2008 Bordeaux en primeur - first impressions
Posted: Sat Mar 28, 2009 4:27 pm
This year it's 25 years since I visited Bx for the very first time and i still feel same excitement.
It looks like it'll be Right bank year from what I tasted. But it certainly will be better than 2007. And prices much, much lower than for 2007, that's certain already now.
Some guys on the forum owe me a dinner, after they slated me 4.5 months ago.
Wednesday the 26th March 2009
La Conseillante - second wine Duo (86% M and 14% CF) was quite concentrated with nice aromatic nose and nice balnce and length. Grand Vin was silky all over, very aromatic (dark cherries and blueberries), very elegant and full of finesse, beautifully balanced and with long smooth aftertaste. Manager of la Conseillante, Jean-Michel Laporte, compares 2008 to 1988 because of same style of acidity, and with touch of 2001 in Pomerol. impressive!
Certan de May - to start with this wine didn't want at all to say bon jour, but after half an hour, it blossomed up and showed silky texture, fruit and tannins, fresh cherry aromas and violets. Looked at least mile above 2007 tasted same day. One memorable thing - barrels were filled on the 20th November, which means one month later than normal.
VCC - 70% M + 20% CF + 10% CS, M reached 13.8% alcohol while CF reached 13.9 and CS 12%. Violets, very aromatic, intense nose, splendidly constructed, elegant, long aftertaste. Simply terrific. Alexandre Thienpoint joined the bandwagon of 1988 comparison.
Le Pin - like VCC but with more breed and depth. Stunning effort.
Le Gay - it was great, great showing including La Graviere from Lalande de Pomerol (100% Merlot), Montviel (85% M and 15% CF), La Violette (100% M) and Le Gay (85% M and 15% CF). Probably the best vintage for all these four wines and in case of Le Gay it's sure. After cleaning up the vineyard of Le Gay from reminiscents of Ets. Jean-Pierre Moueix being there, they learn it better and are convinced that 2008 exceeded 2005 vintage here. Explosion of blueberries/blackberries, spophisticated, silky fruit, outstanding balance, velvety tannins and formidable length.
So much for now....
Valandraud, Tertre Roteboeuf, Ausone, Beychevelle and Latour follow later.
Next week is Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux press tastings.
It looks like it'll be Right bank year from what I tasted. But it certainly will be better than 2007. And prices much, much lower than for 2007, that's certain already now.
Some guys on the forum owe me a dinner, after they slated me 4.5 months ago.
Wednesday the 26th March 2009
La Conseillante - second wine Duo (86% M and 14% CF) was quite concentrated with nice aromatic nose and nice balnce and length. Grand Vin was silky all over, very aromatic (dark cherries and blueberries), very elegant and full of finesse, beautifully balanced and with long smooth aftertaste. Manager of la Conseillante, Jean-Michel Laporte, compares 2008 to 1988 because of same style of acidity, and with touch of 2001 in Pomerol. impressive!
Certan de May - to start with this wine didn't want at all to say bon jour, but after half an hour, it blossomed up and showed silky texture, fruit and tannins, fresh cherry aromas and violets. Looked at least mile above 2007 tasted same day. One memorable thing - barrels were filled on the 20th November, which means one month later than normal.
VCC - 70% M + 20% CF + 10% CS, M reached 13.8% alcohol while CF reached 13.9 and CS 12%. Violets, very aromatic, intense nose, splendidly constructed, elegant, long aftertaste. Simply terrific. Alexandre Thienpoint joined the bandwagon of 1988 comparison.
Le Pin - like VCC but with more breed and depth. Stunning effort.
Le Gay - it was great, great showing including La Graviere from Lalande de Pomerol (100% Merlot), Montviel (85% M and 15% CF), La Violette (100% M) and Le Gay (85% M and 15% CF). Probably the best vintage for all these four wines and in case of Le Gay it's sure. After cleaning up the vineyard of Le Gay from reminiscents of Ets. Jean-Pierre Moueix being there, they learn it better and are convinced that 2008 exceeded 2005 vintage here. Explosion of blueberries/blackberries, spophisticated, silky fruit, outstanding balance, velvety tannins and formidable length.
So much for now....
Valandraud, Tertre Roteboeuf, Ausone, Beychevelle and Latour follow later.
Next week is Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux press tastings.