The best 88 Champagnes from 1988 Part 3/3 Prestige Cuvees from Magnum

Part 3 of 3
Prestige Cuvees from Magnum, not blind

• NV Krug Champagne Brut Grande Cuvée 93 Points

  France, Champagne

  2nd Generation, Base 88, oldest wine 1966, not blind
  
  This was not the best bottle of a second generation GC. Missing length, deepness, fruit and tertiary aromas like dried fruits and roasted aromas. No TCA, not oxidized. The weakest old grande cuvee. I had. 92-93

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CdC winner, Noble Cuvee big surprise, Salon reluctant, maybe too young

• 1988 Ruinart Champagne Dom Ruinart Blanc de Blancs 95 Points

  France, Champagne

  Magnum, not blind
  Colourwise the darkest one. In palate some citrus zest und subtle nuts. In the beginning atouch too alcoholic in the late palate but after 20 minutes more balanced, still the strongest one in this flight. 94-95

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• 1988 Taittinger Champagne Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut 98 Points

  France, Champagne

  Magnum, not blindly
  Nosewiese it reminds me to an old dry Riesling. Not the typical roasted nuts, vanilla and toast notes. Blindly not detectable. Later some yuzu and tea leaves. Still dominated from the primary notes. Incredible concentration and in this bottle size at least 20 more years ahead. The winner in this huge flight. 98

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• 1988 Salon Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut 95 Points

  France, Champagne

  Magnum, not blindly
  
  Orange peel, tangerine, ultra fresh but I missed the Salon typical precision and concentration. Too reluctant and the finish was too short. Maybe too Young, after half hour still not singing. 95+?

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• 1988 Lanson Champagne Noble Cuvée de Lanson Brut 96 Points

  France, Champagne

  1/1, not blindly, bottle was directly from the maison
  
  Toast, Brioche, lime. Very precision and pure in the finish. Very elegant and positively reluctant. Really suprised. My number two in this flight. At his Peak. 96

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A phantastic Belle Epoque and a potential 100 points wine from WC in Jeroboam

• 1988 Pommery Champagne Cuvée Louise Brut 94 Points

  France, Champagne

  From Magnum, not blind
  
  As always in the nose reluctant and elegant, peel of lime. The finish is a little bit bitter but precise. 94

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• 1988 Piper-Heidsieck Champagne Cuvée Rare 94 Points

  France, Champagne

  1/1, not blindly
  
  Not so spicy as usual and the roasted Aromas are in the background. Fresh baken bread, orange peel. After time getting more massive and concentrated. 94

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• 1988 Perrier-Jouët Champagne Belle Epoque 98 Points

  France, Champagne

  From Magnum, not blind
  
  Ultra Young, yeast, bread crust, green apple, reductive, great refreshing acidity, Saline, silky Long finish. and the ened some yellow peach. The winner of the flight. 98

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• 1988 Pol Roger Champagne Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill 98 Points

  France, Champagne

  From Jero, not blindly
  
  White peach, Brioche and finely burned caramell. Very concentrated and dense. Great acidity structure and again from this bottle size ages too Young. Still a Baby. Sublime champagne 98(100)

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2 great DP's and a weak CdM

• 1988 Moët & Chandon Champagne Cuvée Dom Pérignon 98 Points

  France, Champagne

  From Magnum, not blind
  
  Toast and oyster Shell. This is DP in perfection. Everything is there where you need it. At his peak. Compared to the P3 at the moment at the same level but in 5 years the P3 will overtake the regular degorgement I guess. 98

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• 1988 Krug Champagne Clos du Mesnil Flawed

  France, Champagne

  Regular bottle, not blind
  Unfortunately a bit oxidized, missing depth, length and concentration

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• 1988 Dom Pérignon Champagne P3 98 Points

  France, Champagne

  From Magnum, not blind
  
  Huge champagne, still unbelievable fresh. Citrus dominated, a bit toast and sea breeze but in the background. At the moment I would prefer the regular disgorgement from Magnum because of the tertiary notes but in a few years it will change. For many drinkers the wine of the night 98(99)

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Krug reigns

• 1988 Krug Champagne Vintage Brut 98 Points

  France, Champagne

  Magnum, not blind
  
  Typical Krug perfume, bread crust, biscuit, fig and date, but not dried, deep, concentrated, phantastic length and freshness in spite of the light oxidative style. 98(99)

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• 1988 Henriot Champagne Cuvée des Enchanteleurs Brut Flawed

  France, Champagne

  Magnum, not blind
  
  not a perfect bottle, no rating

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• 1988 Louis Roederer Champagne Cristal Brut 97 Points

  France, Champagne

  Magnum, not blind
  
  Much fresher than the regular bottle 5 month ago, but in the beginning very powerful, not much toffee and coffee as usual. After 20 min more reluctant and elegant as expected. a touch weaker than the Krug. 97

