Anne’s Comments
Again a difficult year for grapes in Burgundy !
After a long, cold and humid winter, spring and summer were also gloomy with many rains and sunshine deficit. We continuously monitored health of vines and grapes, fighting against powdery mildew, mildew and botrytis.
We expected a late harvest at the end of September. We picked from September 26 to October 12 in function of each plot’s ripeness. We enjoyed the 3 weeks of wind, coolness and sunshine which saved the end of maturation and so the quality of the 2008 vintage.
Pinots have nice acidity, correct level of sugar and relative good health that we took care with successive sorting out. The yields were highly variable, even very low in function of the appellations. Red wines are soft, with elegant tannins, beautiful bright colour and aromatic sharpness. Millerandage and wind have undoubtedly brought a concentration of sugars and substance in the wines.
Later in maturity, Chardonnay took advantage of the excellent autumn conditions and the yields and quality are higher this year than Pinot Noir. White wines are pure, mineral, fruity, with very nice acidities.
journalists’ Comments
NEIL MARTIN NOVEMBRE 2009
Hautes Côtes de Nuits 2008 : this as a light brambly nose with touches of wild hedgerow and just a hint of raspberry leaf. this is suffering a little shock, quite malic, sharp acidity and just a little hard on the finish. Give this time to mellow. Some bitter cherry coming on the finish, lending some welcome edginess. 84-86
Bourgogne 2008 : although this had just finished its malolactic and is suffering a little reduction, there is much more fruit intensity on the nose than the Hautes Côtes, with dark cherry, blackberry and raspberry. Good lift and definition with a slight leafiness developing with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied, firm tannins, quite masculine but well defined, a touch of hardness on the finish but it should mellow. There is a palpable sense of energy in this Bourgogne. Very fine. 88-90
Chambolle Musigny la Combe d’Orveau 2008 : this is more reticent on the nose, although there seems to be some minerality/limestone accents trying to come through. The palate is medium-bodied with a supple texture, quite sharp acidity, just a background of leafiness although that is merely adding to the freshness. Not quite as complex as the 2007, but it has an engaging linearity. 87-89
Vosne Romanée les Barreaux 2008 : this has a light elegant nose of cherry and raspberry, a touch of limestone, nice definition although it needs just a little more vigour. Maybe this will come after bottling? There is a slight earthiness/damp moss accent developing with aeration. The palate has a darker fruit profile with dark cherry, a touch of cassis and blueberry, fresh acidity, nice sense of tension here although like the chambolle it has a strict linear finish. 89-91
Echezeaux les Loachausess 2008 : tight,slightly earthy nose with notes of blackcurrant leaf, raspberry and a touch of chalk coming through. The palate is medium-bodied on the entry but hten in the mouth impresses with its weight and the way it spread accross the mouth. Good backbone here, racy acidity complemented by fresh brambly black fruits infused with a fine sense of minerality towards the bitter cherry finish that just takes its fool off the accelerator. 88-90
Clos Vougeot le Grand Maupertui 2008 : this has a much more expressive at the moment with some lovely red-berried fruits, a touch of blueberry and rose petals. Godd vigour. the palate is medium-bodied with very fine tannins and a superb feminity that caresses the mouth with its silky smooth texture and precision. Hints of cassis, blueberry and a citrus fruits, a tang of blood orange on the finish. A superb clos vougeot for the vintage that is bursting with freshness. 92-94
Richebourg 2008 : this already has a complex, well defined nose with a palpable sense of mineralité, blackberry leaf, a touch of black plum, crushed stones and just a touch of truffle. The palate is full-bodied, very strict and linear at the moment, but all its energy and puissance focuses in one direction. Real sense of terroir here, superb definition but also a very strict Richebourg that will needs a few years to open. 92-94
NEIL MARTIN Juillet 2010
Hautes Côtes de Nuits 2008 : a very fresh and earthy nose of red and dark berry fruit aromas nuanced by wet stone hints leads to supple, detailed and nicely intense flavors that possess good phenolic ripeness, focus and balance. This is really quite pretty for its level. 84-87
Bourgogne 2008 : a touch of reduction doesn’t completely block the somber fruit aromas that evidence a more overt earthiness that extends to the rich and moderately rustic flavors where the gas cuts the length of the slightly firmer finish short. this will probably eventually equal to the Hautes Côtes in quality once the gas dissipates but I reduced the predicted range by a pointin the interest of caution. 84-86
Chambolle Musigny la Combe d’Orveau 2008 : light ruby. A high-toned nose of very fresh cranberry, rasberry and red pinot fruit introduces detailed and minerally light weight flavors that are delicious, firm and reasonably persistent. This is rather light though not insubstantial asthere is good flavor authority and plenty of chambolle character. 86-89
Vosne Romanée les Barreaux 2008 : ( a lieu-dit situated on the Vosne slope above Cros Parantoux). Also very light ruby color. A very spicy nose features red and blue pinot fruit as well as distinct earthiness that is trimmed in noticeable wood that can also be found on the supple, forward and round light to barely medium-weight flavors that carry a delicate touch of minerality over to the moderate austere and slightly bitter finish that is probably due to the considerable amount of gas. Benefit on the doubt offered. 87-89
Echezeaux les Loachausses 2008 : Noticeable wood sets off spicy red berry fruit aroma that possess hints of soy and anise before sliding gracefully into sappy and moderately toasty middle weight flavors that also culminate in a short and slightly bitter finish that I am attributing to the presence of a considerable amount of gas. Despite the awkward showing, this is surprisingly supple and forward for a grand cru. 89-91
Clos Vougeot le Grand Maupertui 2008 : here too noticeable toast frames more complex aromas of violets, plum and earthy red berry fruits that marry into the round, supple and opulent medium-bodied flavors that are rich, delicious and persistent though ample toast resurfaces on the finish. My score offers the benefit of the doubt that the wood will integrate sufficiently well that it will not imbalance the wine as it ages. 89-92
Richebourg 2008 : here the wood toast is more subtile if by no means invisible with an attractively layered and fresh nose of spicy purple fruit aromas that lead to solidly rich, full and tautly muscled flavors that are not particularly big or power ful by the usual standards of this wine but there is beautiful balance and focus. this should mature over the medium-term, whichis to say 5 to 8 years earlier than what I usually suggest. 91-93
NEAL MARTIN Juillet 2010
Clos Vougeot le Grand Maupertui 2008 : this has a “broad” bouquet that displays good intensity with raspberry, stawberry and a touch of cassis. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannins, quite savoury and peppery in style, nice weight though lacking a little delineation and tension though picking up on the pert, dark cherry and bergamot finish. It improves greatly one i return later on and perusing my previous notes; i think this is just at an awkward stage post-bottling. 90+
JANCIS ROBINSON Juillet 2010
One of my favourite : Clos Vougeot 2008 : mid to dark crimson. Pretty and supple and super fruity on the nose. Lots of sweetness and richness and jewelly fruit. Great drive. It takes something for a wine to bedazzle so late in the tasting ( I started at the end). Really very delicious already. Long Bravo ! 18,5
Clive Coates Février 2012
Clos Vougeot 2008 : medium to medium-full colour. Fragrant nose. By no means a heavyweight. Medium to medium-full body. Most attractive balanced fruit. Just a little tannin to soften. Harmonious and delicious. But quite forward.
Richebourg 2008 : medium-full colour. Rich nose, quite meaty for a 2008. fullish body for the vintage. Some tannin. Very fresh. Ripe, complex, elegant and profound. There is quite a bit more to this than the Clos Vougeot. Very long and very lovely.
VINTAGES