Impressions on some 2008 Bordeaux (and some '98s and '88s)
Tasted January 20, 2011 by blanquito with 542 views
Introduction
I attended a swank Bordeaux dinner on a snowy night in Denver. Featured were the wines of Lynch-Bages, Montrose and Leoville Barton, with some petit chateau thrown-in for good measure. The wine makers were there including Anthony Barton, and they each gave a 15 minute speech (or song, in the case of the young wine maker from Montrose), but we didn't pay that much attention given the formal setting. Not like having Alfred Tesseron all to ourselves!
A very enjoyable evening, and we had the compulsory "cleansing ale" to cap off the night. Overall, I was not wowed by the 2008s and I am not rushing out to buy anymore given the pricing (though I am pleased to have picked up some Pichon-Lalande for a good price). This was of course a small sample, but it seems like Parker may be too high on this vintage unless the Right Bank is really good. The Tronquoy-Lalande showed that a chateau could make something very interesting if they got it right.
These are just impressions from memory, as I didn't take notes...
Flight 1 - The 2008's (6 notes)
Red
2008 Château Tronquoy-Lalande
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe
Most expressive of the '08s, with a big, exotic bouquet that showed quite a bit of menthol. Apparently, this has 13% Petit Verdot and this comes through. Seems a little disjointed today, but with some good sweetness and depth. If ~$25, I'd pick some up.
Red
2008 Château Ormes de Pez
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe
Both of these were nondescript, kinda vegetal, and so I payed very litte attention to them.
Red
2008 Château Langoa Barton
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien
Both of these were nondescript, kinda vegetal, and so I payed very litte attention to them.
Red
2008 Château Lynch-Bages
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
This was pretty weird, with an acrid, old wood quality that I found off putting. Seemed a little light too. Disappointing.
Red
2008 Château Léoville Barton
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien
My favorite of the '08s, with a big, new oaky bouquet but with the extract to back it up. Good ripeness and depth and of course plenty of tannins, but not hard nor closed right now. Very good, but not worth the $50 stores are charging for it.
Red
2008 Château Montrose
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe
This was the tightest, hardest wine of the night, and it was hard to get much impression from it. It seemed tannic and a little green to me. Probably good underneath this, but not exciting today and hard to figure Parker's score of 95-97.
Flight 2 - The 1998's (2 notes)
Red
1998 Château Langoa Barton
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien
Nicely open with good fruit and a pleasing palate. Good aromatics, starting to show some secondary notes. Drinks well now but will hold for 10+ year still.
Red
1998 Château Montrose
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe
Seemed quite tight and woody right now. Hold and hope this opens up.
Flight 3 - The 1988's (3 notes)
Red
1988 Château Lynch-Bages
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
Excellent. My WOTN, with a rich, smokey bouquet and a textbook Pauillac profile. Won't make you forget the '89 or '90, but still excellent and drinking great right now.
Red
1988 Château Léoville Barton
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien
Pleasant and correct, with some nice mature notes here and there, but overall just good.
Red
1988 Château Montrose
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe
The least of the '88s, lean and disappointing, without much to recommend it.
Flight 4 - Dessert (1 note)
White - Sweet/Dessert
2006 Château Suduiraut
France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes
Surprisingly approachable, this is very floral and expressive on the bouquet, and kinda light-bodied and elegant for a Sauternes. Given how inexpensive I seen this one, a very nice buy for a early enjoyment.
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