Chateau Canon La Gaffeliere 1988

JEB DUNNUCK: "Tasted at the château, the 1988 Château Canon-La-Gaffelière is a brilliant wine that’s drinking at point today, with no upside. Still healthy ruby hued with just a touch of bricking, it has medium-bodied aromas and flavors of ripe currants, tobacco leaf, leather, and rose petals. With beautiful complexity and elegance, as well as resolved tannins, it’s going to shine on the dinner table over the coming decade."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "A very strong effort, and the first of a marvelous trilogy of wines from Canon-La-Gaffeliere, this dark plum/ruby-colored wine has a terrifically perfumed nose of smoked meats, jammy cherries and black currants, toast, roasted Provencal herbs, coffee, and a hint of chocolate. The wine is full-bodied, very rich and concentrated, with a bit more density and structure than the 1989. It is a wine that should continue to age beautifully even though it has hit its plateau of drinkability. Anticipated maturity: Now-2008. Last tasted, 10/02."

WINE SPECTATOR: "Shows pretty tobacco, prune and mushroom aromas that follow through to a medium body, with soft, round tannins and a fresh finish. Turns to milk chocolate and berries. Very ready."