12 bottles per lot
Details
Château Lafite-Rothschild--Vintage 1988
Pauillac, 1er cru classé. Château-bottled
Vintage note: The first of a trio of very good vintages and the penultimate vintage of a more than interesting decade. Rather like the '86s, with which, at one time, they seemed to be level pegging, I now think that the '88s, initially somewhat overrated, are now just about coming into their own as serious long-term clarets
Climatically, for this has the greatest influence on quality and quantity, the spring of 1988 was more than usually wet, necessitating much spraying; the later flowering conditions were uneven. The summer, from July to September, was drier than usual, monthly temperatures being average. The grapes were ripe and thick-skinned, resulting in deep colours and high tannins following a late harvest in satisfactory conditions.
My conclusion is that 1988 is a very good vintage and currently undervaluedl; but in the end, time and tannin will be jostling for supremacy. **** Michael Broadbent, Vintage Wine
12 bottles per lot
Pauillac, 1er cru classé. Château-bottled
Vintage note: The first of a trio of very good vintages and the penultimate vintage of a more than interesting decade. Rather like the '86s, with which, at one time, they seemed to be level pegging, I now think that the '88s, initially somewhat overrated, are now just about coming into their own as serious long-term clarets
Climatically, for this has the greatest influence on quality and quantity, the spring of 1988 was more than usually wet, necessitating much spraying; the later flowering conditions were uneven. The summer, from July to September, was drier than usual, monthly temperatures being average. The grapes were ripe and thick-skinned, resulting in deep colours and high tannins following a late harvest in satisfactory conditions.
My conclusion is that 1988 is a very good vintage and currently undervaluedl; but in the end, time and tannin will be jostling for supremacy. **** Michael Broadbent, Vintage Wine
12 bottles per lot
Special notice
(Wine sales only). Christie's charges a Buyer's premium calculated at 17.850% of the hammer price for each lot with a value up to €150,000. If the hammer price of a lot exceeds €150,000 then the premium for the lot is calculated at 17.850% of the first €150,000 plus 11.9% of any amount in excess of €150,000. Buyer's Premium is calculated on this basis for each lot individually.