Chateau Petrus ‘ Petrus ‘1988 0,75L

ROBERT PARKER ” The 1988 tastes tannic and backward. I cannot emphasize enough how difficult this wine is to taste young. Despite the nearly 100% Merlot content, the style aimed for by the proprietors is to produce a wine that will outlive anything in the Medoc. That may not sit well with those who desire a sumptuous Petrus to drink in the first ten to fifteen years of life. The 1988 is the most concentrated wine in what is a very good vintage for Pomerol. It is dark ruby/purple, with a thickness to the color that suggests a high glycerin content. The muted nose offers intense smells of jammy black fruits intermingled with aromas of coconut, tea, super-ripe oranges, and some vanillin oakiness. This firmly structured, full-bodied, massive Petrus is super-charged with both extract and tannin. It will need at least 8-10 years of cellaring. Christian Moueix continues to rate it the third-best Petrus of the decade, preferring it to all except 1989 and 1982. Anticipated maturity: 2002-2030. Last tasted, 5/93. “