Wine Spectator (94)

This finely knit and lithe Champagne is smoky up front, opening into a lovely range of pastry, glazed apricot, lemon curd and candied ginger notes in the glass. Vibrant acidity drives the satinlike finish.

Wine Spectator (94)

This finely knit and lithe Champagne is smoky up front, opening into a lovely range of pastry, glazed apricot, lemon curd and candied ginger notes in the glass. Vibrant acidity drives the satinlike finish.

Wine Spectator (92)

Polished and expressive, this full-bodied red delivers plum, coffee, mineral and licorice flavors that are focused and rich, with enough ripe, well-integrated tannins to carry them into maturity. A bit austere, but sophisticated and pure. Drink now through 2022. 2,100 cases made. -TM

Wine Advocate (97)

It is hard to call Petrus a “sleeper of the vintage,” but the 2008 will merit more attention than most consumers would think. Low yields of 30 hectoliters per hectare resulted in only 25,000 bottles of this beauty. A wine of great intensity (possibly the most concentrated wine of the vintage), this 100% Merlot boasts a dark purple color as well as a sweet perfume of mocha, caramel, black cherries, black currants, earth and forest floor. Deep, unctuously textured, full-bodied and pure, it will benefit from 4-5 years of cellaring and should drink well for 25-30+ years.

Wine Advocate (97)

It is hard to call Petrus a “sleeper of the vintage,” but the 2008 will merit more attention than most consumers would think. Low yields of 30 hectoliters per hectare resulted in only 25,000 bottles of this beauty. A wine of great intensity (possibly the most concentrated wine of the vintage), this 100% Merlot boasts a dark purple color as well as a sweet perfume of mocha, caramel, black cherries, black currants, earth and forest floor. Deep, unctuously textured, full-bodied and pure, it will benefit from 4-5 years of cellaring and should drink well for 25-30+ years.

Wine Advocate (97)

It is hard to call Petrus a “sleeper of the vintage,” but the 2008 will merit more attention than most consumers would think. Low yields of 30 hectoliters per hectare resulted in only 25,000 bottles of this beauty. A wine of great intensity (possibly the most concentrated wine of the vintage), this 100% Merlot boasts a dark purple color as well as a sweet perfume of mocha, caramel, black cherries, black currants, earth and forest floor. Deep, unctuously textured, full-bodied and pure, it will benefit from 4-5 years of cellaring and should drink well for 25-30+ years.

Wine Advocate (93+)

Dramatically better, the dark ruby/plum/garnet-hued 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate exhibits a subtly herbaceous nose with hints of sweet raspberries and black currants in the background. More backward than other great vintages such as 2007, 2005, 2004, 2002 and 2001, this medium to full-bodied, substantial 2008 needs 3-4 years of cellaring and should age for 15-20+ years. Although it is not one of his greatest classics, it is still a very fine effort, and will be very long-lived.

The Philippe Lancelot Rose des Lys Extra Brut Grand Cru 2008 is a quintessential expression of the terroir of Cramant, a celebrated village in France's Champagne region, renowned for its esteemed Chardonnays. This vintage is a result of Lancelot’s meticulous viticulture, enshrined by organic and biodynamic principles. With spontaneous fermentation undertaken in enameled vats followed by extended ageing on lees, the wine exudes a complexity and nuance that captivates the palate.

Immaculately structured, the Philippe Lancelot Rose des Lys Extra Brut Grand Cru 2008 offers a tantalising balance between brioche-like depth and sublime mineral freshness, encapsulated by its lean, elegant texture. Its extraordinarily fine mousse gives way to a sophisticated, layered array of white fruits, subtly intertwined with delicate floral undertones. This wine is incredibly exclusive, available in very limited quantities, owing to Lancelot's small-scale production and single-vineyard sourcing.

Wine Advocate (93)

Disgorged in September 2018 with 4.5 grams per liter dosage, the 2008 Extra Brut Grand Blanc is composed of vins clairs matured in barrel with blocked malolactic and vins clairs matured in tank that were allowed to complete malolactic. Exhibiting aromas of lemon oil, warm bread, hazelnut cream, wet stones and smoke, it's medium to full-bodied, ample and nicely concentrated, with a racy spine of acidity, a fine mousse and delicately chalky structure, concluding with a long and pure finish.

Vinous (98)

The 2008 Clos des Goisses is just as impressive today as it has always been. Rich, dense and explosive, the 2008 exists in three dimensions, with remarkable textural depth and vertical intensity to burn. Clos des Goisses is notoriously slow to develop. Readers who can be patient will be treated to a spectacular Champagne. The blend is 55% Chardonnay and 45% Pinot Noir, which makes the 2008 a rare Clos des Goisses that favors Chardonnay. About 75% of the lots were fermented in oak. Disgorged April 2017. Dosage is 4.25 grams per liter.

