Written By
This morning has seen the release of two of our favourite wines from 2008 Bordeaux – Grand Puy Lacoste and Haut Batailley. Grand Puy Lacoste is owned and managed by François-Xavier Borie. He makes some of the most delicious wines that we have longed esteemed to be some of the best from the region, particularly at their attractive price points. He also manages Haut Batailley, his aunt’s Château. Both wines are made in similar styles with Grand Puy Lacoste being more complex and structured of the two. We feel that their 2008s are truly excellent and are good value.
Cantemerle also made an appearance this morning. Their 2008 was superbly balanced and stood out as a beacon of class at the Haut Médoc tasting. For fans of traditional claret, Cantemerle will tick all the right boxes, particularly at a very appealing £170.
Other recent releases include Lagrange who made an impressively concentrated wine in 2008; and the wines from the Haut Brion stable – Clarence Haut Brion and La Mission Haut Brion.
Ch Grand Puy Lacoste, Pauillac
£280.00 per 12 IB
2013 – 2026+
Plump, fleshy yet focused, the 2008 Grand Puy Lacoste is impressive with its concentration and layers of complexity offering up notes of black and red cherries, roasted coffee and lingering cedar and spice. Opulent yet refined and sculpted. One of our top wines of the vintage. Highly recommended.
JR:16.5, WS:87-90, MJ:18, GD:91-93
Ch Haut Batailley, Pauillac
£210.00 per 12 IB
2011 – 2024+
Attractive with notes of violet, cherry and red currant, this 2008 offers a focused silky core with lots of sweet fruit and fine tannins. It finishes on chocolate and roasted coffee. An easy wine to taste but certainly not a light weight. Delicious.
JR:16.5, WS:87-90, MJ:17.5, GD:89-91
Ch Cantemerle, Haut Médoc
£170.00 per 12 IB
2011 – 2022
Refined, poised and silky, this wine tastes far more like a St. Julien than an Haut Médoc. Wonderfully balanced, the palate offers notes of cassis and graphite which finish on an appealing salty tang.
JR:16, WS:87-90, GD:88-90
OTHER NEW RELEASES:
Ch Lagrange, St Julien
£265.00 per 12 IB
2014 – 2025+
A dense Lagrange that offers lots of sweet ripe fruit and a plethora of chewy tannins. Wine Spectator described it as “long and caressing” and “very well done for the vintage.”JR:16.5, WS:89-92, MJ:17, GD:88-90
Clarence de Haut Brion, 2nd wine Ch Haut Brion
£430.00 per 12 IB
2010 – 2025+
This wine changed its name last year from Bahans Haut Brion to Clarence. Yet the wine still embodies all the refined elegance for which Bahans was known. Poised, velvety and refined, this 2008 has a lovely rich palate displaying juicy red fruit and a chocolate finish.
JR:16, WS:88-91, MJ:17, GD:88-91
Ch La Mission Haut Brion, Pessac Léognan
£1320.00 per 12 IB
2012 – 2026+
“Bright and perfumed, with mineral, hot stone, fresh currant and blackberry on the nose. Full-bodied, with firm, silky tannins and a long, caressing finish. Layered, chewy and structured. Solid for the vintage.” Wine Spectator, April 2009
JR:18, WS:91-94, MJ:17.5, GD:89-91