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• 1988 Laurent-Perrier Champagne Cuvée Grand Siècle 93 Points

  France, Champagne

  Regular bottle, not blind
  
  Compared to the other opponents in this flight it feels a bit tired and thin but after time getting more balanced. A bit over his peak. 93

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A controversy wine: VVF for me one of the 2 WOTN

• 1988 Deutz Champagne Cuvée William Deutz 96 Points

  France, Champagne

  Regular bottle, not blind
  
  Extremely fresh, elegant, no aging signs, some almonds, nicelz balanced, at his peak. 96

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• 1988 Philipponnat Champagne Brut Clos des Goisses 92 Points

  France, Champagne

  Magnum, not blind
  
  A touch overripe, missing length and concentration, minimal fruit and tertiary aromas. The demi Magnum 3 month ago was much fresher and denser. For me no TCA. 92

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• 1988 Bollinger Champagne Vieilles Vignes Françaises 99 Points

  France, Champagne

  Regular bottle, not blind
  
  For me WOTN. Very controverse wine at the table. It was the wine from nose and palate with the most character. For many maybe too much and for some people oxidized. Bitter chocolate, cigarbox, tobacco leaves, cognac, licorice. In the mouth more elegant and fresher than the nose would expect. It reminds me when you close your eyes to a red Bordeaux. Fantastic. 99

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DP Land

• 1988 Moët & Chandon Champagne Cuvée Dom Pérignon Rosé 96 Points

  France, Champagne

  Magnum, not blind, reg. disgorgement
  
  Very balanced with some raspberry notes, brioche. Still good acidty structure. elegant with good length. 96

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• 1988 Ruinart Champagne Dom Ruinart Brut Rosé 95 Points

  France, Champagne

  Magnum, not blind
  
  Very generous, winey, well balanced, missing a bit acidity. Red berries and some biscuit notes. 95

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• 1988 Perrier-Jouët Champagne Brut Rosé Belle Epoque 93 Points

  France, Champagne

  Magnum, not blind
  
  Strawberry jam but missing more bubbles and acidity. 93

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• 1988 Heidsieck & Co. Monopole Champagne Diamant Rosé 91 Points

  France, Champagne

  Regular bottle, not blind
  
  In some waz broad and not precise in the finish. Brioche, red berries and milk chocolate. 91

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• 1988 Dom Pérignon Champagne Rosé P3 96 Points

  France, Champagne

  Magnum, not blind
  
  The same with blanc DP. At the moment too fresh and young. Brilliantly refreshing but the regular disgorgement is more complex and interesting in my opinion. 96

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A perfect wine Cristal Rose

• 1988 Louis Roederer Champagne Cristal Brut Rosé 99 Points

  France, Champagne

  Regular bottle, not blind
  
  The quintessence of Rose and champagne. Elegance, purity and concentration. Still too young. With the VVF my WOTN.It is interesting because stylewise completely different. 99

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• 1988 Laurent-Perrier Champagne Grande Cuvée Rosé Alexandra 94 Points

  France, Champagne

  Regular bottle, not blind
  
  Still vibrating acidity, forrest strawberries, pure finish. 94

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• 1988 Veuve Clicquot Champagne Brut Rosé La Grande Dame 95 Points

  France, Champagne

  Magnum, not blind
  
  Very vividly like freshly picked strawberries, tastes like a young wine, maybe the fruit is a touch too superficial. 95

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• 1988 Billecart-Salmon Champagne Cuvée Elisabeth Salmon 93 Points

  France, Champagne

  Regular bottle, not blind
  
  Winey, strawberry, raspberry, toast, biscuit, still fresh and with a nice acidity but missing the elegance. 93

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• 1988 Veuve Clicquot Champagne Brut La Grande Dame 94 Points

  France, Champagne

  Magnum, not blind
  
  Ultra fresh, citrus and mint chocolate but the late palte felt a little bit too short. 94

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• 1988 Billecart-Salmon Champagne Cuvée Nicolas François Billecart 93 Points

  France, Champagne

  Regular bottle, not blind
  
  Not so fresh in the beginning. It looks and taste like a Rose. With time more elegant and missing length and depth. 93

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An amazing event. Great food again. 8 different dishes compared to Lunch.

Interesting that two regular bottles were my top 2 (VVF and Cristal Rose) wines but I think maybe it is not so surprising because the vintage is so generous and long living that the 1/1 now reach their peak while the Magnums are still too young and fresh as you can see with DP P3, Comtes de Champagnes and Krug.

A big positive surprise was Lanson's Noble Cuvee (1/1) and Belle Epoque
Magnum.

Unfortunately the Clos du Mesnil was not from a pristine bottle.

All 88's were drinkable. A perfect vintage. From well stored bottles the regular ones are reaching their peak. From Magnums you have plenty time. At least 10-15 more years.

Phantastic and thanks a lot Peter Crawford for the unique epiphany.