Vinous - Stephen Tanzer (90-93)

Cooler yellow peach and lemon aromas are lifted by a floral topnote. Suave on entry, then elegant and pliant in the middle, with a dominant flavor of crystallized lemon peel. Very firmly built wine, finishing with lovely lingering stony perfume.

Vinous (96)

The 2008 Meursault Narvaux emerges from the glass with tons of fruit and a radiant, expansive personality. This is a decidedly extroverted, flashy wine even within the context of the year. All of the elements flow together gracefully, culminating in an intense finish that is totally breathtaking.

Wine Spectator (95)

Aromas of citrus blossom and chalk dust lead into lemon, vanilla, peach and mineral in this elegant, yet powerful white. Really expressive of place, this evolves across the palate, cascading into a long aftertaste of citrus and mineral. There's a fine seashore intensity. Best from 2013 through 2030. 400 cases made. -BS

Vinous - Neal Martin (93)

The 2008 Climens delivers 132g/L residual sugar. It has a much less expressive nose than the 2009: honey, wet wool, slightly petrolly in style. The palate is very well balanced with a fine bead of acidity, great depth and intensity, showing more clarity than the nose suggests. I would afford this another two or three years in bottle. Excellent. Tasted at the Climens vertical at the château in April 2022.

Vinous (91)

(Narvaux; Coche bottles a few different cuvees of Meursault villages, normally noting the lieu-dit only on the back label; this wine was bought by the U.S. importer) Peach and white flowers on the nose; a real essence of Meursault perfume. Then creamy-rich and sweet, with soft citrus flavors dominating. Finishes with lovely lingering sweetness of fruit. Ridiculously sexy village wine.

Vinous (92+)

(bottled in early April) Bright pale yellow. Orange blossom and crushed stone on the high-pitched, very pure nose. Supple, silky and highly perfumed, with bright acids lifting the orange peel, orange oil and spice flavors. Nothing heavy about this baby. A lovely Genevrieres with cut and lift.

Wine Advocate (92)

Tasted single blind against its peers. This has a very floral, exuberant bouquet with white peach and grapefruit soaring from the glass. It is very pure and vivacious. The palate is harmonious with what feels like more sucrosity than on previous occasions. It is not viscous in texture, suggesting high acidity to slice through all that sweetness (a typical Coutet trait, as it turns out.) The finish displays touches of ginger and dried orange rind that linger nicely in the mouth, although the general impression is that it needs several years to “calm down.” Tasted January 2012.

Wine Enthusiast (97)

96-98 Barrel sample. Impressively balanced, with the fruit rich, intense with a golden glow. The acidity is as important as the freshness, giving a delicious lift to the core of dry, concentrated botrytis. Obviously a great wine for long-term aging in a great Sauternes year.

Jancis Robinson (17)

100% Petit Manseng. Made by a friend of Didier’s. Deep straw with green notes. Rich yet tangy and very lively and toasty. Some curry powder notes. Racy and vibrant. Fairly light on the end. There is more competition for wines that taste like this than there are other Pouillys with Dagueneau intensity.

Burghound (94)

There is a hint of exoticism to the cool and admirably pure citrus, pear and green apple suffused nose that is presently trimmed in a noticeable, if very slight, touch of reduction. The rich and extremely fresh middle weight plus flavors possess an impressive amount of dry extract as well as ample mineral influence on the austere and ultra-pure finish that seems to go on and on. This powerful and impeccably well-balanced effort is still very much on the way up and will need another 5 to 7 years before it reaches its full apogee. Tasted twice recently with consistent notes.

Vinous (99)

The 2008 Montrachet from Domaine de la Romanée-Conti ranks amongst not only the best vintages that I have tasted from the domaine, but possibly the greatest white Burgundy I have ever tasted. The nose is breathtaking in terms of its precision and mineralité. There are not overt, easily definable aromas in situ, more an articulation of the vineyard that translates every single atom where it came from. The palate is bewitching in terms of its perfect bead of acidity, laser-like focus and the vein of salinité that leaves you begging for more. This is close to perfection. Tasted at the mature white Burgundy dinner in Hong Kong.

