The 2008 Vosne-Romanee Cuvee Duvalt-Blochet bursts from the glass with an explosion of aromas and flavors. The wine turns more subtle on the palate. Sweet, floral notes wrap around the sublime finish. The 2008 is a haunting wine graced with exquisite class and elegance. Unlike the rest of the domaine’s 2008s, it will drink beautifully pretty much right out of the gate. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2028. tasted the 2008s in bottle in late June 2011 after having gone through the 2010s from barrel. Aubert de Villaine describes 2008 as a difficult vintage with a lot of rain. Botrytis was an issue and the vineyards required constant attention. On September 14 the weather changed dramatically. A steady north wind dried out the grapes and concentrated sugars quickly, which also reduced the size of the berries. A further selection of fruit lowered yields to an even greater extent, resulting in overall production that is as much as 50% lower than normal for the Domaine. As for the wines, they are magnificent in my view, but will require considerable patience. Importer: Wilson-Daniels, St. Helena, CA; tel. (707) 963-9661

The aromas evoke cinnamon, rose and peony. Though bright, elegant and firm, this lacks some density. Fine length.—Non-blind 2008 DRC tasting (February 2011). Best from 2013 through 2027.??–BS??Region: France / Burgundy / Vosne-Romanée Select to Add