1988 was a cool, somewhat damp year that produced extremely vivacious Champagnes. The best of these are still youthful, and this is a superb example. The wine has plenty of ripe baked apple fruit and notes of brioche, toasted hazelnut, and a suggestion of freshly ground coffee. On the palate, the freshness shines through, and there is still plenty of zip left to the bubble. This Champagne is ageing well and showing no signs of slowing down.

Classic Bollinger style is evident here, with hazelnut, bread, mushrooms, and smoke. The wine, on the other hand, has hardly benefited from its late disgorging. This wine will be exciting to see when it reaches its peak. Beautifully delicious and nutty in a magnum.

Classic Bollinger aromas of baked apple, toffee, coffee, nuts and brioche. Then superrich, highly concentrated and penetrating, with impressive chewy extract. Uncompromisingly dry and just beginning to unfold. Really saturates the palate. Remarkably young for a 12-year-old Champagne-but then the best '88s are evolving slowly. Finishes with superb length.

Walnut, hazelnut, butterscotch and a Tokaji-like suggestion of damp stone on the yeasty nose. Brisk in texture, quite dry and distinctly mature, with a nut skin note and slightly sour-edged acidity. But concentrated and firmly structured. A classic dinner table bubbly. Bollinger fans appreciate the mature flavors of this Champagne, but my sample seemed a bit past its best.
88 points — vinous.com, Nov 2001

Classic Bollinger aromas of baked apple, toffee, coffee, nuts and brioche. Then superrich, highly concentrated and penetrating, with impressive chewy extract. Uncompromisingly dry and just beginning to unfold. Really saturates the palate. Remarkably young for a 12-year-old Champagne-but then the best '88s are evolving slowly. Finishes with superb length.
92+ points — vinous.com, Nov 2000

Disgorged September 12. pH 2.99. TA 9.4 g/l. Dark gold. A little bit of oxidation. Then the mushrooms and lots of dried fruit. Classic RD? Probably not to everyone’s taste but very true to the house style. Broad and still very good, fine mousse. (JR)