WINEMAKER NOTES
2008 Chateau Margaux, Margaux, France
No vintage between 2004 and 2008 with the notable exception of course of 2005, had glorious weather during the month of August; still, every year, the grapes have ripened (particularly those in the great terroirs), thanks to fine weather in September.
But other positive factors might not be obvious: in 2008 the July drought and the nice weather from mid-September onwards probably limited the consequences of the regular and light August showers. There are no miracles, just ignorance... As always it is our drastic selection which brings out the true spirit of a vintage.
2008 is no exception to the rule. The first wine only represents 36% of the crop (31% at bottling, once the wine has lost its lees due to the rackings during the aging in barrel). Each grape variety plays its harmonious part in the blend: our best Merlot (10%) brings more power, fatness and flesh than it did in 2006 or 2007; the Cabernet Sauvignon (87%) is as usual the heart and the soul of the wine.
Not forgetting the Cabernet Franc (1.5%) and the Petit Verdot (1.5%) whose modest presence does not truly reflect their influence in the blend. The 2008 is a very fine Château Margaux, it displays a nose of great finesse and purity, and it is as deep and charming as the 2004.
What really amazes us is its power on the palate: we never expected such density, length and richness. The tannins are superb! They give the Château Margaux 2008 a very tight-grained texture, wonderful length, and a more classic personality than previously thought. Ideally, wait a few more years before starting to drink it. (October 2018).
Climate
After quite a dry winter, spring was cool and damp; in fact it was so chilly at the beginning of April that we used our anti-frost sprays on April 7th at Virefougasse, our Sauvignon Blanc plot. May was particularly wet, which increased the risk of downy mildew at a time when the vines were most vulnerable, so that for the second year in a row, we had to carefully monitor the health of the vines.
Nevertheless we continued our research on alternative solutions to chemical sprays; the conditions provided us with an ideal opportunity to do so. The flowering began at the very beginning of June, right on the normal date, although it was partly affected by heavy rains, which were no doubt responsible for the coulure and millerandage observed in some of the Merlot plots.
Also, the vines showed fewer potential grapes than last year, so we knew that we were in for a smaller crop. The weather was cool throughout the summer, with temperatures around two degrees below average in July, August and September.
July, however, was very dry with barely 10 mm (0.4 of an inch) of rain, whereas in August and up until September 15th, it rained regularly. This chilly and humid weather slowed the color transformation of the grapes and their ripening process while it gradually affected our spirits…
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2008 Chateau Margaux, Margaux, France
No vintage between 2004 and 2008 with the notable exception of course of 2005, had glorious weather during the month of August; still, every year, the grapes have ripened (particularly those in the great terroirs), thanks to fine weather in September.
But other positive factors might not be obvious: in 2008 the July drought and the nice weather from mid-September onwards probably limited the consequences of the regular and light August showers. There are no miracles, just ignorance... As always it is our drastic selection which brings out the true spirit of a vintage.
2008 is no exception to the rule. The first wine only represents 36% of the crop (31% at bottling, once the wine has lost its lees due to the rackings during the aging in barrel). Each grape variety plays its harmonious part in the blend: our best Merlot (10%) brings more power, fatness and flesh than it did in 2006 or 2007; the Cabernet Sauvignon (87%) is as usual the heart and the soul of the wine.
Not forgetting the Cabernet Franc (1.5%) and the Petit Verdot (1.5%) whose modest presence does not truly reflect their influence in the blend. The 2008 is a very fine Château Margaux, it displays a nose of great finesse and purity, and it is as deep and charming as the 2004.
What really amazes us is its power on the palate: we never expected such density, length and richness. The tannins are superb! They give the Château Margaux 2008 a very tight-grained texture, wonderful length, and a more classic personality than previously thought. Ideally, wait a few more years before starting to drink it. (October 2018).
Climate
After quite a dry winter, spring was cool and damp; in fact it was so chilly at the beginning of April that we used our anti-frost sprays on April 7th at Virefougasse, our Sauvignon Blanc plot. May was particularly wet, which increased the risk of downy mildew at a time when the vines were most vulnerable, so that for the second year in a row, we had to carefully monitor the health of the vines.
Nevertheless we continued our research on alternative solutions to chemical sprays; the conditions provided us with an ideal opportunity to do so. The flowering began at the very beginning of June, right on the normal date, although it was partly affected by heavy rains, which were no doubt responsible for the coulure and millerandage observed in some of the Merlot plots.
Also, the vines showed fewer potential grapes than last year, so we knew that we were in for a smaller crop. The weather was cool throughout the summer, with temperatures around two degrees below average in July, August and September.
July, however, was very dry with barely 10 mm (0.4 of an inch) of rain, whereas in August and up until September 15th, it rained regularly. This chilly and humid weather slowed the color transformation of the grapes and their ripening process while it gradually affected our spirits…
2008 Chateau Margaux, Margaux, France
No vintage between 2004 and 2008 with the notable exception of course of 2005, had glorious weather during the month of August; still, every year, the grapes have ripened (particularly those in the great terroirs), thanks to fine weather in September.
But other positive factors might not be obvious: in 2008 the July drought and the nice weather from mid-September onwards probably limited the consequences of the regular and light August showers. There are no miracles, just ignorance... As always it is our drastic selection which brings out the true spirit of a vintage.
2008 is no exception to the rule. The first wine only represents 36% of the crop (31% at bottling, once the wine has lost its lees due to the rackings during the aging in barrel). Each grape variety plays its harmonious part in the blend: our best Merlot (10%) brings more power, fatness and flesh than it did in 2006 or 2007; the Cabernet Sauvignon (87%) is as usual the heart and the soul of the wine.
Not forgetting the Cabernet Franc (1.5%) and the Petit Verdot (1.5%) whose modest presence does not truly reflect their influence in the blend. The 2008 is a very fine Château Margaux, it displays a nose of great finesse and purity, and it is as deep and charming as the 2004.
What really amazes us is its power on the palate: we never expected such density, length and richness. The tannins are superb! They give the Château Margaux 2008 a very tight-grained texture, wonderful length, and a more classic personality than previously thought. Ideally, wait a few more years before starting to drink it. (October 2018).
Climate
After quite a dry winter, spring was cool and damp; in fact it was so chilly at the beginning of April that we used our anti-frost sprays on April 7th at Virefougasse, our Sauvignon Blanc plot. May was particularly wet, which increased the risk of downy mildew at a time when the vines were most vulnerable, so that for the second year in a row, we had to carefully monitor the health of the vines.
Nevertheless we continued our research on alternative solutions to chemical sprays; the conditions provided us with an ideal opportunity to do so. The flowering began at the very beginning of June, right on the normal date, although it was partly affected by heavy rains, which were no doubt responsible for the coulure and millerandage observed in some of the Merlot plots.
Also, the vines showed fewer potential grapes than last year, so we knew that we were in for a smaller crop. The weather was cool throughout the summer, with temperatures around two degrees below average in July, August and September.
July, however, was very dry with barely 10 mm (0.4 of an inch) of rain, whereas in August and up until September 15th, it rained regularly. This chilly and humid weather slowed the color transformation of the grapes and their ripening process while it gradually affected our spirits…
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