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1988 Wine and Port Vintage

Vintage Summary and Recommendations: Welcome to Vintage Wine and Port's 1988 wine page. Read on for our summary of the 1988 vintage, our top recommendations and region reports. Scroll down to see all of our wines currently available. If you cannot find what you are looking for please call us on 01425 837177 or Contact Us. We would love to help you with your wine choice!

The 1988 vintage was mostly excellent across the board with some serious highlights. For France – Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, Rhône, Alsace and the Loire Valley all enjoyed brilliant vintages with Sauternes, in particular, delivering an excellent return. In Italy, both Piedmont and Tuscany had superb legendary vintages. Although the vintage for Spain, Port and Tokaj was slightly more so-so, some excellent wines were still made. Any of these wines would make a fabulous 37 year old wine gift for an Anniversary or birthday.


Our Wine Expert currently recommends the following wines for this year:

  • Ryst Dupeyron Armagnac 1988 Reserve Joseph Millesime vintage Armagnac
  • Bairrada 1988 Quinta Poco do Lobo Cabernet
  • Chateau Branaire Ducru 1988 St Julien 4th Growth Classification
  • Toro Albalá, 1988, Don PX
  • Nebbiolo 1988 Cantine Prandi
  • Taittinger 1988 Vintage Champagne Imai

  •  
    This Year in History: Fun Fact: Microsoft sold its one-millionth mouse, and McDonald’s opened its ten-thousandth restaurant.
    Eurovision Winner: Switzerland with the song "Ne Partez Pas Sans Moi" by Celine Dion
    Top Grossing Movie: Rain Man
     
    Bordeaux: This was the first in a trio of great vintages for Bordeaux, and one that has been rather overshadowed by the 89s and 90s. 1988 is the most classic of the trio, with many of the wines not being overtly fruit-driven but having levels of extract and concentration that that make them perfect candidates for keeping. These would make a brilliant wine gift for a birthday or anniversary celebration.
     
    Italian: 1988 Italian wines were produced in an excellent, almost outstanding vintage. Good growing conditions particularly in Tuscany and Piedmont produced rich, full bodied wines that will hold for many years to come.
     
    Portugal: 1988 was a very difficult growing year, with bad weather in the spring and summer resulting in a small crop of average quality. As a result there was no declaration of vintage (a mark of the highest quality). Nevertheless, some very attractive single quinta ports were produced.

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    18 products found.

    Ryst Dupeyron Armagnac, 1988

    Ryst Dupeyron Reserve Joseph Millesime vintage Armagnac
    50cl bottle
    Includes original orange colour cardboard gift box

    The reputation of Ryst-Dupeyron ensures that this vintage is of high quality, making it a prestigious and thoughtful gift for any spirits connoisseur. The term "Millésime"on the label indicates that this is a single-vintage Armagnac, meaning all the grapes used were harvested in 1988. This makes a fantastic option for anyone celebrating an anniversary or birthday commemorating this year.

    Tasting Notes
    The wine is a deep mahogany color, indicating its aging process in oak barrels. Its aroma is rich and complex, with notes of dried fruits, vanilla, caramel, and toffee. Tertiary notes include spices, toasted nuts, tobacco, and leather.
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    Price: £79.00
    Stock: 5 in Stock

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    Toro Albalá, 1988

    DON PX 1988 | Half Bottle 37.5 cl

    Pedro Ximénez (often abbreviated as PX) is a sweet, fortified wine primarily produced in Spain, especially in the regions of Jerez (Sherry) and Montilla-Moriles. It is made from the Pedro Ximénez grape, which is sun-dried to concentrate its sugars before fermentation. The result is a wine that is intensely sweet, rich, and dark, with a syrupy texture.

    Often described as "dessert in a glass," PX wines are bursting with flavors of raisins, molasses, dried figs, caramel, chocolate, and nuts like toasted almonds or hazelnuts. The wine’s sweetness is balanced by its complex and layered profile, making it a luxurious treat for the palate.
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    Price: £59.95
    Stock: 38 in Stock

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    Chateau Branaire-Ducru, 1988

    St Julien, 4th Growth Classification
    Bin soiled and stained labels.

    1988 Chateau Branaire Ducru. Nose of black cherry, red cherry, cassis and sage, same on the palate, medium/big body, very tasty, held up well but time is short so you should immediately drink up, elegant, and a long, long finish. Cellar Tracker Tasting 2019.

