2008 Richebourg
By Domaine Meo-Camuzet
2008 Richebourg from Domaine Meo-Camuzet, Burgundy, France
In the pantheon of Burgundy's grand crus, the 2008 Richebourg from Domaine Meo-Camuzet indisputably asserts its distinction. My odyssey through the esteemed vineyards of Burgundy has afforded me countless encounters with Richebourg; none however quite as intriguing as this particular vintage.
An Exquisite Ensemble of Elegance and Complexity
While many collectors might vie for the more heralded vintages, it is often those like 2008 that provide an unexpected depth of character. Domaine Meo-Camuzet interpreted this challenging season with a consummate blend of experience and intuition, extracting the peculiar qualities that besieged this year’s grapes. It was a year that teetered on inclemency, yet through skilful vinification has given rise to a wine of singular charm and longevity.
Climatic Alchemy: The 2008 Vintage Metamorphosis
The spring frost and a summer sans excesses carved out a vintage of remarkable structure and acidity in 2008—a symphony orchestrated with cooler conditions fostering an elongated ripening period. These wines are testament to the finesse that can be achieved when challenge is triumphantly surmounted.
On the palate, Domaine Meo-Camuzet’s 2008 Richebourg exudes a kaleidoscope of flavours: Dark cherry essence entwined with subtle hints of violet and potpourri give way to an undercurrent of earthiness—hallmarks of this esteemed producer’s technique. Its palate carries a dynamic tension, promising to unravel beautifully with age.
Finessing Investment Portfolios with Distinct Provenance
For investors looking to enrich their cellar’s offerings, the 2008 Richebourg from Domaine Meo-Camuzet stands as an enticing prospect. Defined by climatic anomalies yet triumphantly expressive; it embodies the potential for substantial providence. Connoisseurs and investors alike will note the wine’s poised evolution; a journey which I anticipate unfolding with acute fascination over the coming decades.
The Verdict on Domaine Meo-Camuzet's Notable Narrative
The 2008 Richebourg from Domaine Meo-Camuzet is indeed a confluence of heritage and happenstance—a gripping chapter in Burgundy’s enological unfurling. It bears observation, not simply for its immediate enjoyment, but for its capacity to enhance a diversified and thoughtful investment in fine wines. Sip, savour, and speculate on its future merit; for Richebourg always promises a story worth telling.
Current market price
$41,070.00
12x75cl
Highest score
92
POP score
2056.67
Scores and tasting notes
Meo-Camuzet’s 2008 Richebourg strikes me as their most obviously tannic wine of the vintage, despite the confitured intensity and plush richness of its black fruits. The effect of wood – whether or not this includes amplification of tannin – comes out here in a flattering way via a maple syrup-like amalgam of resin and caramel. Sweet, decadent floral perfume; brown spices; and crushed stone add palate interest, though the staining concentration of this wine’s finish is at least as yet somewhat undifferentiated and accompanied by gum-numbing intensity of tannin. When racked, this was “explosive” reports Meo, and the metaphor of a bomb sunk into the earth and topped with sandbags does strike me as potentially useful for a Pinot grand cru I would not want to touch for 5-7 years and which seems built to last for more than twice that long. Jean-Nicolas Meo emphasized the contrast between the low pHs of his 2008s (typical, of course, for this vintage in general) and the high pHs of 2007, which ironically – since the latter were given a higher dosage of sulfur as a precaution against undesirable bacteriological activity – led, he reported, to 2007s that showed a harder side initially than many of the corresponding 2008s. Given the high acids of 2008, says Meo, he preferred to let the fruit hang longer – even despite some shriveling – so that few of the musts were chaptalized and most were 13% or higher in natural alcohol. Typical for this address, the wines display admirable, even unusually strong sweetness of fruit, but in 2008 accompanied by prominent tannins and notes of new wood. Meo compares his 2008s with 2001 and 1996, opining that his wines from those two vintages have for the most part – in contrast with many 1993s – evolved nicely and without exhibiting excessive stiffness or hardness. I caught some 2008s in bottle and others from tank just before bottling, and the several 2007s I tasted alongside showed well, although Meo – in contrast with most growers – thinks his 2008 fruit was superior even in sheer ripeness. (Negociant wines – some from parcels the Meos in fact farm – are noted as “Frere et Soeur.”) Importer: Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant, Berkeley, CA; tel. (510) 524-1524. Also a Jean-Marie de Champs Selection (various importers), French fax 011 33 3 80 22 58 25
David Schildknecht - The Wine Advocate, 28 June 2010