Q&A: Wine & Food Questions
1988 Chateau Mouton Rothschild
I have an unopened case in crate of 1988 Chateau Mouton Rothschild that was a birth gift for my youngest son. Any ideas on value? We keep pondering what to do with it, when to open it, or should we sell it? It has been in my wine cellar since release. Thank you.
Answer From Expert Roger C. Bohmrich, MW
1988 Mouton is currently available in the US from many retailers at $300 to $500 per bottle. Since you have 12 bottles in the original wood case - which enhances value - you could approach an auction house. If interested, they will certainly open the case to inspect the bottles and inquire about storage conditions. Low fills or signs of leakage will reduce value significantly. 1988 Left Bank Bordeaux are marked by a certain severity, with pronounced acidity and tannin when the wines were young; most have kept that austere personality as they have aged in bottle. The top examples - of which Mouton is one - have enough concentration to balance the structure, and the best will continue to evolve. As to whether you should keep or sell the wine, I can't honestly answer that question for you since this wine has emotional value that cannot be measured. I wish I had more "keepers" in my own son's birth year! You can always give your son the case as a gift when you think the time is right, or convert the wine into cash for a worthy purpose (your son's college loans, house downpayment, or a gift to charity in his name?).
About The Expert
Roger has enjoyed a lengthy career in the wine trade as an importer and retailer, and at present he is an educator, speaker and consultant. He set up and managed Millesima USA, a New York merchant affiliated with Europe's leader in direct sales of fine wines to consumers. Previously, he served as senior executive of Frederick Wildman & Sons, traveling regularly around the world to visit wineries and taste the new vintage from barrel. Roger became one of America's first Masters of Wine in 1993.
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