Vinous (98)

The 2008 Clos des Goisses is just as impressive today as it has always been. Rich, dense and explosive, the 2008 exists in three dimensions, with remarkable textural depth and vertical intensity to burn. Clos des Goisses is notoriously slow to develop. Readers who can be patient will be treated to a spectacular Champagne. The blend is 55% Chardonnay and 45% Pinot Noir, which makes the 2008 a rare Clos des Goisses that favors Chardonnay. About 75% of the lots were fermented in oak. Disgorged April 2017. Dosage is 4.25 grams per liter.

Wine Advocate (98+)

Disgorged in March 2019, the 2008 Extra Brut Clos des Goisses Juste Rosé is a fabulous forthcoming release from Philipponnat, opening in the glass with aromas of rose petals, warm bread, red berries, papaya and spices. On the palate, it's full-bodied, ample and layered, with an incisive spine of acidity, excellent concentration and a tight-knit core, concluding with a long, intense and chalky finish. This is still a very youthful, tensile rosé and patience will be required of anyone hoping to drink it at its peak of maturity.

Jancis Robinson (18)

Full bottle 1,697 g. From vineyards including the historic plots at Le Léon in Aÿ, complemented by Chardonnay from Le Mesnil-sur-Oger and Oger. Red wines from Mareuil. 72% Pinot Noir and 28% Chardonnay. Dosage 4.5 g/l, eight years sur latte, disgorged March 2019. 5,212 bottles. Long and racy. Bitter orange oils and raspberry-leaf tea, more than a little minty but with the cool-hit lift and bite of wasabi powder, fine-ground chalk and river pebbles, cumin powder, white pepper. Enormously complex but clenched as tight as a fist. White raspberries, grapefruit, redcurrants. Precision, finger-nail-pressed origami folds, so sharp the fruit has paper cuts. Exciting. Exacting. Tense yet creamy. Spice defines the finish and brings it to a close that feels like an unfinished poem. So you take another sip.

Wine Advocate (96)

The 2008 Mareuil-sur-Aÿ Extra Brut is one of a trio of single-plot cuvées, of which 2008 is the second vintage after 2006. Grown in several upper plots of the Clos des Goisses that are entirely planted with Pinot Noir (on more clayey soils), vinified 44% in wooden barrels (without malolactic fermentation), the 2008 Mareuil offers a clear, fresh and precise bouquet of red fruits, dark cherries and black chocolate. The palate is beautifully pure and fresh, very fine, elegant and light but also complex and is provided with a long, tensioned, very mineral and exciting finish. It is filigreed, very salty and stimulating in the aftertaste. Aged for at least seven years in the House’s cellars, the 2008 is only the second vintage after 2006. Disgorged in September 2017. Tasted at the domaine in April 2018. Total production: 3,339 bottles.

Vinous (95)

The 2008 Blanc de Blancs Cuvée Speciale is a blend of fruit from Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Oger, Avize and Cramant. Deep, resonant and beautifully layered in the glass, the 2008 is super-impressive. I especially admire the way the wine fleshes out with a bit of air. Citrus, sage, menthol and dried flowers add nuance to what is a very powerful wine. The 2008 saw full malolactic fermentation, with some bâtonnage for added texture. This is a superb showing from the Rothschild family.

Vinous (95)

The 2008 Blanc de Blancs Cuvée Speciale is a blend of fruit from Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Oger, Avize and Cramant. Deep, resonant and beautifully layered in the glass, the 2008 is super-impressive. I especially admire the way the wine fleshes out with a bit of air. Citrus, sage, menthol and dried flowers add nuance to what is a very powerful wine. The 2008 saw full malolactic fermentation, with some bâtonnage for added texture. This is a superb showing from the Rothschild family.

Immerse yourself in the elegance of Pierre Peters Les Chetillons Reserve Familiale 2008. Born in the grand cru vineyards of the Les Chétillons region in Champagne, France, this wine is a testament to the unsurpassed quality and expertise of Pierre Peters, a renowned winemaker for centuries. Made using 100% Chardonnay grapes, the wine undergoes extended ageing on lees to develop its distinct depth.

