2008 Clos de l'Oratoire
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Tasting notes
The 2008 Clos de l'Oratoire come from the von Neipperg team and is 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc brought up in a mix of new and used barrels. It’s a ripe, medium to full-bodied effort that has plenty of heft and richness, yet stays balanced and elegance, with plenty of character as well as more charm than most. Ample dark fruits, chocolate, scorched earth, and obvious minerality all emerge from the glass. It’s a classic, outstanding 2008 that’s drinking nicely today yet will easily keep another decade.
Critic scores
Average Score
Wine Spectator
Robert Parker
More reviews and scores
The 2008 Clos de l’Oratoire offers black cherry fruit mixed with shoe polish. There is something suppressing the aromatics here, a discrete reduction that mars its freshness. The palate is medium-bodied with supple ripe tannin, fleshy and harmonious in texture. There is certainly more class here than on the nose, fresh and poised with a touch of mineralité and earthiness towards the finish. Fine. Tasted blind at Farr Vintners’ 10-Year On tasting.
Tasted blind. Rich, round nose and then pretty drying tannins on the end. I fear the fruit will give up before the tannins fade… (JR)
Very dark crimson. Light nose. Fresh palate attack. Very introvert and pretty tarry but it may well get there in the end. (JR)