Wine Enthusiast (90)

89-91 Barrel sample. With sweet caramel aromas, this is a jammy wine, all sweet fruits, richness and not much structure. A wine that shows warmth and ripe fruits.

Vinous - Stephen Tanzer (92-94)

(in tank) Lemon and honeysuckle on the nose. At once rich and taut, with firm flavors of crystallized lemon peel and stone kept in check by strong acidity. This very tight, firmly constructed wine finishes with terrific grip. From vines averaging nearly 35 years of age.

Vinous (96)

Bright yellow with a green tinge. Classic Montée de Tonnerre aromas of lemon ice, crushed rock, iodiney minerality and white flowers. floral, lemon ice, straight and classic. Tactile, juicy and utterly gripping--in fact still almost painful today. Powerful salty minerality and penetrating acidity currently dominate the wine's lemon oil, grapefruit and floral flavors, with the wine showing a weightless impression. The dusty mineral-driven finish stains the palate and builds inexorably. (When I first tasted this wine from the barrel, I suggested that it might be the longest Chablis premier cru of the vintage.) Drink the 2010 for lunch now but hold this magical wine for another couple years, as its spring is still tightly coiled. This was my favorite wine of the tasting. The 2014 and 2010 vintages may be richer and deeper, as Isabelle Raveneau suggested to me three years ago, but this '08 is utterly classic. (12.69% alcohol; 3.14 pH; 4.4 g/l acidity; the days were sunny but the nights were quite chilly during the relatively early harvest of 2008, which concentrated the sugars and acidity, noted Isabelle Raveneau)

Vinous (94)

The 2008 Lytton Springs is a powerhouse. Today, the 2008 is in the zone. The aromatics have begun to open up, the mid-palate retains gorgeous depth and all the elements are in sync. Sweet herbs, tobacco, menthol and licorice wrap around the imposing finish. This is a decidedly virile vintage of the Lytton Springs. Well-stored bottles will drink well for another decade or more, as the 2008 still has a lot to say.

Wine Enthusiast (93)

92-94 Barrel sample. Rich rather than sweet, this is stuffed full of botrytis. The wine is powered through with this dusty texture, rolling richly but catching the dried fruit character.

As an esteemed connoisseur of fine wines, you will find that the Rizzi Barbaresco Boito Riserva 2008 perfectly exemplifies the craftsmanship and terroir of the celebrated region of Barbaresco, Italy. Created by the prestigious Rizzi winery, long renowned for their commitment to tradition and quality, this wine showcases the classic Nebbiolo grape variety in its pinnacle form.

Each grape is handpicked from Rizzi's high altitude Boito Vineyard, nestled in calcareous and clay soils, ensuring a luscious depth of flavour. The wine undergoes a prolonged fermentation and maceration, before being refined in Slavonian oak barrels for 36 months, followed by a further year in the bottle. This meticulous process unfolds an expressive, full-bodied profile layered with hints of cherry, plum and truffles, carried by firm tannins and a notable acidity.

Complex, balanced and finely tuned, the Rizzi Barbaresco Boito Riserva 2008 is an exceptional ambassador of Italy's esteemed viticulture heritage.

Wine Advocate (94)

Groffier’s 2008 Chambolle-Musigny Les Amoureuses shows stunning balance in its layers of intricately perfumed fruit. This is a totally beguiling wine laced with extraordinary elegance and an inviting, captivating personality. Sweet, fragrant fruit lingers on the delicate yet tense finish. Anticipated maturity: 2018-2028.

Vinous (97)

Always released a year later than the majority of the wines, the 2008 Barolo Riserva Vecchie Viti dei Capalot e delle Brunate is just as fabulous today as it was last year and every other time I have tasted it. Cool-mineral inflected notes grace the palate in this vibrant, beautifully delineated Barolo. A wine of pure structure and pedigree, the 2008 captivates the senses with layers of dark fruit, pine, menthol, new leather, tobacco, exotic spices and tar. Readers need to give the 2008 at least several more years in bottle, but, wow, what a wine!