The result is a wine imbued with finesse — a harmonious blend of crisp acidity, layered minerality, and a hint of creaminess. It has a luminous pale gold hue, complemented by sumptuous notes of ripe apple, pear, almond and brioche. On the palate, it reveals an opulence with a persistent finish, undoubtedly reflecting the exceptional vintage of 2008. A rare jewel from Pierre Peters, the Les Chetillons Reserve Familiale 2008 is an exquisite addition to any discerning wine collection.

Jancis Robinson (18)

Just mid ruby with broad orange-tinged rim. Lifted, fresh and a little wild on the nose! Ripe sweet cherry with a spiced theme running through it. Crunchy tannin. Great balance and style and unpolished.

Wine Advocate (95)

Great elegance and finesse already on the perfectly brilliant and aromatic nose shows Pol Roger's 2008 Blanc de Blancs Brut, displaying white and stewed apples with fine citrus flavors and discreet chalky aromas. The palate is dense and citric, as if limes and lemons are squeezed on a chalky rock. The purity, power and intensity is as remarkable, as is the finesse and persistence of the bubbles, the mousse on the palate and the long, persistent finish. Dosed with seven grams per liter, this extraordinary Blanc de Blanc Brut tastes drier than the Réserve Brut, but reveals a perfect ripeness of yellow fruits. The finish is lovely aromatic and intense, but also clear, fresh, firm and absolutely stimulating. This is a great Blanc de Blancs from the Grand Cru villages of Oiry, Chouilly, Cramant, Avize and Oger.

Jancis Robinson (17)

All grands and premiers crus. 60% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay. Aged eight years on the lees.. Dosage 7 g/l. Disgorged 17 October 2016. Tasted blind. Rather simpler nose than the other vintage of Pol Roger tasted alongside [the 2009]. Lots of lemon on the palate – lemon soufflé. Then it falls away a little. Very brisk (a clue ignored?)! 2009

Wine Enthusiast (100)

One of the great Champagnes both for its richness and its longevity, this latest incarnation is superb. The wine's richness is linked to the ripe fruit and the dominance of Pinot Noir in the blend. It also shines in the perfect balance between the texture, the minerality and the integration of the fruit. It can be enjoyed now, but it will be better from 2020 and then for many years to come.

Wine Advocate (96)

The 2008 Clos de la Roche Cuvee Vieilles Vignes is a silky, elegant wine. Freshly cut roses, dark red fruit and minerals sit on a core of utterly refined tannins. This shows stunning balance in a weightless style that gains energy on the clean, focused finish. This is a fabulous effort from Ponsot. Anticipated maturity: 2018-2033.

Jancis Robinson (18.5)

Four barrels made from 103 year-old vines. The yield in 2008 was just 12 hl/ha (‘We lose money on it’, according to Laurent Ponsot). Very opulent with a hauntingly layered nose. Almost more reminiscent of a cherry liqueur than a wine. Great energy – rather like a healthy drink for its real spine of life. Subtle, sweet, wild and long but with excellent freshness. ‘Probably the sort of wine that was drunk 200 years ago,’ Ponsot claims.

Jeb Dunnuck (96)

Unquestionably one of the gems in the vintage is the 2008 Pontet-Canet, which reminds me of the 2005 with its concentrated, deep, powerful style. Beautiful dark fruits, graphite, obvious minerality, and classic Pauillac lead pencil notes all emerge from this still youthful, full-bodied, and pure 2008 that’s 4-5 years away from maturity and will keep for 30+ years. Hats off to Alfred Tesseron for another awesome wine that ranks up with the crème de la crème of the vintage.

Jeb Dunnuck (96)

Unquestionably one of the gems in the vintage is the 2008 Pontet-Canet, which reminds me of the 2005 with its concentrated, deep, powerful style. Beautiful dark fruits, graphite, obvious minerality, and classic Pauillac lead pencil notes all emerge from this still youthful, full-bodied, and pure 2008 that’s 4-5 years away from maturity and will keep for 30+ years. Hats off to Alfred Tesseron for another awesome wine that ranks up with the crème de la crème of the vintage.

IWSC (97)

An expressive buttered brioche nose, gun smoke reduction, red fruit and toasted almond and pistachio notes. This very precise and elegant Champagne has a piercing acidity that underscores the long finish of lime zest, quince and apple.

Jeb Dunnuck (98+)

The 2008 Champagne Rare Rosé is straight-up sensational. Only the second time they’ve produced this cuvée, it offers a deep, full-bodied, powerful yet chiseled and laser-focused style carrying loads of wild strawberry fruit as well as notes of orange blossom, spice, and crushed rocks. Backward, austere, yet simply loaded with potential, it needs a solid 4-5 years of bottle age and will drink brilliantly for two decades or more.