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Château Haut-Brion is the oldest of Bordeaux's five first growths, and one of the most famous wines in the world. Located in Pessac-Léognan, south of the city of Bordeaux, the château is rather far removed from its counterparts, all of which are found in the Médoc.
The vineyards were established in the 1530s by the Pontac family, changing hands several times throughout the ensuing centuries. Historical evidence shows that Haut-Brion was drunk by King Charles II and Thomas Jefferson, and the famous London diarist Samuel Pepys was also a fan of the wine. The estate was acquired by American Francophile Clarence Dillon in 1935 and has been managed by the family since.
Haut-Brion is notable as being the only first growth in Graves – Lafite Rothschild, Mouton Rothschild and Latour are all in Pauillac, while Château Margaux is – perhaps not surprisingly – in Margaux. Haut-Brion's red wine is its key line, comprising most of the château's output, but it is also unusual in that it has a corresponding white wine that shares the simple "Haut-Brion" name. The château's second wine has been known as La Clarence de Haut-Brion since 2007.
| Varietal | Bordeaux Blend |
|---|---|
| Vintage | 2009 |
| Rating | 100 RP |
| Bottle Size | 12 x 750ml |
| Bottle Quantity | 12 |
| Country | France |
| Region | Bordeaux |
| Location | Pessac Leognan |
| Producer | Haut Brion |
| Color | Red |
| Wine Type | Table |
| Robert Parker | 100 RP - 2009 Chateau Haut-Brion Pessac Leognan Bordeaux - 100 pts! What a blockbuster effort! Atypically powerful, one day, the 2009 Haut-Brion may be considered to be the 21st century version of the 1959. It is an extraordinarily complex, concentrated effort made from a blend of 46% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon and 14% Cabernet Franc with the highest alcohol ever achieved at this estate, 14.3%. Even richer than the perfect 1989, with similar technical numbers although slightly higher extract and alcohol, it offers up a sensational perfume of subtle burning embers, unsmoked cigar tobacco, charcoal, black raspberries, wet gravel, plums, figs and blueberries. There is so much going on in the aromatics that one almost hesitates to stop smelling it. However, when it hits the palate, it is hardly a letdown. This unctuously textured, full-bodied 2009 possesses low acidity along with stunning extract and remarkable clarity for a wine with a pH close to 4.0. The good news is that there are 10,500 cases of the 2009, one of the most compelling examples of Haut-Brion ever made. It requires a decade of cellaring and should last a half century or more. Readers who have loved the complexity of Haut-Brion should be prepared for a bigger, richer, more massive wine, but one that does not lose any of its prodigious aromatic attractions. |
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| Wine Spectator |
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| Burghound |
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| Varietal | Bordeaux Blend |
|---|---|
| Vintage | 2009 |
| Rating | 100 RP |
| Bottle Size | 12 x 750ml |
| Bottle Quantity | 12 |
| Country | France |
| Region | Bordeaux |
| Location | Pessac Leognan |
| Producer | Haut Brion |
| Color | Red |
| Wine Type | Table |
| Varietal | Bordeaux Blend |
|---|---|
| Vintage | 2018 |
| Rating | 100 RP |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Bottle Quantity | 1 |
| Country | France |
| Region | Bordeaux |
| Location | Pessac Leognan |
| Producer | Haut Brion |
| Color | Red |
| Wine Type | Table |
| Varietal | Bordeaux Blend |
|---|---|
| Vintage | 2018 |
| Rating | 100 RP |
| Barrels |
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| Style |
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| Owners |
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| Region | Bordeaux |
| Location | Pessac Leognan |
| Producer | Haut Brion |
| Winemaker |
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| Production |
10,800 Cases |
| Robert Parker Rating | 100 RP - The 2018 Haut-Brion is composed of 49.4% Merlot, 38.7% Cabernet Sauvignon and 11.9% Cabernet Franc. Deep garnet-purple in color, the wine needs a lot of swirling before it begins to release a whole complex melody of notes, one at a time to begin: tilled earth, followed by pronounced licorice, then crushed rocks, then the preserved plums. Eventually, it all comes together into a fascinating crescendo of intense crème de cassis, rose oil, wild blueberries and kirsch notes, giving way to quiet, persistent leitmotif scents of cinnamon stick, truffles and redcurrant jelly. The medium to full-bodied palate delivers all this and more, revealing tightly wound black fruit, red berry and exotic spice layers within a solid, wonderfully plush frame and seamless freshness, finishing with epic length and loads of earth and mineral sparks. This is a profound, highly intellectual, multilayered baby, which will require a good 7-8 years to begin to sing its incredible song, then should cellar a further 40 years at least. By way of reference, think 1989 with more restraint and even greater purity. |
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| Antonio Galloni Rating | 97 AG - The 2018 Haut-Brion is an infant, but its balance and potential are both amply evident. Rich and deep in the glass, the 2018 opens to reveal tremendous complexity and nuance, qualities that only grow with time. The 2018 is not a huge Haut-Brion, nor is it massively endowed, but it is so elegant and classy. I loved it. |
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| Wine Spectator Rating | 98 WS - Waves of cassis, cherry puree and blackberry paste roll through in this showstopper, with notes of tea, sandalwood, iron and anise providing an entourage for the fruit. A subtle warm earth accent underscores the finish without intruding on the texture. A large-scaled yet eminently refined wine. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. |
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| Burghound Rating |
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