Vinous (94)

A dark, super-ripe wine, the 2008 Valpolicella Superiore is fabulous in this vintage. Smoke, tar, incense, licorice and blackberry jam hit the palate in a massive, intense Valpolicella loaded with class and personality. Even with all of the concentration, the 2008 is quite a bit less tannic than some recent vintages have been, which makes it accessible even today, especially if given a little air. There is a lot to admire in this drop-dead gorgeous Valpolicella from Romano Dal Forno.

Moving elegantly in the echelon of the most exquisite dessert wines, the Ronchi di Cialla Colli Orientali Del Friuli Cialla Picolit 2008 bestows pronounced character. This Italian gem originates from the colli orientali region of Friuli Venezia Giulia, famed for its remarkable artisanal wines. Produced by the applauded Ronchi di Cialla winery, this selection exhibits an expert intertwining of tradition and innovation.

Housed in rich mineralic soils, the Picolit grapes are meticulously harvested and vinified, yielding an opulent golden elixir. On the nose, expect an aromatic symphony of dried apricots, honey, and vanilla, leading to a palate that balances sweetness with elegant freshness. It rounds off with a lingering, soft finish, casting a testament to its expert ageing in Slavonian oak barrels.

Look no further than the Ronchi di Cialla Colli Orientali Del Friuli Cialla Picolit 2008 for a sensory journey into the depths of northeastern Italian viticulture.

Wine Advocate (97)

The latest release, the 2008 Tokaji Essencia from the Royal Tokaji Wine Company, was tasted over a period of three days. It is clearly cut from a different cloth to the 2007, disproving the idea that wines of such extraordinary sweetness conform to type. It is lighter on the nose than the 2007, with freshly cut tangerines, apricot and orange zest. There is a brightness here, a sense of energy. The palate is founded upon energy and tension, a silver thread of acidity that cuts through the layer upon layer of orange zest, Japanese yuzu, tangerine and honey. This is an elegant and you might argue, more reserved Essencia compared to the 2007. The alcohol is slightly higher at a whopping 4%, a relatively easier Essencia to consume compared to the unctuous previous vintage. While it might not achieve the concentration of the 2007, the 2008 Essencia remains an otherworldly feat of nature. I actually shared the remaining bottle with winemakers from Argentina and Portugal in Hong Kong and they became wide-eyed with amazement. That's the magic of Essencia. It might constitute blasphemy, but the freshness means you can enjoy this now, or as my drinking window suggests, wait another 100 years, as temporally fantastical as that sounds.

Each case contains 1 bottle each of:

1. Mezes Maly Great First Growth 6 Puttonyos 2008 | 18.5/20 points Jancis Robinson MW
2. Szt Tamas First Growth 6 Puttonyos 2008 | 19/20 points Jancis Robinson MW
3. Nyulaszo First Growth 6 Puttonyos 2008 | 18.5/20 points Jancis Robinson MW
4. Betsek First Growth 6 Puttonyos 2008 | 18/20 points Jancis Robinson MW
5. Birsalmas Second Growth Aszu 6 Puttonyos 2008 | 18.5/20 points Jancis Robinson MW
6. Gold Label 6 Puttonyos 2008 | 17/20 points Jancis Robinson MW

Wine Advocate (100)

Disgorged in January 2019 with six grams per liter dosage, Salon's 2008 Brut Blanc de Blancs Le Mesnil is a striking wine, unwinding in the glass with scents of citrus oil, fresh bread, crisp green apple, white flowers, smoke and oyster shell. Full-bodied, layered and incisive, it's deep and concentrated, with a tightly coiled core of fruit that's underpinned by a racy spine of acidity. Seamless and unerringly precise, it concludes with a long and penetratingly mineral finish. Immense though its potential for aging is, its intensity and balance make it pleasurable as well as persuasive, even today. Given the eye-watering price of this magnum-only release, I was determined to hold the wine to the highest possible standards, but it surpasses even the prodigious 1996 and surely ranks as the finest Salon since at least the 1970s. In short, this is a Blanc de Blancs that admits no argument.

Vinous (94)

Salvioni's 2008 Brunello di Montalcino speaks to finesse above all else. Sensual, ever-changing aromatics draw the taster in. The 2008 is gracious and lifted on the palate, yet also possesses a remarkable sense of understated richness. Just starting to enter the early part of its maturity, the 2008 also has more than enough depth to drink well for another two decades or so.

