1988 Vintage: General Appreciation
With the exception of 1985, 1988 was the best overall vintage of the decade. Weather conditions were in the main ideal and even excellent at the time of harvest making it a highly successful vintage. Grapes were ripe and the juice concentrated and perhaps one slight issue at the time was the higher level of tannins and the feeling that the wines may be a touch austere. In general, time has shown us that the richness and concentration of fruit has shone through with the best wines but selection is critical here.
Red Wines
The reds have shown right from the start tremendous vigour and even now the best wines are delicious with rich, vibrant fruits that are well-balanced and the tannins that many were concerned about have melted beautifully into the wine.
White Wines
The whites were always more uneven and though at the top end there were some Réasonable wines, they never had the same quality as the reds. Only the rare few could have survived with most being well past their best

Best Red Wines of the Vintage

Red Wines of the Vintage

Gevrey Chambertin: Chambertin (Rousseau), Chambertin Clos de Bèze (Bruno Clair),Chambertin Clos de Bèze (Jadot), Chambertin Clos de Bèze (Rousseau), Charmes Chambertin (Dujac), Gevrey Chambertin Clos Saint Jacques (Rousseau), Griotte Chambertin (Ponsot), Latricières Chambertin (Drouhin), Mazy Chambertin (Rousseau), Ruchottes Chambertin (Georges Mugneret), Ruchottes (Christophe Roumier), Ruchottes Chambertin Clos des Ruchottes (Rousseau)

Morey Saint Denis: Clos de la Roche (Dujac), Clos de la Roche (Rousseau), Clos Saint Denis (Dujac), Clos Saint Denis (Ponsot), Clos de Tart (Mommessin)

Chambolle Musigny: Bonnes Mares (Drouhin), Bonnes Mares (Dujac), Bonnes Mares (Jadot), Bonnes Mars (Roumier), Bonnes Mares (Vogüé), Chambolle Musigny Les Amoureuses (Drouhin), Chambolle Musigny Les Amoureuses (Vogüé),

Vosne Romanée: Échezeaux (Dujac), Grands Échezeaux (Drouhin), Grands Échezeaux (Engel),Grands Échezeaux (DRC), Richebourg (Grivot), Richebourg (Jean Gros),Richebourg (Domaine Leroy), Richebourg (DRC), La Tâche (DRC), Romanée Saint Vivant (Arnoux), Romanée Saint Vivant (Leroy), Vosne Romanée Les Beaux Monts (Domaine Leroy), Vosne Romanée Clos des Réas (Jean Gros),Vosne Romanée Les Suchots (Grivot),

Nuits Saint Georges: Saint Georges Les Boudots (Domaine Leroy), Nuits Saint Georges Les Boudots (Meo Camuzet), Nuits Saint Georges Les Vaucrains (Gouges), Nuits Saint Georges Les Vaucrains (Chevillon)

Aloxe: Corton Clos des Cortons (Faiveley)

Pommard: Pommard Clos des Epeneaux (Comte Armand), Pommard Grands Clos des Epenots (de Courcel), Pommard Les Rugiens (de Montille)

Volnay: Volnay Clos de la Bousse d’Or (Pousse d’Or), Volnay Les Caillerets 60 Ouvrées (Pousse d’Or), Volnay Clos des Chenes (Michel Lafarge), Volnay Les  Mitans (de Montille),  Volnay Taillpieds (Marquis d’Angerville), Volnay Taillepieds (de Montille)

Best White Wines of the Vintage

White Wines of the Vintage
Puligny Montrachet: Batard Montrachet (Domaine Leflaive), Bienvenues Batard Montrachet (Ramonet), Chevalier Montrachet (Domaine Leflaive), Montrachet (Marquis de Laguiche/Drouhin)Chassagne Montrachet: Montrachet (Ramonet)