CHATEAU CARRUADES DE LAFITE 2008, Pauillac

The graphite and damp earth notes on the palate really come through, giving it a classic Pauillac character that's smooth and well-integrated now. I let it breathe for an hour and the dark fruit flavors opened up beautifully.

The nose is incredibly complex for the price point, with those graphite and damp earth notes giving it real Pauillac character. After two hours in the glass, the blackcurrant and chocolate flavors really opened up, making for a very refined drinking experience.

Opened it with a slow decant, and after an hour the graphite and damp earth notes were beautifully balanced. The dark fruit really came through on the mid-palate—surprisingly smooth for a 2008.