The 2008 Chateau Margaux is a refined and structured wine, showcasing the classic elegance of the estate with notable power. Composed mainly of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, it offers a delicate nose of rose petals, blueberries, and blackberries, alongside subtle hints of tobacco and woodsmoke. The wine is medium to full-bodied with a tight, tannic structure, evolving to reveal deep, concentrated flavors on the palate. It boasts a rich, mouthwatering finish and excellent aging potential, with its tannins ensuring a long life. Although still in its youth, this vintage is already promising with its fine balance of purity, richness, and complexity, and it will benefit from further aging before reaching its peak.

Decanter | D 97
Published: Feb 9, 2021
Drink: 2021-2042

This stood out immediately among the five first growth wines for its floral hit right off the first nose. The epitome of elegance, as I found at the 10-year point, but it is now also starting to deepen and layer, with concentrated black fruits balanced by linen-textured tannins, slowing the progress of the fruit through the palate, stretching out the flavours. First suggestions of tobacco and curling woodsmoke, with a mouthwatering finish - so moreish. 1.5% Petit Verdot completes the blend. Just 36% of overall production.
Closure: Natural Cork
Alcohol: 13.50%
Body: Full
Oak: Oaked
Grapes: 3% Cabernet Franc 87% Cabernet Sauvignon 10% Merlot

The Wine Advocate | RP 94
Published: May 2, 2011
Drink: 2014-2041

This is a stunning Chateau Margaux, made in a sexy, up-front, elegant style, with deep creme de cassis fruit intermixed with spring flowers, a solid inner core of richness and depth, but again, very sweet tannins as well as striking minerality and elegance. One of the most seductive Chateau Margauxs given its recent bottling, this blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, and the rest tiny quantities of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot should drink beautifully for the next 25-30 years. Remarkably, a mere 36% of the entire production was selected for the 2008 Chateau Margaux. 

Jamessuckling.com | JS 94
Published: Dec 19, 2010

This is so subtle and refined on the nose with amazing perfumes of rose petal, blueberries and blackberries. Full but very tight and fresh with a lovely length that goes on and on. Starts off slowly with a solid core of fruit, then grows denser and denser. This is shy at first, needs at leat five years of bottle age.

Jancisrobinson.com | JR 16.5
Published: Mar 21, 2018
Drink: 2017-2037

Tasted blind. Sweet, rather oaky and simple. Loose texture. Could be Lafite but it does not have much conviction. Hint of seaweed. Not that intense.

Chateau-margaux.com

Vintage 2008
No vintage between 2004 and 2008 with the notable exception of course of 2005, had glorious weather during the month of August; still, every year, the grapes have ripened (particularly those in the great terroirs), thanks to fine weather in September. But other positive factors might not be obvious: in 2008 the July drought and the nice weather from mid-September onwards probably limited the consequences of the regular and light August showers. There are no miracles, just ignorance...

As always it is our drastic selection which brings out the true spirit of a vintage. 2008 is no exception to the rule. The first wine only represents 36% of the crop (31% at bottling, once the wine has lost its lees due to the rackings during the ageing in barrel). Each grape variety plays its harmonious part in the blend: our best Merlot (10%) brings more power, fatness and flesh than it did in 2006 or 2007; the Cabernet Sauvignon (87%)is as usual the heart and the soul of the wine. Not forgetting the Cabernet Franc (1.5%) and the Petit Verdot (1.5%) whose modest presence does not truly reflect their influence in the blend.
The 2008 is a very fine Chateau Margaux, it displays a nose of great finesse and purity, and it is as deep and charming as the 2004. What really amazes us is its power on the palate: we never expected such density, length and richness. The tannins are superb! They give the Chateau Margaux 2008 a very tight-grained texture, wonderful length, and a more classic personality than previously thought. Ideally, wait a few more years before starting to drink it. (October 2018)