Birthday Dinner with Wines from 1988 and 1958 for a Person of Unknown Age

Well, we had a rough idea, so I just took a wild guess and selected wines from these 2 vintages. We were fortunate that only the old Rioja let us down. Everything else was in splendid shape, as was the person who inspired this memorable event.

• 1988 Lanson Champagne Brut Vintage Collection

  France, Champagne

  Magnum. Light golden, transient bubbles. Full, dry, caramel, slight nuttiness, great acidity and minerality. Wonderful mature Champagne.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 1988 Henriot Champagne Brut Millésimé Rosé

  France, Champagne

  Magnum. Deep yellow with pink tinge. A burst of effervescence when first opened. Dried strawberry aromas. Moderate dosage, round, quite amazing red fruit for a 30 year old wine. Very enjoyable.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 1958 Giacomo Borgogno & Figli Barolo Riserva

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  Pale light red. Haunting, ethereal aromas of perfume and beautifully preserved light red fruit. This was in incredible shape. Light weight but sweet red fruit and perfect balance with a long, fading finish. What a performance at age 60! Just gorgeous and the essence of ethereal aged Nebbiolo.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 1958 Martinez Lacuesta Rioja Crianza Flawed

  Spain, La Rioja, Rioja

  Healthy, light ruby. Unhealthy rising musty cardboard trumped the obvious fruit and balsam wood that were still there. Corked.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 1988 Château Léoville Barton

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien

  Medium ruby without fading. Classic cedar and graphite. Medium weight, lovely weight and texture, strong black fruit, some remnant tannin. Superior to the Ducru tasted simultaneously, and capable of holding for another decade. Classic wine, understated, immensely satisfying.

  Post a Comment / 3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 1988 Château Ducru-Beaucaillou

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien

  A half shade lighter than the Léoville Barton but thinner, greener, and less textural than that wine. Good but not nearly as good as its St. Julien stablemate, and pretty clearly on the decline.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 1988 Château de Fargues

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

  Golden. Gorgeous, unctuous but vibrant apricot with superb verve and acidity. Almost as elegant as Barsac. Another decade of life for sure.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 1988 D'Oliveiras Madeira Terrantez

  Portugal, Madeira

  Deep amber. Full bodied, only moderately sweet, figs, great acidity and saltiness. This has ages to go.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue