UGC 2008 Bordeaux Tasting
Palate Hotel, SF
Tasted Friday, January 21, 2011 by aagrawal with 1,060 views
Introduction
These are my notes from the UGC Bordeaux Tasting. I was moving pretty quickly, so the notes are quite bare bones and more about my impressions than individual flavors. I still didn't get to even a majority of the wines at the tasting.
Flight 1 - Margaux (4 Notes)
This is rapidly becoming one of my favorite regions in Bordeaux. I've found that it can be quite variable depending on the producer though. I think the Malescot is a HUGE buy from this vintage... an amazing wine that will get better. The Prieure Lichine is quite good. I would avoid the Cantenac Brown.
Flight 2 - Pauillac (4 Notes)
The Pichon Lalande is truly excellent: Smooth, flavorful, balanced. It's expensive though. My favorite "budget" wine is the Clerc Milon... one of the top 10 wines at the tasting in my opinion. Would probably avoid the Pichon Baron... just didn't live up to its reputation for me.
Flight 3 - St. Julien (5 Notes)
My favorites here were the Langoa Barton and the Leoville Poyferre, both excellent wines. I normally love Leoville Barton, but it just didn't do much for me today. Still good, just not excellent. Avoid the Branaire, thought it was quite thin and watery.
Flight 4 - St. Emilion (3 Notes)
The Pavie Macquin is my star here. One of the best noses of the entire tasting.
Flight 5 - Pessac Leognan (5 Notes)
Some solid whites, though I tend to think white bordeaux is overpriced. My favorite white is probably the Larrivet Haut Brion Blanc. Among the reds I definitely enjoyed the Larrivet more than the Chevalier. Good minerality in all these wines.
Flight 6 - Miscellaneous (4 Notes)
Not too much to see here...
Flight 7 - Sauternes (9 Notes)
The best wine here was definitely the Climens, though even then I'm not sure it's worth the price. It's good, but not a classic. I'm sipping on an 01 suduiraut at the moment, and none of these compared. I would probably focus on value for this vintage: The Doisy Daene and Sigalas Rabaud were both excellent and will be reasonably priced.
Closing
In short, I think 2008 was a somewhat inconsistent vintage. I can find wines in almost every region that I like, and also plenty that I don't. If I was buying 2008 Bordeaux (I'm not... too much in the cellar already...) I would certainly pick up a few bottles of the following based on their quality and QPR:
1) Malescot
2) Clerc Milon
3) Doisy Daene
4) Sigalas Rabaud
5) Pavie Macquin
6) Langoa Barton
7) Leoville Poyferre
2008 Château Cantenac Brown 85 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux
Unimpressive wine. Decent, but it lacks the Margaux nose, palate is somewhat hard to judge at the end of the tasting.
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2008 Château Giscours 90 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux
Margaux-nose, palate is full bodied. Good fruit, but nothing on the palate stands out.
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2008 Château Malescot St. Exupéry 93 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux
Stunning Margaux nose. Berries, dust, cinnamon, spice. Palate is a bit light at first, but fills in quickly. A BUY. Could use a decade of age. 93-94
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2008 Château Prieuré-Lichine 92 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux
Lovely nose. Smooth palate with fruit. Similar to the Malescot, but likely will drink a bit younger.
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