Vinous - Score: 85 (2018 May)

The 1988 Montrose is a blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc picked between 26 September and 9 October. I was not taken with this wine when I tasted it as part of my Montrose vertical series in 2016. A couple of years later, the nose still does not impress nearly as much as the following two vintages, remaining rather flat and static, still with touches of oxtail and dried blood infusing the fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with light tannin, moderate depth, missing the structure both for a Montrose and considering the vintage. It is a disappointing Montrose especially when the team oversaw one of the wines of the decade twelve months later. Tasted at the château.