Vinous (99)

The 2008 Montrachet from Domaine de la Romanée-Conti ranks amongst not only the best vintages that I have tasted from the domaine, but possibly the greatest white Burgundy I have ever tasted. The nose is breathtaking in terms of its precision and mineralité. There are not overt, easily definable aromas in situ, more an articulation of the vineyard that translates every single atom where it came from. The palate is bewitching in terms of its perfect bead of acidity, laser-like focus and the vein of salinité that leaves you begging for more. This is close to perfection. Tasted at the mature white Burgundy dinner in Hong Kong.

Vinous (93+)

Full yellow-gold. Deeply pitched, brooding nose hints at white peach, mirabelle and honey. Big, chewy, ripe and rich, with smoky soil tones currently dominating the wine's primary fruit. This is tactile and surprisingly round for young Corton-Charlemagne but will need patience to express itself. Its sheer density and length suggest it will reward extended cellaring.

Indulge in the exceptional Guffens Heynen Saint Veran Clos Poncetys 2008, a premium wine crafted by maestro Jean-Marie Guffens, known for his uncompromising dedication to quality. Set in the heart of France's prestigious Burgundy region, Saint Veran encapsulates the perfect terroir and climate for chardonnay, while Clos Poncetys is an exclusive vineyard yielding exquisite grapes.

Every vintage is a labour of love, meticulously monitored from the precise moment of harvesting until the final seal of the bottle. For this 2008 creation, Guffens deployed minimalist intervention, allowing the honest character of the fruit to shine andersonate. The enticing bouquet opens up to reveal vibrant citrus nuances, followed by a tantalising palate boasting of balanced acidity and mineral-driven complexity.

Guffens Heynen Saint Veran Clos Poncetys 2008 is an exquisite example of the winemaker's genius, suited for those possessing fine tastes, seeking nothing short of extraordinary in a glass.

Vinous (92)

Bright yellow. Musky, primary aromas of lemon, crushed stone and minerals; the most classic of these 2008s to this point. Then citric, stony and firmly built, with lovely inner-mouth perfume and purity. This tastes like healthy grapes.

James Suckling (96)

What extraordinary class to this young white, with subtle yet intense aromas and flavors of minerals, slice pears and apples, walnuts and cream. Full and ultra-refined, with the texture of a great fine red and a fresh, fruity, delicate finish. It lasts for minutes on the palate.

James Suckling (96)

A very complex rose petal and herbal riesling that is ridiculously fresh for almost a decade of age. Very muscular and concentrated, but still cool and fresh with enormous mineral depth at the finish. Just coming to its peak, but decades of aging potential!

Straight from the arresting terrains of Côtes du Jura, the Jean Francois Ganevat Cotes du Jura Les Vignes de Mon Pere 2008 is a splendid testament to France's exquisite wine production legacy. Artisans of natural wine making, the Ganevat family, employ biodynamic techniques to craft this intricate Chardonnay. Scrupulous vineyard management and meticulous grape selection underscore the unmistakable refinement expressed.

This vintage showcases ethereal mineral tones, embroidered in layers of delectable lemon tart, vanilla and honey. A plunge in old oak conveys a silky softness, elevating its already sublime complexity. Bright acidity and intense precision of the Jean Francois Ganevat Cotes du Jura Les Vines de Mon Pere 2008 make it a premium choice for discerning palates, resonating with a long and fulfilling finish that underscores its intricacies.

Truly, the Jean Francois Ganevat Cotes du Jura Les Vignes de Mon Pere 2008 manifests the maestro's profound commitment to quality, a wine that encapsulates the heart and soul of Jura.

Burghound (96)

Here the nose is notably tighter and more reserved with aromas of citrus blossom and zest, spice, smoke, fennel and hints of acacia that introduce big, muscular and wonderfully complex broad-scaled flavors that culminate in a long, focused and explosive finish of breathtaking length and intensity. This should reward at least a decade in the cellar and drink well for a similar period thereafter. This too is terrific and very Bâtard and like the Combettes, the '08 version is one of the very best young examples from Leflaive that I have ever seen.

