Tasted ex-château and single blind in Southwold. This is a strong performance from d’Angludet, the best bottle of 2008 that I have encountered. It has a very elegant bouquet with floral notes and well-integrated oak, touches of oyster shell developing with time. The palate is medium-bodied with a succulent entry, good weight, underpinned by masculine dry tannins. It is foursquare and “grippy” on the finish, although there is sufficient fruit to support it. I feel that this Margaux needs time to coalesce: a teenager undecided upon its career. Tasted January 2012.

Deepish crimson. Lightly spicy ripe fruit. Well balanced and unusually juicy. Well done! Quite marked pinched tannins on the finish but at least there is some juice and front on the front palate. Complete and confident relative to most other lesser Margaux. (JR)