1988 Chateau Haut-Marbuzet, Saint-Estephe - Half Bottle

Haut-Marbuzet has long sat outside the Saint-Estèphe norm. In the 1980s, Henri Duboscq pushed a riper, more oak-influenced style—unusual for a region better known for structure than generosity.

That approach matters in 1988. A cooler, more tannic vintage, many wines from the Médoc have remained firm. Here, the added richness and élevage have carried the wine further, softening the edges with time.

Now fully mature—especially in half bottle—it shows leather, cedar, and dried fruit, with the structure resolved. A more open, accessible take on a traditionally strict vintage.