2008 Pauillac 'Royalty' Mixed Cases
Critics' Views
2008 Château Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de Lalande, Grande Cru Classé Pauillac
Super-ripe black cherry, plum, smoke, licorice make a strong opening statement in the 2008 Pichon Lalande. The late harvest that year yielded a decidedly super-ripe, exotic Pichon Lalande with captivating inner sweetness and gorgeous textural finesse. Naturally, the 2008 is young. Very young. Even so, it is stunning. Readers looking for an under-the-radar vintage to cellar of Pichon Lalande will find tremendous satisfaction and pure pleasure in the 2008. An Indian summer saved what had up until that time been a rainy and not especially promising vintage.
Drink 2017-2037
97/100pts. | Antonio Galloni - Vinous
2008 Château Lynch-Bages Grande Cru Classé Pauillac
The 2008 Lynch-Bages is deep in color with minor aging on the rim. The nose is well-defined but demands coaxing, almost reluctantly revealing blackberry, briary, tobacco and mint aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with firm but fine tannins, lovely black fruit laced with tobacco and spice, dense and grippy. This is beautifully proportioned on the finish. Superb. Tasted at the Lynch-Bages vertical at the château.
Drink 2023-2035
94/100pts. Neal Martin | Vinous
2008 Château Duhart-Milon, Grande Cru Classé Pauillac
The 2008 Duhart-Milon has always been an impressive wine. Here it has a very intense, backward, graphite and cedar-scented bouquet that just seems to grow in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with fine grain tannin, crisp acidity, brisk blackberry and raspberry fruit laced with graphite and tobacco notes towards the austere finish. I keep ratcheting up my score as it seems to find a new facet with each swirl of the glass. Superb. Tasted blind at Farr Vintners' 10-Year On tasting.
Drink 2018-2032
93/100pts. Neal Martin | Vinous