Chateau Leoville Barton 1988

LISA PERROTTI-BROWN: "The 1988 Leoville Barton has a medium to deep brick color. It prances out of the glass with showy scents of sandalwood, oolong tea, cigar box, and Fig Newtons, leading to a core of prunes, rose oil, and Chinese five spice. The light-bodied palate is fantastically intense and perfumed, featuring bright acidity and powdery tannins to support the elegant fruit, finishing long and ferrous."

WINE SPECTATOR: "Shows plenty of mint, currant and mineral character on the nose. Full-bodied, with big and soft tannins. Plenty of mushroom, berry and fruity character. Opulent and beautiful. -- '88/'98 Bordeaux blind retrospective (2008). Drink now. 16,000 cases made."

JANCIS ROBINSON: "Magnum. This is what claret is all about. Utterly correct, bone dry, straight-backed, not opulently fleshy nor fruity (cf Ch Brown 2010) but fresh and racy. Super-appetising. A health drink? Certainly not for sipping without food but this went admirably with the duck provided for us 1950s babes."