September 28, 2012
Our pitch has ben the same all along. The 2008 vintage in Bordeaux is what we call the 'smart money' vintage. To review history briefly, when the Bordelais shot themselves in the proverbial marketing foot by over-pricing the 2007 vintage, and directly or indirectly caused a number of major players in teh Bordeaux market to throw up their hands and say 'enough', the entire landscape of Bordeaux distribution changed in this country. It is still changing, but that is another story for another time. What is relevant is that the Bordealais, when it came time to release the 2008s, decided they needed to do something to try and win back customers. To that end they offered the 2008s, a classically styled vintage of Bordeaux with excellent fruit, fine balance and distinct notes of terroir, at prices that hadn't been seen since before the 2005 vintages. They essentially made the 2008s the best deal possible so that buyers would return. Given the shambles the Bordeaux market was back then, the results were pretty surprising.Then came the twin towers of 2009 and 2010, vintages both vying for the title of best ever in the eyes of the critics. The 'pricing to win back consumers' campaign was short-lived, and the 2009 and 2010 vintages were the most expensive on record. When the 2011s came out, the Bordelais could only bring themselves to discount the prices from the extreme highs of 2010 rather than price the vintage nearer its real worth. The early word on 2012 is that it is not a 'vintage of a lifetime' and, on top of that, quantities are on the low side. That leaves 2008 as the value anomoly that may not happen again soon, if ever. Cynics will say that we are pushing the 2008s because we have a lot of them. Our reponse to that is that there's a reason we have a lot of them. Dollar for dollar they are the best Bordeaux values on the market as a vintage and they are here. So to wrap up our XXXth Anniversary month, we are delivering the goods in the form of a selection of the calssic 2008s at the best prices in the country. We went out on wine-searcher pro and checked tabs on all of these. On some of them we were already the best price. If we weren't the lowest, we beat the one we found. There weather is cooling off and we have a sensational offer of top 2008 Bordeaux listed below at killer prices. What better time to stock your cellar with 'historic' values? This offer goes through Sunday, September 30. Good hunting.
It is still changing, but that is another story for another time. What is relevant is that the Bordealais, when it came time to release the 2008s, decided they needed to do something to try and win back customers. To that end they offered the 2008s, a classically styled vintage of Bordeaux with excellent fruit, fine balance and distinct notes of terroir, at prices that hadn't been seen since before the 2005 vintages. They essentially made the 2008s the best deal possible so that buyers would return. Given the shambles the Bordeaux market was back then, the results were pretty surprising.
Then came the twin towers of 2009 and 2010, vintages both vying for the title of best ever in the eyes of the critics. The 'pricing to win back consumers' campaign was short-lived, and the 2009 and 2010 vintages were the most expensive on record. When the 2011s came out, the Bordelais could only bring themselves to discount the prices from the extreme highs of 2010 rather than price the vintage nearer its real worth. The early word on 2012 is that it is not a 'vintage of a lifetime' and, on top of that, quantities are on the low side. That leaves 2008 as the value anomoly that may not happen again soon, if ever. Cynics will say that we are pushing the 2008s because we have a lot of them. Our reponse to that is that there's a reason we have a lot of them. Dollar for dollar they are the best Bordeaux values on the market as a vintage and they are here. So to wrap up our XXXth Anniversary month, we are delivering the goods in the form of a selection of the calssic 2008s at the best prices in the country. We went out on wine-searcher pro and checked tabs on all of these. On some of them we were already the best price. If we weren't the lowest, we beat the one we found. There weather is cooling off and we have a sensational offer of top 2008 Bordeaux listed below at killer prices. What better time to stock your cellar with 'historic' values? This offer goes through Sunday, September 30. Good hunting.
