2008 Red Wine

Vinous, 94 points: Vega Sicilia’s 2008 Tinto Valbuena 5 Anos is compelling. A young, intense wine, the 2008 is going to need significant time to fully come together, but it boasts superb depth, persistence and a total sense of harmony...

jamessuckling.com, 93 points: Aromas of dried cherries and plums with hints of flowers follow through to a full body with velvety tannins and a juicy, meaty, fruity aftertaste. Turns to chocolate powder as well. Drink or hold.

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 95 points: This wine was first produced in 1983, and production remains unbroken because no vintage was ever skipped. The 2008 Cabernet Alzero is 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc with 20% Merlot. These are the first grapes...

Burghound, 93 points: (BH90-93 points) This is also elegant, pure and broadly aromatic with hints of earth, underbrush and a touch of the sauvage adding nuance to the red currant and violet notes that introduce rich and rather serious...

Decanter, 98 points: This takes a heartbeat to kick in, and then the weight and impact of this wine slowly kicks in. Those Cabernets have lift and punch, and although it's not ethereal like the Ausone or even the Lafite, it has power...

Vinous, 91 points: Good bright red-ruby. Sexy, pure aromas of dark cherry, rose and violet. Juicy, delicate and penetrating, with pinot-like weight and sappiness. Displays a captivating sweetness without any loss of energy. Finishes long...

Vinous, 96 points: The 2008 Pichon-Longueville Baron has a refined and focused bouquet with classic blackberry, mint and graphite aromas that gather momentum with aeration. The palate is beautifully balanced with pure black fruit, a fine...

Vinous, 91 points: Bright ruby. Sappy and tightly focused raspberry and cherry aromas are complemented by notes of cinnamon and allspice. Sweet and penetrating on the palate, which offers sexy red berry preserve and floral flavors, with a...

Vinous, 93 points: In 2008, Quintarelli did not bottle Amarone, but instead chose to declassify the juice into Rosso del Bepi. Fragrant and expressive, with a good deal of aromatic nuance, the Rosso is a terrific choice for readers who want...

Wine Spectator, 92 points: Inviting on the nose, with warm fig bread and hoisin sauce notes leading the way for lush cherry preserve, crushed plum and anise flavors. Silky and rounded on the finish, with a long, lingering black licorice note. Drink...

Vinous, 92 points: Good dark red with a ruby tinge; not the darkest of these more recent vintages. Lively nose combines cassis, licorice, bitter chocolate, mint, leather and vanillin oak; hinted at a slight candied fruit quality as it...

Wine Spectator, 90 points: Juicy, with kirsch, raspberry and linzer torte notes that pump along nicely, with velvety tannins and a spice box– and black tea–loaded finish. Delicious. Drink now through 2015. 700 cases made. –JM