The 2008 Bordeaux vintage is a harvest that is often overlooked. The wines were made during an economic downturn and the vintage lacked the effusive praise offered for the 2009 and 2010 harvests. The 2008 clarets are still available in the market and are well worth investigation. They offer a lighter style for claret lovers and the best wines show a fine balance of fruit and tannin. The wines have shed their youthful tannins and are beginning to show their best now. For most of the last three decades, Château Léoville-Barton has been producing top-notch Bordeaux at a relatively reasonable cost given the quality of the wine and the formidable prices of its second-growth peers. The 2008 is a delicious example of Saint-Julien style and shows a classic claret character with blackcurrant, plum and blackberry fruit aromas enhanced by elements of cedar, violets, herbs and toasty oak. The flavors are elegant and supple, with the plush black fruits interwoven with the herb, vanilla and spice tones. As it is maturing, the 2008 Château Léoville-Barton shows a perfectly harmonious style and will provide delicious drinking for yet another decade and beyond.
Château Léoville-Barton, Saint-Julien (Bordeaux, France) 2008
By Wayne Belding