Chateau Latour 1988

WINE SPECTATOR: "So minty, with loads of subtle ripe fruit and eucalyptus undertones. Full-bodied, with ultrafine tannins and a long, long finish. Caresses every inch of the palate. It's the quality of the tannins that's impressive here. What a great and beautiful wine. Should improve for many years to come.—'88/'98 Bordeaux blind retrospective (2008). Drink now."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "The best showing yet for a wine from this under-rated vintage, the dark garnet-colored 1988 Latour reveals slight amber at the edge. A bouquet of melted tar, plums, black currants, cedar, and underbrush is followed by a sweet entry, with medium to full body, excellent ripeness, and mature tannin. It is a classic, elegant Latour with more meaty, vegetable-like flavors than are found in a riper year, such as 1989 and 1990. The 1988 has just begun to enter its plateau of maturity, where it should remain for 25 years. Anticipated maturity: now-2025"

WEINWISSER: "Ausdrucksvolle Nase, die neben Zedernholz, Grafit und Paprika schon eine recht deutliche Reife zeigt; klassisch Pauillac. Mittlerer Körper; am Gaumen mit einem feinen Tanningerüst und einer ansprechenden Süsse. Die dezent fruchtigen Noten von roten Früchten und rotem Tee harmonieren mit den klassischen Pauillac-Aromen von Bleistift und Unterholz."

JANCIS ROBINSON: "Deep crimson. Looks more youthful than the 1994. Fireworks fragrance. A little gentler and suppler than the 1998. Softening. Very correct and very typical."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Tobacco, earth, cassis and spicy aromatics are the first thing you notice. The wine has a rustic feel in the mouth. It is solid and four square in style, finishing with cassis flavors. This will last, but I am not sure it's going to improve."