Note: 1.06 ha total of 60 to 65 year old vines in the sub-climats of Les Treux, that has .63 ha and in Cruots that has .43 ha, which is also known as Vignes Blanches Producer note: Emmanuel Rouget forthrightly described 2008 as a "very particular vintage from beginning to end. It was quite wet throughout the summer though there was less rainfall than we had in 2007. On the other hand, it was cooler in 2008 than it was in 2007. The cool temperatures helped a bit with various diseases but not much as there was considerable mildew and oidium pressure. September saved things as it was dry and quite cool with a steady north wind. Toward the end of the month during the harvest, even mid-temperatures were only around 14° C and it dropped all the way to 5° C at night. I began picking on the 24th of September and there was a lot of sorting required, in fact I would estimate my average loss at around 28%. It's important to point out though that virtually all of my losses were due to under ripe grapes and not rot. I destemmed 100% as I usually do but I decided to ferment on the cool side and the maximum temperature that I allowed any vat to climb to was 28° C. I also limited the number of punch downs and did a very soft pressing. The result of all of this gentle handling was pure wines with very fine tannins. There was a lot of malic acid and 2008 is the first time that I have had a significant number of my wines that have not finished their malos after 14 months. As to the wines, they are frank, fruity and very fresh and remind me of the 1996s with a bit of the fleshiness and generosity of the 2000s tossed in." As Rouget noted, several wines, including the Cros Parantoux, were not tasted as they had not completed their malos. The Cros will be tasted from bottle next year. Tasting note: Interestingly for an obviously ripe wine this remains cool and reserved with spiced wild berry fruit aromas that lead to sappy and distinctly earthy broad-scaled flavors that are robust and powerful with a sappy and seductive finish of considerable length. There is excellent mid-palate concentration that really unfolds yet the finish really tightens up and actually becomes linear. While not a genuinely great vintage by the storied standards of this wine, it is an impressive '07.

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