The Wine Independent (97)

For Tenuta San Guido, "2008 was a beautiful year. Hot but not dry and not too hot," comments Carlo Paoli, general manager and head of winemaking. This 2008 Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia is still tight and youthful, and it is just starting to develop a garnet rim. The aromas were slow to reveal themselves but after 30 minutes, some notes of juniper, "macchia mediterranea", mint, and sweet tobacco appear. The texture is sublimely soft, round, and velvety - not heavy, but melting - with lots of juicy, vibrant acidity. With this vintage, the tannins continue in their refinement.

The Wine Independent (97)

For Tenuta San Guido, "2008 was a beautiful year. Hot but not dry and not too hot," comments Carlo Paoli, general manager and head of winemaking. This 2008 Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia is still tight and youthful, and it is just starting to develop a garnet rim. The aromas were slow to reveal themselves but after 30 minutes, some notes of juniper, "macchia mediterranea", mint, and sweet tobacco appear. The texture is sublimely soft, round, and velvety - not heavy, but melting - with lots of juicy, vibrant acidity. With this vintage, the tannins continue in their refinement.

Vinous (97)

The 2008 Screaming Eagle is a model of elegance. Endless layers of sweet, perfumed fruit caress the palate in this captivating, utterly seductive wine. The finesse and silkiness of the tannin is something that is truly unique among the world's great wines. If Grand Cru Burgundy were made in Napa Valley, it would taste like Screaming Eagle. A delicate, classy finish lets the sheer purity of the fruit come through beautifully here.

Vinous (92)

(57% cabernet sauvignon, 20% carmenere, 10% merlot, 8% petit verdot and 5% cabernet franc) Ruby-red. Musky redcurrant, cherry, spicecake and rose oil on the seductively perfumed nose. Silky, suave and fine-grained, in a distinctly elegant style. Red fruit and spice notes are complemented by a touch of bitter chocolate. The racy, dry, palate-staining finish shows full ripeness yet the wine comes off weightless. I'd bet on it rewarding at least another six or seven years of cellaring.

This assortment case contains:

1x150cl The Duel Syrah 2008 – 99 points | Wine Advocate

1x150cl The Duel Grenache 2008 – 97 points | Wine Advocate

Wine Advocate (93)

The 2008 Barbaresco Roncaglie is a bit darker and richer than the straight bottling. The flavor profile of dark cherries, licorice and spices is quite similar to that wine, but the Roncaglie shows additional volume from the greater reliance on French oak and more textural richness. The aromas and flavors build towards the authoritative, powerful finish. This is a hugely impressive effort within the context of the year. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2022.

James Suckling (96)

Wonderful pure Cabernet character, with currants, spices, flowers and violets. Velvety and fresh. Long and intense. Less austere than the 2007 with very sweet and ripe tannins. Such beauty. This is really powerful. Give it three to four years before trying a bottle.

James Suckling (96)

Wonderful pure Cabernet character, with currants, spices, flowers and violets. Velvety and fresh. Long and intense. Less austere than the 2007 with very sweet and ripe tannins. Such beauty. This is really powerful. Give it three to four years before trying a bottle.

James Suckling (96)

Wonderful pure Cabernet character, with currants, spices, flowers and violets. Velvety and fresh. Long and intense. Less austere than the 2007 with very sweet and ripe tannins. Such beauty. This is really powerful. Give it three to four years before trying a bottle.

Vinous (97)

After the highly unusual and exotic 2007, the 2008 Toscana Sangiovese marks a return to a more classic Soldera style. Here the flavors are quite bold and savory, while the structure is that of a wine built for aging. Sage, rosemary, tobacco, mint and leather notes wrap around a core of dark red stone fruits as this vivid, crystalline wine shows off its personality and pedigree. Readers lucky enough to find the 2008 are in for a thrill.

Vinous (93+)

The 2008 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Vigneto Monte Sant' Urbano is a real powerhouse. Readers will have to be patient with the 2008. Massive yet nicely integrated tannins support the fruit in a huge, hulking Amarone that holds considerable promise. Mocha, sweet Morello cherries, cloves and crushed rocks emerge over time, but only reluctantly. I can't wait to taste this with a little bottle age. A bottle opened before its tenth birthday is likely to be only partially fulfilling.