I bought this 2008 Pessac blind in Sainsbury's 3 years ago - I should have searched the stores and bought a case ! When the 25% discounts were running. I just don't know enough . . . . The wine is a superb claret now - Another Solstice beauty on Saturday evening, a patio supper with cold chicken - perfect.

Where were the wine journalists when you actually needed them for this one ?

Wonderful extravagence, real depth and Pessac rouge concentration, and plenty of complexity. Sainsbury were offering the "Les Reflets" cuvee, this is a Merlot dominated additional wine. The gravel at Le Thil is adjoining the vineyards at Smith Haut Lafitte, about 8.6 hectares of Cab & Merlot vines and 2.6 hectares of SB and Semillion they say in another web blog.


2008 Château Le Thil Comte Clary
1.2008 Le Thil is one of the top value wines from the vintage offering quality, character and a low price of under $20. Blackberry dark cherry, tar, vanilla and coffee aromatics pair well with soft textures and a chocolate, boysenberry filled finish. This vintage was produced with the help with Stephane Derenoncourt. 90 Pts

90 points - Tasted Jul 20, 2010
4873 Views
1.08 Château Le Thil is a contender for the best value wine in Bordeaux today. It’s amazing a wine selling for this little money from good terroir, made with the assistance of Stephane Derenoncourt, can be found in the marketplace for such a low price. Ripe, rich, smoky black fruit, along with earth and cigar box notes, are the hallmark of this wine. 89-91 Pts

90 points - Tasted Aug 31, 2009
Read more: http://www.thewinecellarinsider.com/bor ... ac/le-thil

Well - You won't be able to buy this wine anymore in Sainsbury's. You just might find the '10 somewhere. The 2012 available from Fine & Rare - except the merlot to cab mix looks wrong, and details are very sketchy - I wonder if that is the same wine ? Hmmnn.

Smith Haut Lafitte acquired the vineyards in 2011. The grand vin SHL is 5 times the price - so another good PC (appears to have) has gone.

_________________
Duncan