Iodine aromas, with tobacco, cedar and sea shells, and earth and ripe fruit underneath. Full-bodied, with slightly chewy tannins and a vanilla, berry and cherry aftertaste. Big and powerful still. I would give it a little more time to mellow. But an impressive wine for the vintage.—'88/'98 Bordeaux blind retrospective (2008). Best after 2010. -JS

A very concentrated, sweet, yet at the same time well-delineated 1988 that has a dark plum/garnet color with some lightening at the edge, this rather muscular, earthy wine shows notes of creosote, scorched earth, deep, sweet black cherries, coffee, and a hint of chocolate. It is a chewy, dense wine that will never be the most harmonious La Mission, but it is mouth-filling and substantial. Anticipated maturity: Now-2014. Last tasted, 9/02.