(BH90-93 points) This is also elegant, pure and broadly aromatic with hints of earth, underbrush and a touch of the sauvage adding nuance to the red currant and violet notes that introduce rich and rather serious medium-bodied flavors that possess good power and punch on the palate coating and solidly persistent finish. As it often is, this is the best in show chez Raphet in 2008.

Pale garnet in color. Cranberry and red fruit aromas on the nose along with hints of maturity in the subtle balsamic and dried leaf notes. Still young, tight, and even austere on the palate with energizing tension and a mouthwatering quality that runs start to finish. The core of cranberry fruit persists, along with subtle earthy flavors that show the progress of this Grand Cru’s evolution. Drinks wonderfully now with food, and certainly has the structure to lay down for at least another 5-7 years.

90+ There are only three barrels this year of Raphet's 2008 Clos Vougeot Vieilles Vignes, a bottling from his oldest vines and best locations in this sprawling, heterogeneous appellation. This doesn't only have a healthier and deeper color than the wines that preceded it in Raphet's 2008 collection, it also displays additional complexity. Soy, pork stock, lightly-cooked black raspberry, blond tobacco, Latakia tobacco, cardamom, and ginger mingle on the nose and on a juicy, savory, saliva-inducing palate. There is a lovely sense of richness and fine-grained tanninity as well as impressive grip, even if it's not especially seductive, let alone finesseful. I suspect that it will be worth following for 6-8 years. Raphet opines that this has shut down since bottling, whereas he indicates surprise that the other wines in his collection - even just a little over a month after they were bottled - taste to him very close to the way they showed from barrel. - David Schildknecht