CHATEAU MOULIN-ST-GEORGES Grand Cru, Saint-Emilion 2008 Bottle

Description

IN BRIEF
Château Moulin Saint Georges Grand Cru 2008 pours garnet with an orange tinged rim, showing graceful maturity. The nose offers preserved cherry, plum compote and blackcurrant jelly, evolving to cedar chest, leather and dried violet. Beneath this sits a savoury seam of forest floor, sous bois and cured meat, with tobacco and mocha from oak. On the palate it is medium bodied with integrated tannins, bright acidity and a focused core of red and black fruit that yields to mushroom, beetroot and cool mineral notes. Mid palate hints of coffee bean and dark chocolate frame a finish of wood smoke and dried herb. Drink 2022 to 2030. Critics: Dunell's 93, Wine Advocate 90 to 92, James Suckling 90. Excellent balance.

ABOUT THIS WINE
The 2008 growing season in Bordeaux was cooler and more challenging than adjacent years, producing wines of moderate alcohol, clear acidity and pronounced terroir expression when yields were well managed. Château Moulin Saint Georges Grand Cru 2008 is a Saint Emilion blend dominated by Merlot with notable Cabernet Franc and smaller Cabernet Sauvignon, vinified to show ripe core fruit framed by savoury structure. Fermentation was measured to extract mature tannin without harshness and élevage in French oak provided support and spice while allowing the varietal fruit to remain central.

The wine pours a garnet with an orange tinged rim that signals advancing maturity. The nose opens with preserved cherry, plum compote and a lift of blackcurrant jelly, then moves into tertiary perfume of cedar chest, leather and dried violets. Beneath the fruit a savoury seam of forest floor, sous bois and cured meat adds depth and Burgundian like earthiness, while gentle tobacco and moka notes from oak ageing provide spice and warmth.

On the palate the 2008 is medium bodied with a firm but integrated tannic spine. Red and black fruit greets the palate before savoury tertiary layers take prominence, showing mushroom, beetroot and a cool mineral undercurrent. Acidity is balanced and gives the wine drive, keeping the finish fresh rather than tired. Mid palate flavours of coffee bean, tobacco leaf and a hint of dark chocolate frame the close, which carries an echo of wood smoke and dried herbs.

Suggested drinking window 2022 to 2030. Serve at 16 degrees Celsius and consider decanting if drinking earlier in the window. Food pairings that suit its savoury, mature character include slow roasted shoulder of lamb with rosemary, beef cheek bourguignon, mushroom and truffle pasta, duck leg confit or a selection of mature hard cheeses such as comte or aged cheddar. Overall this Moulin Saint Georges 2008 shows graceful tertiary development, savoury complexity and remaining structure for satisfying drinking now through the stated window.

THE WINE ADVOCATE (90-92)
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
En primeur barrel sample. From Alain Vauthier’s estate, a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, this is showing very good fruit intensity on the nose, the oak very unresolved at the moment, nice purity though with blackberries, a touch of iodine and blueberry compote. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, supple and quite fleshy, lovely focus on the caressing finish. Nice tension with wild strawberry and raspberry liqueur. Excellent. Tasted April 2009.
Published: May 30, 2009

JAMES SUCKLING 90 points
This is very citrusy and fresh, and also shows cherries and blueberries. Full and racy, with a clean and silk texture. Needs time to come together, but bright and lively. Best after 2012.

DUNELL'S 93 points
Reviewed by Neil Pinel
Colour is garnet with an orange rim, showing its age. Smells of preserved cherry, plum compote and blackcurrant jelly, then leather, cedar and dried violets. Earthy notes of forest floor and cured meat add interest while a touch of tobacco and mocha from the oak gives warmth. Medium bodied with ripe red and black fruit up front, then savoury tertiary flavours of mushroom and beetroot. Firm but friendly tannins and fresh acidity keep it lively. Good to drink now through 2030.

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ABOUT CHATEAU MOULIN-ST-GEORGES
Château Moulin Saint-Georges is a discreet yet highly respected Saint-Émilion Grand Cru located immediately south of the village and facing Château Ausone. The estate covers roughly seven to eight hectares planted mainly to Merlot with a significant minority of Cabernet Franc. Its vines sit on clay and limestone soils that give the wines a combination of plush fruit and mineral lift, and yields are managed tightly to concentrate flavour and structure.

The property belongs to the Vauthier family who also own Château Ausone and a number of neighbouring holdings. The family represents several generations of custodianship and day to day management is carried out by family members together with an experienced team. Alain Vauthier is cited as a key figure in management while Pauline, Édouard and Constance Vauthier are named among the current generation connected to the domaine. The estate benefits from the family knowledge and investment that come from their Ausone stewardship.

Winemaking at Moulin Saint-Georges is traditional yet meticulous. Harvesting is manual and parcel based, with careful sorting at reception. Fermentations are carried out in stainless steel tanks with temperature control and the wines are aged in French oak for an extended élevage. Some trade and producer notes indicate a high proportion of new oak is used in maturation to support structure and longevity, though proportions are adjusted by vintage. The technical team includes an experienced cellar master and the estate also works with consulting oenologists to refine vinification choices.

Stylistically Moulin Saint-Georges tends to be Merlot driven, showing ripe black and red berry fruit, plum and spice with a firm, saline finish contributed by the limestone element. Cabernet Franc lends aromatic lift, peppery nuance and backbone for ageing. Recent critics have praised the quality to price ratio and the wines’ ability to cellar well, making Moulin Saint-Georges a favourite for those seeking Saint-Émilion character without the top tier premium.