2008 Puligny Montrachet Les Referts

Pale straw-yellow. Musky yellow fruits and clove on the nose. Concentrated, tactile and sweet, but not quite as pristine as the 2009. Chewy nectarine fruit dominates the middle palate and carries through the surprisingly firm finish. The crop level here was just 40 hectoliters per hectare, according to Riffault. A big boy, but much less oaky than my barrel sample a year ago.

Rich and jewelly. Lots of reward even if it’s not the zestiest. Perfectly competent. Still pretty chewy! Also tasted 11 Jan 2010. Score 16. Drink 2012-16: Racy and lively. Not yet bottled racy and a little lean. But there is race here. (JR)

Pale yellow. Exotic, fruit-driven aromas of fruit salad, mango and honey. Fat and sweet, with an almost roasted quality to the yellow fruit and pineapple flambe flavors. Showing the exotic side of the vintage, and yet there's very good acidity here. My sample showed a good bit of spicy oak but had been taken from two new barrels that had finished their malo.