Winery - Chateau Haut-Brion
* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
95-97 Barrel Sample A structured, powerful wine that shows the firm, tough side of Haut-Brion. The fruit is certainly ripe, but it is the big boned character of the wine that is the most impressive. There is a mineral layer to the flavor of the wine, a fascinating additional complexity.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Of the pair of châteaux, La Mission Haut-Brion and Haut-Brion (both owned by the Dillon banking family) that face each other across the crowded streets of Pessac, Haut-Brion is the one with the structure, the darkness, the brooding character. This is so true of 2004, with its hugely firm structure underlying the initial supple fruit. At the end, the acidity is an enticing surprise, lifting the aftertaste.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Surprisingly lively and fresh, this is still a seriously impressive wine. The high proportion of Semillon is now coming to dominate the Sauvignon, to give a wine that is finely shaped, full of creamy flavors of wood and some white peach. In 10 years, this will still be fresh, in 15 just mature.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
The palate opens slowly, offering an initial citrus character, followed by wood and then, finally, wonderfully rich, but taut fruit. There is still a toast character here, with apricots and pear on top of the citrus, but it is still only just developing. In 10–15 years, it will be a magnificent wine.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
95-97 Restrained power combine with great style and elegance in this beautiful wine. The tannins are certainly solid and serious, but then they are also sweet, dusty ripe, sustaining dense dark plum flavors and only a hint of wood.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
93-95 Barrel sample. Rich, hugely ripe, intense fruit flavors, with layers of spice and acidity, but also full-bodied, well-integrated fruit. As always, Haut-Brion's white is at the top.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
95-97 Barrel sample. A huge, muscular wine. Brooding and intense, but the tannins keep themselves in order. Very different from its stablemate, La Mission Haut-Brion.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
94-96 Barrel sample. A heavily structured wine, with dark tannins and intensity. Very concentrated, with fruit and spice flavors, a strong element of wood. It is powerful and brooding.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
A serious wine, filled with firm tannins, spiced with wood, and layered with bitter coffee as well as fruit. It certainly has power, the structure ready for long aging, firmly anchored in the dense character of this wine. It is a medium aging wine, 5–10 years.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
95-97 The white of Château Haut-Brion is the first growth of white wines . From this great white wine year, this is a perfectly rounded wine, almost sweet, while the herbaceous element, gives ripe white plums fruits. The toast is so subtle in the aftertaste.
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