Burghound (96)

Here the nose is notably tighter and more reserved with aromas of citrus blossom and zest, spice, smoke, fennel and hints of acacia that introduce big, muscular and wonderfully complex broad-scaled flavors that culminate in a long, focused and explosive finish of breathtaking length and intensity. This should reward at least a decade in the cellar and drink well for a similar period thereafter. This too is terrific and very Bâtard and like the Combettes, the '08 version is one of the very best young examples from Leflaive that I have ever seen.

Wine Enthusiast (97)

A marvelously intense wine, the Chardonnay singing with light toast and acidity. The wine has layers of green apple, spice, a tight texture and orange zest highlights. Age for at least seven years.

Distinguished in character, the Lucien Le Moine Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru Cuvee Francois Salins Hospices Beaune 2008 presents an exceptional Burgundian Chardonnay, brought to us by the esteemed producer Lucien Le Moine. This Grand Cru epitomises the grandeur of one of the most highly regarded terroirs in Corton-Charlemagne.

The wine is the result of meticulous craftsmanship from the rich soils of Burgundy's Beaune region and the unique microclimate that lends the grapes their intense richness. Each vineyard's fruit is vinified separately to preserve the authentic expression of the terroir and then aged in oak barrels to enhance the complexity of character.

The Lucien Le Moine Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru Cuvee Francois Salins Hospices Beaune 2008 showcases a harmonious balance of power and finesse with hints of citrus, orchard fruits, minerals, and a toasted oak finish. A treasure for connoisseurs, this Grand Cru is an embodiment of luxury, prestige, and the art of winemaking at its finest.

Vinous - Stephen Tanzer (92)

Pale orange-gold. Tangy aromas of peach, tangerine and honey are pure but a bit youthfully subdued; this reminded me a bit of an Alsace SGN. Juicy, penetrating and pure, with exhilarating high-toned verve and clarity to its fruit-driven flavors of pineapple, tangerine and peach. Racy acidity and strong saline minerality give lift and urgency to the long, tactile. I love this style.

Wine Advocate (93)

Composed of 45% Semillon, 43% Sauvignon Blanc, 8% Sauvignon Gris and 4% Muscadelle that hit 14.5% natural alcohol from yields of 22 hectoliters per hectare, this beauty offers up exotic notes of orange marmalade, lemon custard and citrus oil.

Vinous (92+)

Pale straw-yellow color. Peach, flowers, hazelnut, spices and smoky oak on the nose, with some musky mango and green papaya emerging with aeration. Then much tighter in the mouth than the nose suggests; in fact, this is quite dry and youthfully ungiving today, hinting only at fruit pit and showing firm acidity. But this long wine boasts plenty of underlying depth. I'd forget this one for five years.

Vinous - Stephen Tanzer (92-94)

(in tank) Lemon and honeysuckle on the nose. At once rich and taut, with firm flavors of crystallized lemon peel and stone kept in check by strong acidity. This very tight, firmly constructed wine finishes with terrific grip. From vines averaging nearly 35 years of age.

Vinous (96)

Bright yellow with a green tinge. Classic Montée de Tonnerre aromas of lemon ice, crushed rock, iodiney minerality and white flowers. floral, lemon ice, straight and classic. Tactile, juicy and utterly gripping--in fact still almost painful today. Powerful salty minerality and penetrating acidity currently dominate the wine's lemon oil, grapefruit and floral flavors, with the wine showing a weightless impression. The dusty mineral-driven finish stains the palate and builds inexorably. (When I first tasted this wine from the barrel, I suggested that it might be the longest Chablis premier cru of the vintage.) Drink the 2010 for lunch now but hold this magical wine for another couple years, as its spring is still tightly coiled. This was my favorite wine of the tasting. The 2014 and 2010 vintages may be richer and deeper, as Isabelle Raveneau suggested to me three years ago, but this '08 is utterly classic. (12.69% alcohol; 3.14 pH; 4.4 g/l acidity; the days were sunny but the nights were quite chilly during the relatively early harvest of 2008, which concentrated the sugars and acidity, noted Isabelle Raveneau)

Vinous (93-95)

Pale, green-tinged yellow. Mint, minerals, citrus fruits and a strong note of anise on the nose. Densely packed but at the same time racy, with terrific energy and cut to the flavors of lemon, lime and crushed stone. With its bracing, almost youthfully sharp finish, this really stimulates the taste buds.