2008 Vintage Overview

2008 Bordeaux-Inspired Blends​

We love this vintage for its rich aromatic complexity, approachability, and the breadth of the fruit on the palate. Like all vintages, 2008 had its challenges, but after 5-6 months in barrel the wines opened gloriously, becoming supple and very expressive. Quantity of these two wines was short by about 15% in 2008: cool spring temperatures in the vineyards set less fruit, with fewer grapes on each cluster. Density and richness were the results.

2008 Rhone-Inspired Wines

We were reminded in 2008 that Mother Nature can be a fickle dance partner. We had to learn a few new quick-steps, adjusting to unexpected moves in the early days of the vintage, and a minor scare in September.

The year started with a cool spring, delaying development and setting things behind a week or more. By mid-summer we had warmed to typical levels, with a couple heat spikes, and were back on schedule. Overall it was a cooler vintage, but as we approached the end of August a strong system moved into place: warm days, followed by night temperatures 35-40° F lower than the daytime highs: enough sun and heat to build sugar and flavor but cooler temperatures at night to preserve structure. We picked our first fruit September 15, just 2 days behind 2007.

However, the alarms sounded the night of Monday September 22, as temperatures hit 35° F, and dipped dangerously close to freezing just before sunrise Tuesday. Fortunately temperatures weren’t low enough to damage vines or fruit, but many of us slept poorly Monday night. The weather improved and held throughout harvest; Washington seldom disappoints and 2008 turned out classic.