Emanating from the prestigious winegrowing region of Bordeaux, Les Songes de Magdelaine 2008 is a luxurious testimony to the superior craftsmanship of the revered producer Chateau Magdelaine. As a vaunted St-Emilion Grand Cru, this vintage eloquently embodies the unique terroir character with its stunning merlot concentration. The delicate vinification process entailed traditional fermentation in epoxy-lined concrete tanks, followed by a judicious ageing in scene-stealing 50% new French oak barrels.

Les Songes de Magdelaine 2008 features an alluring profile with profound notes of black fruits, coupled with subtle undertones of earth, spice, and smoky cedar. On the palate, it tantalises with exquisite balance, an entrancing medium-body, and a profoundly lingering finish. This wine indeed encapsulates 'Les Songes' - the dreams - of the meticulous winemakers who devotedly tread the renowned pebbly soils of the Magdelaine estate over a decade ago. Exquisite, evocative, and enticing, Les Songes de Magdelaine 2008 is more than a wine; it's a narrative in a bottle.

The Magdelaine 1969 is a sublime representation of Bordeaux’s fine viniculture. Hailing from Château Magdelaine, an esteemed vineyard in the revered Saint-Émilion region in France, this Merlot-dominant wine is truly spectacular. With a reputation for producing highly concentrated, compelling wines, Château Magdelaine's vineyards are uniquely known for their clay-rich soil atop limestone subsoil, offering distinctive minerality to the wine.

This particular vintage, Magdelaine 1969, is a testament to the vineyard’s illustrious heritage. It exhibits a remarkable structure and depth, complemented by an enticing bouquet of mature dark fruits and nuanced undertones of truffle and tobacco. On the palate, its complex flavour profile is enriched by poised tannins and an elegant, lasting finish.

As a standout example of Saint-Émilion Grand Cru, and an encapsulation of Bordeaux winemaking finesse, the Magdelaine 1969 is a stellar addition to any discerning wine connoisseur’s collection.

Wine Advocate (88)

The dark ruby-colored 1999 Magdelaine is a stylish, light to medium-bodied effort. It possesses sweet, lush aromas and flavors redolent of cherries and currants. Subtle notions of earth, wood, and a touch of herbaceousness also emerge. Drink it over the next 10-15 years.

Vinous - Ian D'Agata (94+)

(a blend of 95% merlot and 5% cabernet franc; 3.53 pH; IPT 65; 13.8% alcohol): Bright ruby. Sexy, compelling nose of blackcurrant, violet, white pepper and minerals is an absolute knockout. Then very refined on the palate, with a delicate spiciness to the blackcurrant, red plum and mineral flavors, but with noteworthy fleshiness and ripeness lifted by harmonious acidity. This is a very great and impeccably balanced Magdelaine in the making. Finishes long and silky, with a persistent strawberry note. Jean-Claude Berrouet considers this to be a classic Magdelaine: very well balanced and delicious. I think this is an excellent example of just how easy it is to misjudge Magdelaine on release and how well it develops in bottle in strong vintages.

Wine Enthusiast (91)

As often with Magdelaine in recent vintages, this is on the austere side. Its firm tannins and structure dominate the fruit. That said, it does have bright fruit underneath all this tightness, and is finely balanced, the berry fruits lifted with some intense acidity. It needs another few months to settle in bottle.

Vinous - Stephen Tanzer (88)

Moderately saturated dark red. Aromas of black cherry, licorice, menthol and tree bark, with a floral nuance. Supple and silky but a bit folded in on itself today, with reticent red and darker fruit flavors firmed on the end by iron and mineral nuances. Finishes with good breadth and chewy tannins. Began a bit inky and sullen but showed an enticing red-fruit character and growing vinosity with a bit of aeration. This needs at least a couple years to unwind.

Wine Advocate (92)

A sleeper of the vintage, this well-executed 2008 St.-Emilion exhibits a dark plum/ruby/purple-tinged color as well as a glorious bouquet of sweet black cherries, licorice and powdered limestone, a good texture, medium to full body and a pure style. Combining substance with finesse, it should age effortlessly for 15+ years.

Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (97)

You feel the slightly higher alcohol in the rich mouthfeel, a reflection of the warmer conditions of the vintage, but the limestone soils ensure the acidity is vibrant and balanced, and this gorgeous wine still delivers the understated ease, together with white truffles, tobacco leaf, mandarin peel and oyster shell salinity that Magdelaine expresses in every vintage, here with a bigger kick of damson, red cherry and kirsh. Confident but supple tannins that promise a long life ahead. You can drink this now, or hold. Eric Murisasco winemaker, 50% new oak.

Wine Spectator (97)

Plump, with a big core of plum and cherry. Long and silky, with a weighty finish. Typically two-thirds from calcaire and one-third from clay, but equal parts in 2010 due to replanting of some blocks. Tasted non-blind. Score range: 94-97

James Suckling (92)

Pretty and balanced with delicious ripe fruit and fine tannins. Fresh acidity too. A nice density for the vintage.