The 2008 Château d'Armailhac, a wine in the classic Bordeaux style, is currently showing well, with its deep red color and enticing aromas of morello cherry, roasted coffee, and vanilla. The palate is smooth with red fruit flavors, supported by elegant, silky tannins. The wine is full-bodied with a lingering finish, offering both roundness and structure. While the 2008 vintage had some challenging weather, a late, warm Indian summer allowed the grapes to reach full maturity, resulting in a wine that is drinking beautifully now but still has aging potential.

Jamessuckling.com | JS 90
Published: Dec 20, 2010

Balanced and fruity with tobacco and berry character. Full and very soft with fine tannins, and a juicy fruit character on the finish. Best in 2012. 

The Wine Advocate | RP 89
Published: May 2, 2011
Drink: 2011-2026 

A dense plum/purple color is followed by a supple, evolved, medium-bodied wine revealing an elegant bouquet of red and black currants, charcoal, toast and earth. Enjoy this impressive 2008 over the next 12-15 years. 

Jancisrobinson.com | JR 16.5
Published: Mar 21, 2018
Drink: 2018-2034

Mid bricky red. Undergrowth and warm bricks, gently inviting, just a touch meaty. Smooth though still with a slight firmness. Harmonious if rather slight on the palate. Easy to drink and enjoy now. 

Chateau-darmailhac.com

Harvest: 2 to 20 October
Varietal mix: Cabernet Sauvignon 54% Merlot 29% Cabernet Franc 15% Petit Verdot 2%

Tasting notes
A deep red, Château d’Armailhac 2008 is a wine in the classic mould.
The nose displays fruity morello cherry aromas lifted by delicate touches of roasted coffee and vanilla.
From a forthright and elegant attack, the palate develops red fruit flavours underpinned by highly elegant, silky tannins.
Round and full-bodied, the wine offers a long and lingering finish.

Climatic conditions
2008 will remain in the memory as a year of particularly changeable weather.

After a cool and wet spring (the temperature fell to around 0° C on 7 April), the weather turned more seasonal in June, but the vegetation cycle was running late.

July was sunny and dry but the summer continued with a dull August, increasing the need for careful vineyard supervision. However, rainfall in August was in line with the average; there was no water surplus and the water table remained at a level comparable with that of recent years.

A lack of sunshine in the first half of September heralded a difficult vintage. Fortunately, a magnificent Indian summer that began on 14 September and lasted until 20 October completely reversed the situation. Such excellent conditions before the harvest increased the alcoholic strength and enabled the grapes to achieve a very fine state of phenolic maturity.

Picking was delayed so that the grapes could ripen fully. The harvest took place between 2 and 15 October, the crop being in excellent condition.

Patience was needed for the 2008 harvest, and rigorous attention from vine to vinification. A quite unusual vintage, it has produced wines that nevertheless hold out the promise of remarkable quality.