Bordeaux 08 - Robert Parker's Top Wines

Robert Parker has released his completed scores and notes for the 2008 Bordeaux En Primeur vintage which he rates as "at least excellent quality". In his words,

"... the 2008 vintage was dramatically better than I had expected. It had all the qualities that make an excellent and in some cases, a great vintage so special: exceptionally dark opaque colors, gorgeously ripe fruit, stunning purity almost across the board, great freshness (because it was a cool year), slightly higher acids than normal, and remarkable density as well as concentration. Moreover, one of the significant keys to evaluating quality is the maturity of the tannins. In 2008, the tannins are unusually velvety, even in wines that may lack concentration. By day three I was thinking about how this could have happened. When you look at all the facts (not the rumor-mongering from irresponsible bloggers), it seems clear that after the vinifications were done in late October and early November, something excellent had been produced.

...the long, historic hang-time, the cooler as well as drier than normal growing conditions during the critical months of June, July, August, and September, the perfect dry, warm July and late September and October, as well as very small yields, all resulted in a vintage of at least excellent quality. In some cases, there are wines as profound as 2005. In short, the vintage is vastly superior to 2007, 2006, 2004, 2003 (with some exceptions in that unusual vintage), 2002, 2001, and 1999."

Read Berrys' response on Parker's verdict for Bordeaux 08

Parker's Top-Scoring Wines

Parker has also rated highly Ch. Cos d'Estournel (94-96 ), Ch. La Mission Haut Brion (94-96 ), Ch. Mouton-Rothschild (94-96) ,Ch. Lynch-Bages (91-93) , Ch. Pichon-Longueville Baron (92-94), Ch Leoville-Barton (92-94), Ch. Montrose (95-97).

Berrys' Vintage Reviews

• Berrys' Best Wines of the Vintage
• Simon Staples' Bordeaux 2008 overview
• Jasper Morris'full Bordeaux 2008 vintage report
• Berrys' response on Parker's verdict for Bordeaux 08