Jamessuckling.com | JS 90
Published: Dec 19, 2010

Lots of chocolate, blueberry and hints of fresh herbs on the nose and palate. Full bodied, with velvety round tannins and a long finish. Needs a year or two to mellow but so balanced and pretty now. Better than I remember. 

Winemaker

2008 is the seventh consecutive year in which winter is dry. This constraint caused an arrest of early growth and an extension of the ripening phase. At the beginning of April, the temperatures were negative at the beginning of April and the later plots froze.
On May 28, a violent hailstorm affected southern Margaux; causing serious crop losses. The rains of early June did not facilitate the flowering; while those of mid-August have dealt a blow to the winegrowers' morale. All these climatic events foreshadowed a weak harvest. But fortunately, the late season was dry and marked by alternating hot days and very cool nights. These conditions will save this vintage by promoting a slow and regular ripening of the grapes. They were then harvested at optimum maturity with excellent levels of tannins.

TASTING NOTES
The nose has beautiful aromas of red and black fruits (cherry). The aromatic pattern is rather fine. The mouth already begins to soften and has both roundness and freshness. A fruity wine, precise and balanced without austerity. Nature has given this vintage more power and elegance.