2008 Château Magdelaine, St Emilion, Bordeaux

2008 Château Magdelaine, St Emilion, Bordeaux

Product: 20088123839
 
2008 Château Magdelaine, St Emilion, Bordeaux

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Description

This property always requires patient cellaring for the many intriguing layers to knit together, and in 2008 Magdelaine seems to be true to its character. Lots of sweet red and black fruit on the nose and palate, but without being overpowering, then full, but supple, tannin and some prominent acidity complete the component parts for a quality vin de garde.

 

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Critics reviews

Wine Advocate
A sleeper of the vintage, this well-executed 2008 St.-Emilion exhibits a dark plum/ruby/purple-tinged color as well as a glorious bouquet of sweet black cherries, licorice and powdered limestone, a good texture, medium to full body and a pure style. Combining substance with finesse, it should age effortlessly for 15+ years.
Robert M. Parker, Jr. - Wine Advocate - Issue#194 - May 2011 Read more

About this WINE

Chateau Magdelaine

Chateau Magdelaine

Château Magdelaine, was a notable 1er grand cru classé, in St-Emilion owned by the famous firm of Ets Jean-Pierre Moueix.

Magdelaine had 10.4 hectares of vineyards, of which six were on the famous St Emilion limestone ridge (very close to Ch. Ausone) and the remainder on clay- and limestone-based slopes. Merlot performs particularly well on these limestone-rich soils and at Magdelaine it is the dominant grape, making up 90 percent of the blend – a higher proportion than is found in any other Premier Grand Cru Classé from St Emilion. The final vintage of Magdelaine was 2011, before it was swallowed up by Ch. Bélair-Monange.

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St Émilion

St Émilion

St Émilion is one of Bordeaux's largest producing appellations, producing more wine than Listrac, Moulis, St Estèphe, Pauillac, St Julien and Margaux put together. St Emilion has been producing wine for longer than the Médoc but its lack of accessibility to Bordeaux's port and market-restricted exports to mainland Europe meant the region initially did not enjoy the commercial success that funded the great châteaux of the Left Bank. 

St Émilion itself is the prettiest of Bordeaux's wine towns, perched on top of the steep limestone slopes upon which many of the region's finest vineyards are situated. However, more than half of the appellation's vineyards lie on the plain between the town and the Dordogne River on sandy, alluvial soils with a sprinkling of gravel. 

Further diversity is added by a small, complex gravel bed to the north-east of the region on the border with Pomerol.  Atypically for St Émilion, this allows Cabernet Franc and, to a lesser extent, Cabernet Sauvignon to prosper and defines the personality of the great wines such as Ch. Cheval Blanc.  

In the early 1990s there was an explosion of experimentation and evolution, leading to the rise of the garagistes, producers of deeply-concentrated wines made in very small quantities and offered at high prices.  The appellation is also surrounded by four satellite appellations, Montagne, Lussac, Puisseguin and St. Georges, which enjoy a family similarity but not the complexity of the best wines.

St Émilion was first officially classified in 1954, and is the most meritocratic classification system in Bordeaux, as it is regularly amended. The most recent revision of the classification was in 2012

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Merlot/Cabernet Franc

Merlot/Cabernet Franc

Merlot and Cabernet Franc are grape varieties commonly used in Bordeaux-style blends, particularly in the Bordeaux region of France. When these two grapes are blended, they can create a wine that combines the best characteristics of each variety.

Merlot is known for its smoothness, soft tannins, and ripe fruit flavours. It often contributes black cherry, plum, and chocolate flavours to the blend. The grapes are relatively easy to grow and ripen earlier than other Bordeaux varieties, making them versatile for blending.

Cabernet Franc, on the other hand, adds structure, depth, and complexity to the blend. It typically brings aromas of red fruits such as raspberry and strawberry, along with herbal notes like bell pepper and tobacco. These grapes have thinner skins and can be more challenging to cultivate, requiring specific growing conditions to reach their full potential.

When Merlot and Cabernet Franc are combined, the result is a well-balanced wine with various flavours and aromas. The blend often exhibits a Bordeaux wine's medium to full body, along with a smooth texture and moderate tannins. The specific flavour profile can vary depending on the proportions of each grape in the blend and the terroir and winemaking techniques employed.

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