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Tasting notes
The 1988 Musigny Vieilles Vignes Grand Cru from Mugnier, now at almost 30 years of age, has a slight herbaceousness on the nose, a leitmotif of the 1988 vintage. There are touches of black fruit, damp earth and woodland aromas, although it lacked a little cohesion. The palate is medium-bodied and finely balanced, a little raw at first, appealing in terms of freshness but lacking substance on the finish. This was a year that favored his neighbor Christophe Roumier. This pales in comparison to recent vintages, although it did meliorate a little in the glass. But the bottom line is that it's not going to go anywhere. Tasted March 2017.
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Average Score
Jancis Robinson MW
Neal Martin, Wine Advocate
More reviews and scores
Stinky, this smelt almost rotten at first. I fared the worst for so many 1988 red burgundies are hard, ungenerous and sour. But this wine proceeded to clean itself up in the glass and develop the most wonderful intensity of fully mature fruit flavour plus delicacy. Filigree texture. It was actually relatively Llghtish body but spread magnificently across the palate. Some bitter cherry fruit here too (as well as on the Amoureuses 1999 de Vog tasted alongside). Bravo, Fred, despite your recent protestations that no-one keeps your wines for very long. (JR)