Compared to 2006 and 2007, the 2008 dry white wines of Bordeaux are inferior, but that does not mean they are not very good. They do not possess the flesh, power, or richness of the 2006 and 2007, but they reveal precise, intensely aromatic personalities, lighter bodies, and more noticeable acidity. These remain among the world’s most underrated world-class dry white wines. I will provide full tasting notes once they are in bottle, but following are the dry whites I tasted along with their approximate scores.

Lemon, light lime peel and mineral aromas. Medium-bodied, with lovely honey, celery and grass on the finish. More subtle and fine than the 2007. Score range: 88-91 -JS

90-92 Barrel sample. Fresh and soft, just hinting at toast, ripe yellow fruits, only lightly touched by citrus. It is pure, vivid, but warm.——R.V.(12/31/2009)—— 91