2008 Wine

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...

Wine Spectator, 93 points: A well-cut, minerally version, with a firm backbone of acidity and a lacy mousse, layered with flavors of baked currant, toast and lemon curd. Offers a racy, spiced finish. Disgorged January 2016. Drink now through...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 92 points: The Raphet 2008 Chambertin Clos de Beze smells alluringly of ripe dark cherry, licorice, ginger, blond tobacco, and hyacinth. Supple and tender, loaded with lightly-cooked cherry yet preserving a vintage-typical fruit...

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 Enthusiast, 95 points: This wine is rich and surprisingly full-bodied. It comes from a great Champagne vintage, giving it both intensity and an acidity built for longterm aging. This half-bottle version is filling out, showing almond flavors...

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.

Antonio Galloni's Vinous, 94 points: 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...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 94 points: Mainly from Aÿ (with a bit of Mailly and Oger as well as Cramant) the 2008 Grand Cru Extra Brut 1522 blends 58% Pinot Noir with 42% Chardonnay and opens with a concentrated tropical fruit aroma (pineapples, stone fruits...

Wine Spectator, 94 points: Dark and dense, but emerges with vivid color and bright flavors of raspberry, black cherry and a hint of peach, beautifully tinged with cocoa, licorice and mineral notes as the finish sails on impressively. Drink now...

Wine Spectator, 90 points: Racy and fresh with a delicious core of mulled plum and fig fruit liberally laced with bright cassis violet and chalk notes. The long mouthwatering finish has nice cut. Merlot Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink...

Wine Enthusiast, 94 points: Cellar Selection. In the powerful style of Lynch-Bages, although perhaps less exuberant than usual. Instead the concentration comes from juicy fruit, which gives it the a softer quality. Even so, it still has solid...

TheWineCellarInsider.com, 96 points: Rich, full-bodied, deep, intense and loaded to the brim with crème de cassis, tobacco, smoke, wet forest floor and cherry pipe tobacco elements, the wine is mouth-filling, tannic, long, deep and complex. Everything about...

jamessuckling.com, 93 points: This is a balanced wine with dried berry and prune character with hints of cedar. Full body, with firm tannins and a juicy finish. Delicious and flavorful. Lovely now. Absolutely delicious.

Wine Enthusiast, 95 points: Rich and concentrated touched easily by toasty wood. The tannins are so sweet blending easily into the powerful texture of black berry fruits with hints of licorice. This is a ripe wine its acidity always present. - R.V.