3 | Wine | Saint Julien, 2008

"A stunning sleeper of the vintage. ...this beautiful, already irresistible plum/garnet-colored 2008 is a wine to purchase by the case. It possesses a dense plum/purple color, a glorious perfume of Christmas fruitcake, cedarwood, black currants, jammy cherries and licorice, medium to full body and a silky personality. It will provide both a hedonistic and intellectual turn-on over the next 10-15 years." Reviewed by Robert Parker.

"Reveals an angular, austere personality along with medium to full-bodied, deep, concentrated fruit. An unusually backward and highly tannic 2008, it will benefit from 3-4 years of cellaring and should keep for 20 years." Reviewed by Robert Parker.

"The dark ruby/purple-hued 2008 reveals an angular, austere personality along with medium to full-bodied, deep, concentrated fruit. An unusually backward and highly tannic 2008, it will benefit from 3-4 years of cellaring and should keep for 20 years." Reviewed by Robert Parker.

"Another sleeper of the vintage. ...this very stylish St.-Julien has a dark ruby/purple color, light tannins, but beautiful berry fruit intermixed with some underbrush, mocha, and floral notes. Fruity and already charming, this wine should drink nicely for 8-10 years." Reviewed by Robert Parker.

"An outstanding wine and a great sleeper of the vintage. ...this second wine exhibits a denser purple color along with a sweet kiss of creme de cassis, licorice, incense and graphite. Fruity and medium to full-bodied , with an impressive texture and supple tannins, this wine should drink well for 10-15 years." Reviewed by Robert Parker.

"One of the stars of the vintage, and a remarkable achievement in 2008, with impressive richness, this dense purple colored wine is almost as opaque as the 2010. Spring flowers, crushed rocks, creme de cassis and some subtle oak are followed by a full-bodied, concentrated wine that transcends the vintage character in its power, richness, and aging potential. It also exhibits tremendous precision, purity, and depth of character." Reviewed by Robert Parker.

"This stunning effort is a wine to buy by the case. Its opaque ruby/purple color is followed by aromas of graphite, barbecue smoke, blackberries and black currants. The full-bodied, textured 2008 Saint-Pierre reveals a skyscraper-like mouthfeel along with tremendous viscosity and unctuosity. One of the richest and potentially longest-lived 2008s, it is a fabulous sleeper of the vintage. Drink it over the next 20+ years." Reviewed by Robert Parker.

"Notes of crushed rock, black currants and some forest floor notes emerge. Impressively built, medium to full-bodied, layered and stunningly concentrated, this is a sleeper vintage for Leoville Las Cases that should improve considerably, given how closed it was the day I tasted it." Reviewed by Robert Parker.

"Typically extracted and powerful (which is atypical in a vintage such as 2008. ...this offering may lack charm, but it is “locked and loaded” with plenty of background oak, huge black cherry and black currant fruit, medium to full body and a boatload of tannin." Reviewed by Robert Parker.

"One of the finest over-achieving efforts in this vintage as well as a “best buy” for a top-flight St.-Julien, this 2008 is an irresistible success. It reveals an opaque ruby/purple color, lots of unctuosity and a boatload of sweet cassis and black cherry fruit intertwined with notions of licorice, smoke and oak. Full-bodied, remarkably concentrated and stunningly pure and textured, this sensational wine is already drinking well, and will be even better with 2-3 years of cellaring. It should last for 20-25 years. Bravo!" Reviewed by Robert Parker.