Sid Cross on Bordeaux 2008 Arriving In Vancouver

However there is always a buzz of excitement when a new year is released commercially normally some three  years after the vintage. The time has arrived for the under rated 2008.

The '08s come after two less celebrated years of 2006 and 2007 and before the very highly touted riper 2009 and 2010. Twenty years later this recalls a repetition of the three good years in a row with the more classic 1988 followed by the two riper years of 1989 and 1990.  The purchase of the 2008s as futures back in 2009 during a tough economy at low prices has resulted in some relatively good values now for the consumer. Certainly when the 2009 and 2010 are released one and two years subsequently they will be much more expensive. Most 2008 have enough fruit with good structure, balance and a classic styling that you can enjoy relatively early but will cellar well.

The main release will be on Saturday October 1, 2011 at many BC Liquor Stores. Check out their impressive 2008 booklet free at most LDB stores prepared by Barbara Philip MW Portfolio Manager. Another release is Saturday September 17 by the indefatigable John Clerides and his gang at Marquis Wine Cellars 1034 Davie Street in Vancouver. Check out their website www.marquis-wines.com/wine-tasting/special-events-and-tastings for more details.

Interesting to compare prices and wonder how Marquis has cheaper prices than the LDB for Cheval Blanc at $949.90 ($999), Les Forts de Latour $159.90 ($289) and Léoville Poyferré $99.90 ($108). The killer buy now gone was Marquis futures 2008 for Carruades de Lafite now a Chinese hot commodity that was 20% of the current release price at LDB of $588. Marquis has a fun 2008 Bordeaux Supérieur Chateau Bolaire for $27.90 packed with flavourful 35% petit verdot, 40% merlot and 25% cabernet sauvignon that is worth checking out.

Bill Blatch of Vintex was in Vancouver on September 21 & 22, 2012 presenting his thoughts on the 2008s for the BCLDB product consultants (and barrel samples of the ripe but structured 2010s for the trade and media). His interesting quote on the 2008s was "This was a late-harvest vintage, so as expected the style is fine and racy, with ripe red fruit rather than black fruit tones. As an Englishman, this is my kind of wine: the beautiful balance of, say, 2004 but with something more solid going on in the mid-palate. It also had the added advantage of coming to market during the second economic dip in 2009."

We still wish the LDB would enter the 21st century and allow the BC resident to purchase on line rather than line up for hours at a store. First a caveat emptor on the bottles I tried of Puy-Blanquet (unclean) and a personal long time favourite Grand Puy Lacoste (unusual band aid aromas). That said there are some good values and I would submit this personal top ten list to look out for:

2008

D'Aiguilhe Cotes de Castillon $39

Haut-Bergey Pessac Léognan  $58

Batailley Pauillac $59

Lagrange St Julien $68

Kirwan Margaux $69

D'Issan Margaux $69

Domaine De Chevalier Pessac Léognan $75

Malescot Saint Exupéry Margaux $75

Branaire-Ducru St Julien $78

Clerc Milon Pauillac $79