    About Chateau Branaire Ducru Château Branaire-Ducru is a renowned wine estate located in the Saint-Julien appellation of the Bordeaux region in France. It is classified as a Fourth Growth (Quatrième Grand Cru Classé) in the 1855 Bordeaux Classification, which highlights its longstanding reputation for quality. The estate spans approximately 60 hectares of vineyards, planted mainly with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot.
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    Price: £179.00
    Stock: 3 in Stock

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    Chateau Latour, 1988

    Pauillac 1er Grand Cru Classe
    *** 91 points - Robert Parker ***
    *** 92 Points - Wine journal ***

    91 points - Robert Parker
    92 Points - Wine journal

    "The best showing yet for a wine from this under-rated vintage, the dark garnet-coloured 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 flavours 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" Robert Parker, Wine Advocate 2000.
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    Price: £495.00
    Stock: 1 in Stock

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    Chateau Musar, 1988

    Gaston Hochar, Bekaar Valley, Lebanon

    The 1988 Château Musar is an exceptional vintage from this iconic Lebanese producer, known for its ability to craft wines that evolve beautifully over decades. The 1988 vintage benefits from Château Musar’s signature blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cinsault, and Carignan, showcasing their unique terroir and traditional winemaking approach.

    Vintage Overview
    1988 Bekaa Valley Vintage: A strong vintage with favorable growing conditions, producing wines of structure, elegance, and great aging potential. Château Musar excels in such vintages, delivering wines with a beautiful balance between ripe fruit, earthy complexity, and vibrant acidity.
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    Price: £195.00
    Stock: 3 in Stock

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    Chateau Musar, 1988

    Gaston Hochar, Bekaar Valley, Lebanon

    The 1988 Château Musar is an exceptional vintage from this iconic Lebanese producer, known for its ability to craft wines that evolve beautifully over decades. The 1988 vintage benefits from Château Musar’s signature blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cinsault, and Carignan, showcasing their unique terroir and traditional winemaking approach.

    Vintage Overview
    1988 Bekaa Valley Vintage: A strong vintage with favorable growing conditions, producing wines of structure, elegance, and great aging potential. Château Musar excels in such vintages, delivering wines with a beautiful balance between ripe fruit, earthy complexity, and vibrant acidity.
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    Price: £185.00
    Stock: 1 in Stock

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    Chateau Trotte Vielle, 1988

    St Emilion Premiere Grand cru Classe

    The Château Trotte Vieille 1988 is a classic wine from the Saint-Émilion appellation in Bordeaux, France. Known for its Premier Grand Cru Classé (B) status, Trotte Vieille consistently delivers wines that are elegant, complex, and reflective of its limestone terroir. The 1988 vintage is recognized as a structured and traditional Bordeaux year, producing wines with freshness, balance, and excellent aging potential.

    Wine Overview
    The 1988 Château Trotte Vieille is likely a blend typical of the estate:

    Cabernet Franc (dominant): Contributing structure, floral notes, and herbal nuances.
    Merlot: Adding softness, richness, and red fruit character.
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    Price: £79.95
    Stock: 4 in Stock

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    Chianti, 1988

    Ruffino - MAGNUM of 1,5 Liters

    Chianti, situated in Tuscany in central Italy, is home to probably the best-known and most iconic of all Italian wines. Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano are primarily made with Sangiovese grape whereas the Vernaccia grape is the basis of the white Vernaccia di San Gimignano.
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    Price: £149.00
    Stock: 6 in Stock

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    Madeira, 1988

    Barbeito Vinhos - Sercial - Frasqueira

    Winemaking:
    Grapes from various quality vineyards from Seixal. This Sercial 1988 is originated in grapes produced in the Seixal vineyards. It is the first wine of a series of bottling that pay tribute to Mr. Manuel Euge´nio as a way of enduring the long-term relationship between our families. In August 2017, 650 bottles have been filled, all individually numbered.

    Grape Varieties:
    Sercial

    Tasting Notes:
    Gold color with greenish highlights. Fresh and mineral bouquet, resin, smoked wood, hint of leather, lemon zest, and dried figs. Salty touch on a fine and elegant palate, balanced, with a fresh and pure acidity.
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    Price: £269.00
    Stock: 4 in Stock

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    Marsala, 1988

    Superiore - Vecchio Florio, Florio

    Marsala is one of the world's great fortified wines, made exclusively in and around the town of that name, in the far west of Sicily, southern Italy. Reviews: Light amber colour, gentle notes of dried fruit on the nose, sweetness well balanced with a slight tingle of mild acidity and alcohol. Long, soft aftertaste.
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    Price: £99.00
    Stock: 1 in Stock

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    Nebbiolo, 1988

    Cantine Prandi
    Clearance Offer | Was £99 | Now £65

    The Nebbiolo has a lovely earthy bouquet. The nose has cherries, dark cherries, tar and slight dried rose notes. Complex and layered. Nice acidity. Medium tannins still present. Cherries on the palate too. Nice finish. Great food wine. Nebbiolo is a fickle grape famed as much for its pale appearance as for its tannic character and produces some of the most perfumed and richly flavored wines. Though generally only medium-bodied, the wines possess rose and anise scented aromatics and deep flavors of cherry, orange peel and subtle green herb tones.
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    Price: £65.00
    Stock: 13 in Stock

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    Porta dos Cavaleiros, 1988