Robert Parker writes in Wine Advocate: "A strong effort, the 2008 was made from tiny yields of 28.5 hectoliters per hectare, and attained 14% natural alcohol. It reveals sweet licorice, black currant and blackberry fruit notes intermixed with truffle and asphalt characteristics in its pure, rich, opulent, full-bodied personality. One of the finest St.-Emilions of the vintage, it is far more accessible than the 2010 and should continue to drink well for 15-20 years." ... read more
James Suckling writes: "A thick and rich wine with loads of fruit. Dense and juicy with loads of fruit. Chocolate, cherry and currants. Lots going on. Layered and fascinating. Give this three or four years. May be better than 2005."
James Molesworth writes in Wine Spectator: "Mulled plum and spice notes are backed by a solid fleshy feel, with tar, cassis bush and espresso hints filling in the back end. A tarry streak still rides through the finish, but this has slightly better polish as well. Drink now through 2015. 11,600 cases made."
James Moleworth writes in Wine Spectator: "Rich and ripe, with raspberry and cassis aromas and flavors that stay racy and driven, with great cut, thanks to the mouthwatering acidity, chalky spine and long, violet-filled finish. Drink now through 2015. 1,665 cases made."
While there are many great wines coming from Fronsac, this has got to be one of the region’s finest. Owned by Constance and Stephane Droulers, Haut Carles ... read more
Robert Parker writes in Wine Advocate: "The 2008 Larcis Ducasse (14.2% natural alcohol) is composed of 78% Merlot and 22% Cabernet Franc. Although closed at present and less prodigious than I predicted two years ago, it reveals an opaque purple color, plenty of sweet fruitcake, black currant, kirsch, forest floor and earthy characteristics, a full-bodied mouthfeel, sweet tannins and a long finish. It just does not appear to have the extra gear or two I tasted from barrel. Nev... read more
Robert Parker writes in Wine Advocate: "One of the stars of the vintage, and a remarkable achievement in 2008, with impressive richness, this dense purple colored wine is almost as opaque as the 2010. Spring flowers, crushed rocks, creme de cassis and some subtle oak are followed by a full-bodied, concentrated wine that transcends the vintage character in its power, richness, and aging potential. It also exhibits tremendous precision, purity, and depth of character. It is mor... read more
Robert Parker writes in Wine Advocate: "A wine of the vintage candidate in 2008, Troplong Mondot’s offering was produced from yields of 41 hectoliters per hectare and achieved 14.5% natural alcohol. A classic blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, it offers copious quantities of blue and black fruits, a full-bodied opulence, sweet tannin and a fabulous texture as well as finish. Already drinking beautifully, it will be even better in 2-5 ... read more
Robert Parker writes in Wine Advocate: "A stunning success for the vintage, this enticing St.-Julien reveals notes of lead pencil shavings, sweet raspberries and black currants and a subtle touch of oak. Elegant, restrained yet authoritative and impressively intense, it is a medium to full-bodied, lightly tannic effort will be even better with 1-2 years of bottle age and will keep for 15-20 years."
James Molesworth writes in Wine Spectator: &... read more
Robert Parker writes in Wine Advocate: "While the 2008 is not a blockbuster, it is a strong effort for the vintage. This dark plum/purple-hued wine reveals some background oak, licorice, earth, plum, black currant and cherry notes intertwined with a foresty/mossy component. Deep, polished and medium to full-bodied with sweet tannin, it builds incrementally on the palate. This impressive 2008 will benefit from 2-3 years of cellaring and should drink well for two decades.&q... read more
Robert Parker writes in The Wine Advocate: "A sleeper of the vintage, the 2008 offers up notes of toasty oak, loamy soil, black cherries, black currants, roasted herbs and underbrush. Ripe, medium to full-bodied and lush, it is ideal for drinking over the next 7-8 years."
This strikingly packaged Saint Emilion has definitely picked up their game over the last decade. For some reason this strikes us as a Right Bank wine with... read more
James Suckling writes: "Racy and refined with super polished tannins and a mineral and berry charcter Full and dense with a well integrated mouth feel. All there. Give it two years."
