I purchased this wine in February 2006 for $40 at the Del Mar Wine Company.  It seemed like a pretty good deal for well aged Bordeaux.  The wine seemed to be in good condition, with a high fill and no signs of seepage.  1988 was a decent (but not outstanding) year in Bordeaux.  Cantemerle was a 5th growth in the 1855 Bordeaux classification.

The wine was very good, but the fruit was starting to fade.  The wine had a pleasant bouquet of blueberry, saddle leather, and pencil shavings.  The fruit flavors were still present on the palate, but starting to fade.  The finish was smooth as silk.  The tannins had softened to almost non-existant.  This was a very smooth, mellow wine.  I wish I had drank it 3 or 4 years ago, when it was probably at its peak.  It still drinks nicely, but it is a soft wine.  Although this wine could serve as a reasonalbe introduction to well aged Bordeaux at a price point that is not prohibitive, the somewhat faded flavors are such that the impression given will not do justice to Bordeaux at its prime.  For those unfamiliar with this chateau, it is o.k., but certainly not one of the elite names in Bordeaux.

If you have this in your cellar, it's time to drink up!  In recent months, I have also had the 1983 and 1989, both of which seemed to have held onto their fruit longer than this 1988.

3.5 stars

 

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