    Porta dos Cavaleiros, Dao

    Caves S. Joao, established in 1920, became a dominant force in Portuguese wine making in the early 20th century with their houses Porta dos Cavaleiros in Dao and Frei Joao in Bairrada. Given the shifting trends in consumer preferences, Bairrada and Dao fell to obscurity in the 1990s when critical influence drove the demand for bigger, extracted, warmer climate wines. As in all things, however, what comes around goes around! Sure enough, 20 years later savvy consumers and food-conscious sommeliers are looking for finesse and freshness and heading back to Bairrada and Dao. Wines that when young had a vegetal character,
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    Price: £69.00
    Stock: 116 in Stock

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    Quinta do Poco do Lobo, 1988

    Quinta Poço do Lobo - Cabernet, Bairrada

    Caves S. Joao, established in 1920, became a dominant force in Portuguese wine making in the early 20th century with their houses Porta dos Cavaleiros in Dao and Frei Joao in Bairrada. Given the shifting trends in consumer preferences, Bairrada and Dao fell to obscurity in the 1990s when critical influence drove the demand for bigger, extracted, warmer climate wines. As in all things, however, what comes around goes around! Sure enough, 20 years later savvy consumers and food-conscious sommeliers are looking for finesse and freshness and heading back to Bairrada and Dao. Wines that when young had a vegetal character,
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    Price: £69.00
    Stock: 118 in Stock

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    Taittinger, 1988

    Vintage Champagne Imai

    Amongst Champagne's luxury cuveés and super-premium labels, Taittinger's wines live on one extreme end of the style spectrum.
    While many top Champagnes can be quite difficult to approach in their youth, with laser-like focus and delineation, even austerity, Taittinger instead tends to be immediately open and welcoming. These are beautiful, delicious Champagnes, with bubbles lazily winding their way up to the surface, inviting you to take another sip.
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    Price: £385.00
    Stock: 2 in Stock

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    Vieux Chateau Certan, 1988

    Pomerol
    Good Provenance
    Stored at Wine society since original purchase
    Damaged Label Top shoulder - see photo

    91 points Vinous
    The 1988 Vieux Chateau Certan is a vintage that I have not tasted often, something I rue even more having been reacquainted with it. To be honest, for the first five minutes it felt overawed by the 1989. However, it soon gets its act together to deliver and gorgeous nose of black fruit, melted tar and cigar box, unashamedly classic in style, less sensual than the succeeding two vintages and yet extremely well defined. The palate is well balanced with fine tannin, perfectly judged acidity, tobacco and cedar dominating the second half and yet there remains more than enough freshness and length to urge you back for another sip.
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    Price: £165.00
    Stock: 1 in Stock

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    Vieux Chateau Certan, 1988

    Pomerol
    Good Provenance
    Stored at Wine society since original purchase
    Damaged Label - see photo

    91 points Vinous
    The 1988 Vieux Chateau Certan is a vintage that I have not tasted often, something I rue even more having been reacquainted with it. To be honest, for the first five minutes it felt overawed by the 1989. However, it soon gets its act together to deliver and gorgeous nose of black fruit, melted tar and cigar box, unashamedly classic in style, less sensual than the succeeding two vintages and yet extremely well defined. The palate is well balanced with fine tannin, perfectly judged acidity, tobacco and cedar dominating the second half and yet there remains more than enough freshness and length to urge you back for another sip.
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    Price: £170.00
    Stock: 1 in Stock

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    Vieux Chateau Certan, 1988

    Pomerol
    Good Provenance
    Stored at Wine society since original purchase

    91 points Vinous
    The 1988 Vieux Chateau Certan is a vintage that I have not tasted often, something I rue even more having been reacquainted with it. To be honest, for the first five minutes it felt overawed by the 1989. However, it soon gets its act together to deliver and gorgeous nose of black fruit, melted tar and cigar box, unashamedly classic in style, less sensual than the succeeding two vintages and yet extremely well defined. The palate is well balanced with fine tannin, perfectly judged acidity, tobacco and cedar dominating the second half and yet there remains more than enough freshness and length to urge you back for another sip.
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    Price: £175.00
    Stock: Out of Stock

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    Vouvray, 1988

    Domaine Huet Vouvray Clos du Bourg Moelleux

    Domain Huet is one of the top producers of this fabulous sweet wine. The 1988 displays a brilliantly intense and very aromatic, quite floral, Gewurztraminer-like bouquet of ripe fruits (white fleshed stone fruits, apricots, quince confiture), rose petals, spicy and some stony flavors; it shows up very precise and complex and much younger than you might expect from a 30+ year old Chenin. Rich, intense, fresh, powerful and just slightly sweet on the palate due to the vibrant acidity and the tight and grippy tannins, this very mineral Chenin reveals a great tension and a compact, persistent and slightly drying finish, but a lingering salinity.
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    Price: £99.00
    Stock: Out of Stock

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