Vintages in Burgundy – The Good, The Bad, & Who Made the Best Wines: 1988

Everyone talks about the vintages that produced the finest wines, and why wouldn’t they? Delicious and quite often worthy of deep-time in a cellar, they are the wines enjoyed and spoken of throughout the decades. Then there are the forgotten years, the vintages that saw terrible weather at the worst times, whose wines were all but written off as times passed. The worst years can still produce fantastic wines, when produced by houses that understand how to deal with what their dealt, and come out shining regardless of the conditions.

This series will be dealing with the vintages in Burgundy of fame, and infamy, with the best producers for that year – enjoy!

1988 began with a below-average winter, with early spring being warm & dry with early budding, late spring to early summer was mild, with above-average rain. July brought back ideal weather - warm & dry, with just enough rainfall. These conditions continued into the fall, with a late harvest throughout October.

Overall – pinot noir crops were significantly smaller than Chardonnay, Red wines are more classic and austere, with a better agability than expected. White wines with their large harvest, both in crop size and grape, led to a distinct lack of concentration, leaving all but the best houses with wines that tapered off quickly, with very few still drinkable.

Red wines are noticeably better out of Côte de Nuits, white wines had their best representation out of Corton-Charlemagne. The producers to keep an eye out for in reds include Marquis d’Angerville, Robert Ampeau, Denis Bachelet, Drouhin, Faiveley, Robert Groffier, Jadot, Henri Jayer, Michel Lafarge, Pousse d’Or, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, Joseph Roty, Georges Roumier, Armand Rousseau, and Thomas-Moillard. White labels having their best from Blain-Gagnard, Bonneau du Martray, Michel Colin-Deléger, Drouhin (Le Montrachet, Marquis de Laguiche), Olivier Leflaive Frères (for the Criots), Ramonet, and Sauzet.

Drinking a fine wine from Burgundy is always something special, make sure you are drinking them at the proper temperature. For whites, 52° is best, with reds rising up a few digits at 56°, and as always, don’t forget the Avintage DIVA line of wine refrigeration cabinets for all your wine storage needs. For more information, visit us at www.frenchcornercellars.com, or call at +1 (833) 839-4637.