Perfect Pairings From 1988 Using The Vinous Vintage Chart

In 1988, Eddie Murphy's Prince Akeem came to America to find his bride in Queens, New York; Tom Hanks grew up fast in Big; Bruce Willis saved Christmas in Die Hard; and Beetlejuice was just plain bizarre. Those aren't the only classics created that year that have stood the test of time. Though somewhat under the radar, 1988 was a year in many regions for cellar worthy wines that are still drinking beautifully thirty years on. The Vinous Vintage Chart enables you to see which regions performed best in each year. For anyone planning a legendary 30th birthday bash, or an absurdly lavish celebration of three decades of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito's classic comedy Twins, here we present our perfectly curated dinner pairings of 1988s. Whet the appetite with a glass of Champagne: "One of the truly great vintages of the last fifty years, 1988 developed under nearly perfect conditions. Even and quick flowering, with little coulure or millerandage let to a mid-September harvest. At harvest, the balance of sugars and acidities was textbook, even if the perception is of a high acid, crystalline vintage. The best 1988s will continue to drink well for many years. (97 points - Drink or Hold)" Pair with first course with an aged white wine from Alsace: "The first of a glorious set of three vintages in a row, 1988 is characterized by the most austere, mineral set of wines of the 1988-89-90 trio. The heavy rains that fell just prior to the harvest (as much as 50 mm all at once just before picking started) reduced concentration levels, but overall the 1988s (especially Riesling and Pinot Gris) are remarkably elegant, balanced wines with great aging potential. Alsatian wine lovers know to look for those wines made from grapes grown on well draining, cooler grand crus. (94 points - Drink or Hold)" Move on to Chianti Classico from Italy "A vintage of majestic, towering wines the best of which remain vibrant and full of life. Poor weather during flowering lowered yields. The summer was quite dry. September and October saw ideal conditions of sun and warmth through to the harvest. The 1988s are still gorgeous today, while the best examples are simply stunning. (97 points - Drink)" And finish with a glass of sweet white wine from Bordeaux: "A hot summer followed by a stormy September, but a prolonged Indian Summer caused an outbreak of noble rot and allowed for easy picking in the vineyards. The 1988 Sauternes and Barsacs are less showy than the 1989s and less opulent than the 1990s, but have better balance and more graceful personalities. They are also aging much more gracefully than the 1989s or 1990s. (98 points - Drink or Hold)"