Aug 25, 2008 - Tasted the McCain 2008 vintage, still in barrel. Noted a rather sharp edge of nativism, along with an intense concentration of bitter fruit and musty notes on the nose, due largely to the increasing age of the vines. Tasted twice after noting some suspect racial overtones. Does not compare favorably to the softer edge of previous vintages, noted for their individuality, straightforward intensity and a supple backbone, that stood out among a string of rather poor vintages on the region's right bank.

Unfortunately, the 2000, widely acknowledged as a classic, is all sold out. However there's still plenty of older McCain being sold at auction, in particular the run of vintages from from 1967 to 1973. Those vintages were seen as rather poor years for McCain at the time, though those difficult years and the handful of erratic years that followed probably laid the groundwork for the more recent run of good vintages, largely attributed to the arrival of wealthy new managment, starting from 1980 onwards culminating in the 2000.