1988 vintage guide for Red Rhone

keep

The best wines have been slow to develop and will have a long life

4/5

Weather Conditions

Flowering was two weeks earlier than 1987 in the north, although hail and other problems reduced the size of the crop, especially in Côte Rotie. A warm summer delivered wonderfully rich ripe grapes, with a firm tannic structure.

Best Appellations

The best wines have been slow to develop and will have a long life. Despite some outbreaks of mildew in the south, the wines were excellent, with good body and structure. (Powerful and unusually long-lived wines from Condrieu)

Best Producers

Excellent, harmonious Cote Rotie from Barge, Guigal and Jasmin. Chave and Guigal produced terrific, ageworthy Hermitage.

Very good Chateauneuf (Henri Bonneau, La Gardine, Mont-Olivet, Rayas, Vieux Telegraphe)