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Often the proof of the quality of a vintage is not just in the big names at high prices. We have felt right from the first tastings that (as in 2005) there are some exceptional, inexpensive wines to be found in 2008.
Our 2008 Château Puygueraud offer was a real success and inspired many of our clients to further enquire about good value wines of the vintage. So, we have a compiled a list of our top 10 wines from various appellations all under £200. Happy drinking.
Tasting scores are taken from Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate, Jancis Robinson’s Purple Pages, Wine Spectator, Matthew Jukes and Goedhuis & Co.
Ch Puygueraud, Côtes de Francs
£99.00 per 12 IB
2011 – 2020+
Deep, fruity and plump, this medium-full bodied wine is mouthfilling, moreish and just so easy to like. No hard edges in sight – just lots of ample, velvety fruit and ripe tannins. Despite its upfront appeal, it offers impressive concentration and length (yields were down by 50%) suggesting that this will be approachable young yet will have the potential to age. It finishes on black cherry, chocolate and minerals. Absolutely delicious.
GD:90-92
Ch Lanessan, Médoc
£105.00 per 12 IB
2012 – 2022+
“A wine to search out for value as well as essentially classified growth quality, this sleeper of the vintage offers copious quantities of creme de cassis, new saddle leather, and spice box aromas, a medium to full-bodied, concentrated style, ripe tannin, and good freshness and purity. Drink it over the next 15+ years.”RP:88-90
Ch La Croix Figeac, St. Emilion
£125.00 per 12 IB
2011 – 2020+
An upfront and aromatic St. Emilion that offers a delicious, velvety palate of savoury characters, succulent, fruit notes and attractive vanilla. The 2008 opens up beautifully finishing off with chocolate flavours and wonderful freshness that linger on the finish.
RP:89-91 GD:88-90
Ch Les Cruzelles, Lalande de Pomerol
£150.00 per 12 IB
2013 – 2026+
Owned and produced by Dénis Durantou (of l’Eglise Clinet), this 2008 really impressed us with its attractive aromatics displaying notes of brown sugar, sweet bramble fruit and damson plum. Though it is tight and reticent on the palate, it is beautifully balanced and poised which finishes on gently roasted coffee.
RP:90-92 GD:89-91
Ch Ormes de Pez, St. Estèphe
£160.00 per 12 IB
2012 – 2026+
Deeply purple in colour, this 2008 opens up with a fragrant nose of blackberry, blueberry and red plum. Focused and poised yet juicy and fresh, it is admirably polished making this St. Estèphe a particularly enticing wine. Excellent value.
RP:89-91 JR:17 WS: 87-90 MJ:16.5 GD:88-90
Ch Beau Soleil, Pomerol
£165.00 per 12 IB
2012 – 2022+
“The former proprietor of Chateau Talbot, Thierry Rustmann, is now the owner of this property and he appears to have pushed up the level of quality. The 2008’s sweet black cherry, licorice, caramel, and mocha characteristics form a plush, succulent style of Pomerol that exhibits medium to full body, good purity, and a fine finish. Drink it over the next decade.” Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, April 28, 2009
RP:88-90 GD:88-90
Ch Bonalgue, Pomerol
£165.00 per 12 IB
2012 – 2020+
“A consistently well made, fleshy, succulent, hedonistic Pomerol meant to be consumed during its first 10-12 years of life, Bonalgue’s 2008 is a sleeper of the vintage. Its deep ruby/purple color is accompanied by sweet black cherry and plum-like fruit, a fleshy texture, and a heady, long finish with ripe tannin and good freshness…” Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, April 28, 2009
RP:88-90 JR:16.5 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 a Haut Médoc. Wonderfully balanced, the palate offers notes of cassis and graphite which finish on an appealing salty tang.
RP:89-91 JR:16 WS:89-91 GD:88-90
Ch Batailley, Pauillac
£185.00 per 12 IB
2012 – 2025+
A fine, quintessential Pauillac that delivers a full-bodied palate of cassis, red cherry and cedar spice. Round and fleshy, yet focused and fresh, it is a well-balanced wine that will not disappoint Batailley fans. A good value 2008.
RP:90-92 JR:17 MJ:17 GD:89-91
Ch Gloria, St. Julien
£195.00 per 12 IB
2012 – 2026+
“This estate has been fashioning terrific wines over recent vintages, and the 2008 is an opulent, dense purple-hued effort…It exhibits fabulously pure fruit, a full-bodied mouthfeel, and a flamboyant, almost exotic richness. Very ripe, pure, and long…It is a fabulous sleeper of the vintage.” Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate, April 2009
RP:90-93 JR:16 WS:87-90 GD:88-90
For additional details go to our website www.goedhuis.com or call us on 020 7793 7900.