Mouton Rothschild 1988

Pauillac, First Growth

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Tasting Notes

Ruby with attractive evolution. Very fragrant. Lightweight with lots of acidity. Real complexity and subtlety. Lovely balance. Seems the oldest of the lot, oddly. This was served blind and I guessed it as a Margaux 1989.

Score: 17 - 18

Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2000-2020 16 August 2010

Tasted at La Fete de la Fleur, the Mouton-Rothschild ’88 as an austere bouquet, dusty black fruits, bilberry, tobacco and cigar box. The palate is medium-bodied and paradigmatic of the vintage, masculine, austere and tarry. The tannins are a little coarser than I would prefer and there is a dustiness that I find distracting. I worry that this may be drying out? Tasted June 2009

Score: 89

Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com 01 January 2010

Very pretty aromas of vanilla, tobacco, berry and chocolate. Medium- to full-bodied, with soft tannins and a berry, chocolate finish. Not very dense. This pales compared with the other top Pauillacs. I never thought this was a perfect wine, but it gives great pleasure. - '88/'98 Bordeaux blind retrospective (2008). Drink now. 20,000 cases made.

Score: 92

James Suckling, Wine Spectator Maturity: 2008 01 January 2009

The 1988 Mouton has an attractive aroma of exotic spices, minerals, coffee, black currants, and sweet oak. Much like the 1989, the bouquet is staggering, but the flavors are distinctly less profound. In the mouth, it is a much firmer, tougher, more obviously tannic wine than the 1989, with medium body and outstanding ripeness. A beautifully made 1988 that will last 20-25 years, its short finish keeps it from being sublime. The 1988 is somewhat reminiscent of the 1985, but with more tannin. Anticipated maturity: Now-2020. Last tasted 1/93

Score: 89

Robert Parker, 'Bordeaux' 3rd Ed. Maturity: 1993-2020 01 January 1998