1988 Certan De May
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Tasting notes
Chosen because 1988 was the birth year of one of the dinner guests. Very old-fashioned, verging on oxidised and bretty. Gentlemen's club wine? (JR)
Critic scores
Average Score
Wine Spectator
Robert Parker
More reviews and scores
Impériale. A truly glorious wine, suggesting that all one needed with the 1988s was patience. Still extremely dense and rich with many a layer and some (positive) gamey overtones that made it a great partner for new season's grouse. Very sweet and succulent. A great 1988. (JR)
Aromas of tobacco, berry and flowers follow through on the palate. Medium-bodied, with firm tannins. More on the nose than the palate, but should improve with age.--1988 Bordeaux horizontal. Best after 2000-James Suckling, Wine Spectator 1998
Certan de May has turned out a muscular, powerful, deep ruby/purple-colored wine that exhibits little evolution at almost ten years of age. The wine holds exceptional promise given its tobacco leaf, spicy, cedary, black cherry and currant-scented nose. Roasted herb/meaty, fleshy, full-bodied flavors continue to border on the exotic. This is an intense, rich, long-lived style of wine that still requires bottle age. Anticipated maturity: 2000-2015. Last tasted 10/97. Robert Parker, Bordeaux Book, 3rd Edition # B1