Owned by the Delon family of Leoville Las Cases fame (for some 300 years according to Jean Hubert Delon), Potensac is yet another chateau which illustrates the declining relevance of the 1855 classification. Given the ownership, it’s no surprise that th... read more
Not to flog the old cheval mort, but one should still take whatever dwindling opportunities there are to grab some of the 2008s which still represent historic values for this part of the world. Hubert de Bouard is a busy guy these days with consulting gigs and his ‘other’ property Angelus, but he infuses some of that luxurious mouthfeel into his Lalande de Pomerol bottling. The 2008 was cropped at a low 25 hectoliters per hectare. The blend is 80% Merlot,... read more
Robert Parker writes in Wine Advocate: "Another outstanding success in a vintage that was very strong for Pomerol, the 2008 exhibits notes of plum sauce, raspberries, licorice and a hint of toasty oak. Surprisingly powerful for the vintage, the wine is medium to full-bodied with sweet tannin and a long finish. Drink it over the next 10-12 years."
Stephen Tanzder writes in International Wine Cellar: "Bright red-ruby. Complex nose offe... read more
Robert Parker writes in Wine Advocate: "Again composed of 50% Merlot and the rest equal parts Malbec and Cabernet Franc that hit 14.5% alcohol, the 2008, like the 2010, was fashioned by consultant winemaker Claude Gros. This full-bodied, elegant, dark ruby/purple-colored wine reveals notes of blueberries, black raspberries, crushed rocks and acacia flowers. Richly fruity, deep, textured and pure, this outstanding sleeper of the vintage will provide plenty of pleasure over the... read more
Robert Parker writes in Wine Advocate: "Composed of 77% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Franc and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon, the soft, silky, up-front, plush 2008 exhibits a dark plum/garnet hue along with seductive aromas of red and black fruits, damp earth, charcoal and roasted herbs. Consume it over the next 7-8 years."
The 2008 Fombrauge is a blend of 77% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Franc, and 9% Cabernet Sauvignon. It exhibits a deep, dark purple/violet ... read more
Thomas Matthews writes in Wine Spectator: "Dark, alluring flavors of blackberry, anise and espresso mingle in this sleek red, which is medium-bodied, but shows real drive, with firm, well-integrated tannins and a light kick of alcohol. Showy, but remains balanced. Best from 2013 through 2017. 500 cases made."
This tiny vineyard consisting of just 4.5 acres is planted to 100% Merlot. Situated next to the great wall of St. Emilion on ... read more
Robert Parker writes in Wine Advocate: "The 2008 (18 hectoliters per hectare) is another outstanding effort. Sweet black currant fruit intermixed with crushed rock and floral notes as well as some toasty oak jump from the glass of this dense ruby/purple colored wine. Medium to full-bodied, more supple and slightly less extracted than the 2010, this is a fleshy, succulent wine to drink over the next 12-15 years. Once again, it is a classic blend for the area of 80% Merlot and ... read more
Robert Parker writes in Wine Advocate: "Another sleeper of the vintage from Moulin St.-Georges, the elegant 2008 exhibits a deep ruby/purple color, aromas of crushed rocks, graphite, blueberries and raspberries, excellent concentration and a long finish. Consume it over the next decade or more."
James Suckling writes: "This is very citrusy and fresh, and also shows cherries and blueberries. Full and racy, with a clean and silk texture... read more
Robert Parker writes in Wine Advocate: "The 2008 is a beauty in the style of the 1988. Although not performing as well as I predicted last year, it is unquestionably an outstanding effort as well as one of the better values from Pichon Lalande in many years. Its dense plum/purple hue is accompanied by sweet aromas of red and black currants, charcoal, herbs, underbrush and a hint of truffles. This medium-bodied, rich, concentrated blend of 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 5... read more
Robert Parker writes in Wine Advocate: "A candidate for the 'wine of the vintage,' Pontet Canet’s 2008 boasts an opaque purple color as well as copious aromas of sweet blueberries, blackberries and black currant fruit intertwined with lead pencil shavings, subtle barbecue smoke and a hint of forest floor. Full-bodied, with fabulous richness, texture and tremendous freshness, this first-growth-like effort is more developed than the uber-powerful 2010.... read more
