1988

Antinori Chianti Classico Pèppoli +

Antinori

1985

24

16

92

Concentrated and beautifully formed, with sharply focused cherry, blackberr y and plum flavors, firm structure, long and ripe. Needs a year in the cell ar to tame the power. —

1988

Bonny Doon Pinot Noir Oregon Bethel Heights Vineyard +

Bonny Doon

1985

29

18

90

Very pretty aromas and flavors, featuring violet, blackberry and a touch of lime, crisp balance, long and intense. Very tannic, but the rest is lovely . —

1988

René & Vincent Dauvissat Chablis Les Clos +

René & Vincent Dauvissat

1986

19

40

95

Toasty and concentrated with rich pear, apple, spice and toasty spice flavo rs that explode on the palate. It's tart and vibrant with depth, complexity and a long full flinty finish that says Chablis. —

1988

Château Lynch Bages Pauillac +

Château Lynch Bages

1985

1

37

97

Rich and massively concentrated, with layers of plum, anise, black cherry and tobacco, firm acidity and structure and thick, chewy, balanced tannins. Beautiful, elegant and stylish. One of the greatest Lynch Bages ever made; will improve with five or more years in the cellar. —

1988

B.R. Cohn Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma Valley Olive Hill Vineyard +

B.R. Cohn

1985

31

16

94

Gorgeous fruit, rich, supple, satiny with beautiful structure, amazing intensity and depth, rich cassis, butter, toasty oak and spicy flavors, plenty of tannin, but impeccibly balanced. Distinct and exciting. Drink 1994 to 2000. —

1988

Château Latour Pauillac +

Château Latour

1985

35

90

97

A majestic wine, a bit hard and lean, with strong, firm tannins and a tight core of ripe cherry, currant and cassis flavors underneath that begin to unfold on the palate. A great concentration of fruit and tannins with a measure of elegance and finesse. All the greatness you expect. —

1988

Château Rieussec Sauternes +

Château Rieussec

1983

69

52

94

Nectar-like if a bit on the sweet side, impressively complex, concentrated and focused. Deep gold, big, sweet and rich, with gobs of concentrated fig, brown sugar, butterscotch and oak flavor. A knockout. —

1988

Domaine de la Romanée-Conti La Tâche +

Domaine de la Romanée-Conti

1985

37

225

98

Impressive concentration and depth, the kind of intense flavor, firm tannin, grace and harmony that assures a great wine in 10 to12 years. Flavors are so complex and harmonious that it s hard to pick out the individual elements, but you can find plum, vanilla, lilac and nutmeg. —

1988

Daniel Rion & Fils Vosne-Romanée Les Beaux-Monts +

Daniel Rion & Fils

1985

49

55

95

Tightly focused and concentrated, sending a current of flavor right down th pepper and vanilla, elegant and firm, gaining complexity on the finish. Even at the price, it s a deal. —

1988

Penfolds Grange Hermitage South Australia Bin 95 +

Penfolds

1981

26

49

93

A masterpiece, loaded with rich, smoky, plum, bacon, herbs and anise flavors woven together in a stylish packege, offering depth, complexity and impeccible balance, finishing with chocolate vanilla. Has intensity for decades. —

1988

Kendall-Jackson Cabernet Sauvignon California Proprietor's Reserve +

Kendall-Jackson

1985

41

20

95

Sleek and elegant with an overlay of toasty French oak, layers of spice, currant, cassis and cherry flavors that are very attractive, beautifully balanced, supple tannins and a long, satisfying finish. Best after 1992. —

1988

Bodegas Alejandro Fernandez Ribera del Duero Pesquera Janus Reserva +

Bodegas Alejandro Fernandez

1982

27

75

94

Deep, rich, ripe and powerful, with slightly earthy-herbal plum and cherry flavors, big and complex, tannic, with a touch of anise on the finish. Complex and fascinating. It will need a good 5-10 years to shed its tannin, but the concentration is superb. —

1988

A. Rafanelli Zinfandel Dry Creek Valley +

A. Rafanelli

1986

78

7

91

Very firm and concentrated and focused, amazingly layered with blackberry, cassis and plum fruit, cedary overtones from spicy oak and a bracing touch of acidity and tannin to wrap it up and keep it from showing everything it has for 2-3 years. —

1988

Pierre Gelin Gevrey-Chambertin +

Pierre Gelin

1985

60

25

93

Firm and tannic, with concentrated raspberry, black cherry and red currant fruit, overtones of sweet oak and flowers, a many-faceted wine with mouthwa tering flavors, structure and texture. A lot of Burgundy for the price. —

1988

Torres Penedès White Milmanda +

Torres

1987

25

35

94

Stunning wine, beautifully balanced, smoothly knit, flavorful and long. It does a great impersonation of a Chevalier-Montrachet, with all the spice, toast and honey around a solid core of pear fruit. Will it age like it? Who knows, but it's pro. —

1988

Louis Jadot Nuits-St.-Georges Clos des Corvées +

Louis Jadot

1985

42

46

96

Big, rich and deep, with incredible balance and concentration of ripe plum- cherry fruit and mahogany wood, velvety texture, sweet toast tea leaf on th e finish. Couldn't ask for better balance or length. —

1988

Castellare di Castellina I Sodi di San Niccolò +

Castellare di Castellina

1985

6

25

96

Loaded with rich, ripe, spicy, plummy fruit, hints of violet and vanilla, beautifully shaped and framed with oak. Smooth and elegant, but containing e nough soft tannin to carry it for years. One of the greatest of the new Italian reds. —

1988

Kendall-Jackson Merlot Alexander Valley +

Kendall-Jackson

1986

57

16

93

Effusively fruity, bursting with cherry aroma and flavor, complicated by other berries and the right touch of oak, beautifully structured, firm, tight and long. Needs time to lose the tannic toughness on the finish. Best after 1991. —

1988

Pétrus Pomerol +

Pétrus

1985

12

160

98

A massive concentration of rich, intense plum, cherry, spice, smoke and cho colate flavors that are wrapped in thick, rich tannins and cedary oak. It g ains intensity and vibrancy on the palate, a powerful wine with a distinct personality that will stand 20 years of cellaring- and then some. A great Petrus. —

1988

Château Climens Barsac +

Château Climens

1983

50

50

95

Beautifully crafted, plump, very long and complex. Medium gold, lush and si lky, with lemon, fig, apricot, pear, and a particualrly elegant balance of acidity, fruit and wood. Power and finesse in the same package. Drink now through 2000. —