor, a profile which Elaine could not get past. Unfortunately, the palate lived up to my expectations of 'Mouton-lite.' It just lacked the weight and texture in the mouth. There was cedar, pencil shavings, earth and not much more. Who gave this 100 points again?

  • 88p
Good dark and deep colour. Appealing, fruity and ripe open nose. Very rich and complex – very ripe. Fantastically round, full, meaty, intense and good structure – a dazzling bottle! No rush – will last many more years. For me much better than the 1989, which I tasted together with this one – this feels much younger and has better balance and harmony. Perhaps the wine of the vintage
  • 94p

There's licorice here along with mint, some lead pencil and flowers. It's full and round displaying wonderful vanilla and plum flavors. Very silky and refined yet dense and caressing. A beauty, though it does turn a little dry, always revealing its wood.

  • 93p

Magnum directly from chateau. Ruby, garnet rim. Scented, red berries, floral, minerals, figs and tobacco nose, elegant, touch of exotic spices. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh, elegant and nuanced, detailed, lovely balance, one utterly charming 88 Mouton. 93

  • 93p

Deep and intense on the nose, refined with finesse. Well-balanced, well-constructed and complex with very long finish. Impresive stuff with many years to improve even further.

  • 94p
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Information

Origin

Pauillac, Bordeaux

Vintage Quality

Above Average

Value For Money

Very good

Investment potential

No Potential

Fake factory

None
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