The 1988 vintage was another very difficult one for cabernet in Napa and Sonoma, and
Patrick Campbell decided to introduce his second wine, Counterpoint, in 1988, so that he could
practice a very strict selection...
The 1988 vintage was another very difficult one for cabernet in Napa and Sonoma, and
Patrick Campbell decided to introduce his second wine, Counterpoint, in 1988, so that he could
practice a very strict selection process for the Laurel Glen bottling, Consequently, he produced
only eight hundred cases of his first wine in ’88 (typically there would be a bit more than three
thousand cases) and the wine turned out very well and has aged with style and flair. The bouquet
today is terrific, wafting from the glass in a mix of cassis, black cherries, a touch of sandalwood,
tobacco smoke, stony soil nuances and fresh herbs. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied,
poised and complex, with a good core, fine focus and balance, still a bit of remaining tannin and
lovely length and grip on the complex and elegant finish. This wine has aged very well indeed
and still has plenty of life ahead of it. 2011-2030.