2008 North America

When I first heard about the wine, prior to opening a sample bottle, the concern at the back of my mind was that it was going to be another heavily-manipulated, over-extracted, over-oaked Napa Valley Cabernet, utterly lacking in elegance and finesse. Well, nothing could be further from the truth; the bouquet displays intense aromas of cassis, plum and black cherry, with hints of graphite and crushed rocks.  On the palate the richness fills the mouth, with liquorice notes combining with the dark, berry fruit flavours.  The tannins are very present but are exceptionally well-managed, so no harshness or austerity intrudes.  The finish is extraordinary, with massive length but one is left with an overriding sense of grace and elegance rather than sheer power. In short, this is a wine of sublime sophistication which is highly reflective of its terroir, and is more than a match for top-level Classified Growths of Bordeaux in quality terms.  Can be drunk from 2015 but capable of a further 25 years ageing.

The 2008 IX Estate wine is 69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc and 6% Petit Verdot. After fermentation the wine spent 21 months in new French oak barrels before being bottled unfined and unfiltered.

How much fun collectors will have comparing the 2007 and 2008 La Joies over the next three decades. A blend of 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec (48% from Alexander Valley Mountain Estate, 34% from Chalk Hill and 18% from Knight’s Valley), the 2008 has similar technical numbers to the 2007 (a pH of 3.68 and 14.4% alcohol). Wonderful notes of roasted herbs, asphalt, black truffles, blackberries, cassis, camphor and subtle oak are present in the majestic aromatics. In the mouth, the wine is extraordinarily concentrated, pure and dense with amazing length. It is another 30-40 year wine that confirms the confidence the late Jess Jackson had in both his vineyard sources and his winemaker, Pierre Seillan.  99 points. 
Robert Parker

A blend of 90% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 3% Malbec (52% Chalk Hill, 45% Alexander Mountain Estate and 3% Bennett Valley fruit), the 2008 may have even greater intensity and richness than the 2007. Still young and unformed, it exhibits phenomenal richness and equilibrium as well as a finish that lasts nearly a minute. Its dense plum/purple color is accompanied by notions of black fruits, forest floor, truffles and spring flowers. It should age for 25-30+ years. 100 points. 
Robert Parker

Monte Bello 2008 is the first vintage with only Cabernet and Merlot in the final blend. 'We think press wines can really make all the difference.' Very firm and savoury with a trace of lively, savoury US oak on the nose at the moment. Beautiful texture, rich and round.
Jancis Robinson MW, jancisrobinson.com - March 2010

A vintage that saw rain in late September, the 2008 Syrah Cailloux Vineyard is a co-fermented blend of 90+% Syrah and the balance Viognier, that wasn’t harvested until October 10. Hitting 14.1% natural alcohol, it’s drinking beautifully today and offers a meaty, iodine, peppery and plum-pit bouquet to go with a full-bodied, refined and elegant feel on the palate. It shows more and more floral and rose petal qualities with time in the glass, has plenty of mid-palate depth and will have no issues evolving for another decade.
Jeb Dunnuck - Wine Advocate - eRobertParker.com - Jun 2015

The 2008 En Chamberlin Vineyard Syrah offers up notes of tar, licorice, earthy minerals, blueberry, and blackberry. Dense and powerful on the palate, this appears to be Baron’s take on Hermitage. Just another great set of wines from Christophe Baron.
Jay Miller - Wine Advocate #196 - Aug 2011

This rich full-bodied wine features a deep intense ruby colour, and deliciously persistent aromas of ripe red raspberry, dark chocolate with toasty caramel and vanilla notes. Opulent notes of blackberry fruit, spice and pepper grace the palate with a well-rounded tannin structure and fruit-driven lingering finish. 60% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot, 5% Malbec.
Our first-ever wine from British Columbia, and offered to us through the Bordeaux market, which is highly appropriate since the style is unashamedly that of old-fashioned claret. This winery is the realisation of a joint venture between Vincor Canada and Taillan Group in Bordeaux. They always believed it was possible to produce top-quality grapes in this sheltered valley in British Columbia and this is the result. The grapes are planted on a mixture of sand, clay, gravel and rock and after harvesting are totally de-stemmed before being fermented in stainless steel tanks. The wine then spends 20 months in French oak barrels, 60% new, before bottling. The bouquet is a blend of plum, blackcurrant and graphite; the palate shows more of the same but with crisp acidity and firm tannins added in. The wine clearly has considerable ability to age and has an appeal which will endear it to lovers of traditional claret. It is of a quality level which is unquestionably at the top level of the Cru Bourgeois classification in Bordeaux, if not higher.
Alun Griffiths MW, Wine Director

Interesting French-like Syrahs are also made from the estate's steep hillside vineyards. The 2008 IX Syrah Estate is performing even better than it did last year from barrel. Juicy bacon fat, roasted meat, grilled herb and smoky notes are classic northern Rhone Syrah characteristics. A floral component suggests some Viognier could be co-fermented, but this is 100% Syrah. The wood is well-concealed in this full-bodied, delicious wine. It is capable of a decade or more of cellaring.
Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

The fruit for this blend of 61% Cabernet Franc, 31% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec came from Chalk Hill (58%) and Alexander Valley (42%). Pierre Seillan believes the Chalk Hill fruit provides a truffle-like character and the Alexander Valley gives minerality, structure, tannin and intensity. The 2008 will be fascinating to taste next to the 2007 over the next 30+ years. Sweet mulberry, blueberry and blackberry fruit intermixed with notions of black truffles, damp earth and forest floor emerge from this beauty of stunning intensity, purity and texture. The alcohol is 14.4% and the relatively elevated pH is 3.76. 100 points.
Robert Parker