Loading... Please wait...

Wines and Spirits

Welcome Offer and Newsletter


2008 Bordeaux Vintage

2008 Bordeaux Vintage Report

2008 is a fascinating Vintage. Robert Parker loves the Vintage and has given many wines high marks.   2008 is a very good Vintage for the Cabernet Sauvignon grape, which enjoyed exceptionally long “hang-time”, many properties not completing their harvests until nearly the end of October.   

The Growing Season

Climatically, 2008 was a hugely variable year.   After a wet and rainy spring and a devastating frost on April 7th that ruined many Sauternes properties’ chances, summer only really arrived at the end of June.   overall June and July were drier than average but temperatures remained below normal.  Importantly, the weather during the flowering period at the beginning of June was cool and damp and a poor fruit set resulted in low yields throughout the region. August, as anyone who holidayed in France will remember, was dismal and, although total rainfall was not significantly above average, it was persistent rain that gave little chance to the grapes to develop thick skins and required growers to spray regularly if they were to avoid problems with odium and mildew. By the beginning of September, fears were growing that 2008 would be the worst vintage for many years.  

Fortunately, from 15th September magnificent weather set in with clear skies and decent temperatures that accelerated the much-needed ripening process.    Sugar levels rose quickly and a northerly wind dried out the grapes, concentrating all the elements in the juice (both sugar and acidity) and reducing the ratio of juice to skin.  This compensated for the poor summer weather and well-maintained vineyards were able to take advantage of the fine weather by delaying harvesting until the end of October. In the Médoc, most châteaux consider that their later-ripening Cabernet sauvignon benefited more than the Merlot from the autumn weather and indeed was so ripe and generous in texture that it did not need much Merlot to fill it out, e.g.  Châteaux Latour and Margaux are 94% and 87% Cabernet sauvignon respectively.

On the right bank, those châteaux with a high proportion of Cabernet franc in the vineyard used most of it in the grand vin adding freshness and extra character to their wines. Overall, 2008 was saved by the Indian summer and has made wines richer and more concentrated than 2007, riper than 2004 and with more charm than 2006.   They are very good wines but do not have the depth and character of the very best vintages such as 2000 and 2005, but will age most gracefully.

The Wines

The wines are now in our stores and in our bonded warehouse. If you are interested in cases under bond please do not hesitate to contact us. 

For the lastest tasting notes and reviews of the the 2008 vintage please see below.

Jancis Robinson reviews of the best value 2008's on sale. 2008 Bordeaux

Sort by:
  • Alter Ego de Palmer 2008
    £56.95 Alter Ego de Palmer 2008
    Alter Ego de Palmer 2008The Second wine of Château Palmer. Tremendous value when compared to the Grand Vin. 1st Growth quality at a 3rd of the price! Lovely depth of fruit on the palate, very elegant. Robert Parker...

  • Chateau Angelus 2008
    £189.00 Chateau Angelus 2008
    Chateau Angelus 2008 58% Merlot, and 42% Cabernet Franc One of the superstars of St Emilion, a yield of only 30 hectolitres per hectare.   This wine is classic Angélus, black in colour, rich, plump and full...

  • Chateau Caronne Sainte Gemme 2008
    £16.75 Chateau Caronne Sainte Gemme 2008
    Chateau Caronne St Gemme Haut Medoc 2008   An old favourite of ours, lovely ripe fruit and soft well integrated tannins. Ideal for early drinking.   Drink 2012- 2020   An old favourite of ours, lovely...

  • Chateau Clerc Milon 2008
    £65.00 Chateau Clerc Milon 2008
    Chateau Clerc Milon 2008 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 16% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot Should turn out to be one of the best Clerc Milons of the decade, produced by the Mouton Rothschild team. Full and firm with...

  • Chateau D'Angludet 2008
    £28.95 Chateau D'Angludet 2008
    Chateau D'Angludet 200848% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot and 12% Petit VerdotWith yields not much more than 30 hectolitres per hectare, the Sichel family have made a delicious ripe and fresh wine, with plenty of...

  • Chateau D'Armailhac 2008
    £49.00 Chateau D'Armailhac 2008
    Chateau D'Armailhac 5eme Grand Cru Classe 2008 54% Cabernet, 29% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot From the team at Mouton Rothschild.   A deep broody nose - medium body, fine tannins and ripe, dark...

  • Chateau Grand Puy Lacoste 2008
    £56.50 Chateau Grand Puy Lacoste 2008
    Chateau Grand Puy Lacoste 5th Growth Pauillac 2008 69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc Xavier Borie has made a delicious, forward wine. Carefully extracted, fresh and immediately appealing but with the...

  • Chateau Kirwan 2008
    £49.99 Chateau Kirwan 2008
    Chateau Kirwan 3eme Cru Margaux 2008.

  • Chateau L'Heyrisson 2008
    £8.99 Chateau L'Heyrisson 2008
    Chateau L'Heyrisson 2008. Lovely blackcurrant and damson fruit flavours, good structure and slight tannins, a wonderfully easy drinking Bordeaux rouge.

  • Chateau Leoville Lascases 2008
    £189.00 Chateau Leoville Lascases 2008
    Chateau Leoville Lascases 2008 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot and 12% Cabernet Franc The wine of the Vintage - real depth, power and personality - classic cedar and blackcurrant nose, followed by rich Cassis fruit and an...

  • Chateau Leoville Poyferre 2008
    £89.00 Chateau Leoville Poyferre 2008
    Chateau Leoville Poyferre 2eme Growth 2008 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot and 5% Cabernet Franc Always good value En Primeur, Michael Rolland consults here.  A  delicious St Julien, rich,...

  • Chateau Montrose 2008
    £110.00 Chateau Montrose 2008
    Chateau Montrose 2008

  • Chateau Palmer 2008
    £195.00 Chateau Palmer 2008
    Chateau Palmer 3eme Cru Classe Margaux 2008 51% Merlot, 41% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Petit Verdot Very low yield of 30 hectolitres per hectare, gives definition and weight - silky round and attractive, will be delicious...

  • Chateau Patache D'Aux 2008
    £13.75 Chateau Patache D'Aux 2008
    Chateau Patache D'Aux 2008 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 50% Merlot Rich and juicy with lovely Cabernet flavours. Great value. Drink 2013- 2023

  • Chateau Pontet Canet 2008
    £109.00 Chateau Pontet Canet 2008
    Chateau Pontet Canet Pauillac 2008

  • Chateau Talbot 2008
    £51.95 Chateau Talbot 2008
    Chateau Talbot 4eme Cru St Julien 2008 75% Cabernet Sauvignon and 22% Merlot and 3% Petit Verdot A delicious, ripe, carefully extracted wine, medium bodied.   This is the most immediately attractive of  the St...

  • Clarence de Haut Brion 2008
    £365.00 Clarence de Haut Brion 2008
    Clarence de Haut Brion 2008 45% Merlot, 41% Cabernet Sauvignon  and 14% Cabernet Franc The second wine of Chateau Haut Brion is consistently good.  made from First Growth fruit and assembled from the vats that...

  • Pavillon Rouge 2008
    £225.00 Pavillon Rouge 2008
    Pavillon Rouge 2008 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc “It is a beautiful wine exhibiting classic purity along with red and black fruits intermixed with liquorice, tobacco leaf...

  • Petit Cheval 2008
    £189.00 Petit Cheval 2008
    Petit Cheval St Emilion Grand Cru 2008 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc The finest second wine yet made at Cheval Blanc. Elegant, soft and richly fruity, it offers up hints of wood spice, forest floor, flowers and black...