This lot is comprised of 1 bottle(s) of 1988 Chateau Margaux LARGE FORMAT=PICKUP ONLY - 6L. Estimate for this lot is between $6000 - $8500 with a reserve of $4500. The wine in this lot belongs to collection 11807.
Condition
Please notice the following conditions in this lot - Base of Neck and Stained and Scuffed Label on the bottle of 1988 Chateau Margaux. Due to its oversized nature, this lot is available for local pickup (Calgary or Toronto) or palletized freight shipping only. Please note that all shipping arrangements and costs are the responsibility of the buyer. Please email for more information.
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This consignor’s fascination with wine began with a deep appreciation for the history, craft, and regional diversity of the world's great producers. Over time, that curiosity turned into collecting exceptional bottles built to age. Built over several years, his collection was assembled gradually with an emphasis on provenance, careful selection, and long-term cellaring rather than immediate consumption. The majority of the cellar was acquired through Iron Gate Auctions, supplemented by select purchases from provincial boards—including the LCBO, BCL, and AGLC—and acquisitions made while traveling. Once acquired, the wines were kept in dedicated, temperature-controlled storage—safely protected from light and vibration—where they remained untouched until consignment to ensure optimal condition.
1988 Chateau Margaux from this lot has the following scores - Wine Spectator 95 points, Gary Vaynerchuk - Wine Library TV 93 points. This is the tasting note for 1988 Chateau Margaux from Robert Parker - The 1988 Chateau Margaux is a wine that was always overshadowed by the succeeding pair of vintages and like many 1988s, appeared rather conservative and lacked flair. However, I was gobsmacked by the performance of this wine at 28 years of age. Deep and clean in color, the bouquet is quintessentially Chateau Margaux with blackberry, potpourri, cedar and violets. It has wonderful clarity. The palate is medium-bodied, fresh as a daisy on the entry with a killer line of acidity that offsets those vibrant black and red fruits. There is energy here, vivacity, as if this Chateau Margaux suddenly realized its true potential after all these years. While it does not possess the length of the 1989 or 1990, there is such pleasure bound into this wine that you care little about that. Maybe I underestimated this wine for many years or perhaps it is a simple case of a late bloomer. While the 1988 might not belong in the top echelons of releases from this First Growth, it might be considered the undiscovered gem of that prosperous decade for the chateau..