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| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 93.2 pts. and median of 93 pts. in 144 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by aof on 4/21/2024 & rated 96 points: Quite expressive as would be expected for a hot vintage and yet incredibly elegant and harmonious without any hint of raisins that many lesser wines of this vintage show. Fantastic. (128 views) | | | Tasted by unreal on 4/11/2024 & rated 90 points: Unfortunately a bit young for my taste. I found it to be still quite closed, would wait. (259 views) | | | Tasted by melvinyeowq on 2/2/2024 & rated 94 points: Bordeaux first-growth lunch: Brought for me by a friend. Some bottle variation I suspect with this wine judging from previous notes. This was so subtle and elegant that most guessed Margaux from a cooler vintage like '01! Loved the silkiness on the palate even though it didn't have the most complexity or length. This bottle was drinking perfectly today. (1222 views) | | | Tasted by FMIL on 1/21/2024 & rated 98 points: Not many words to say - you just need to drink it and close your eyes. The price is the right one. That’s it. (1001 views) | | | Tasted by peter.mancell@mfg.com.au on 12/31/2023 & rated 88 points: Just not my style.
May be past its best …. (1135 views) | | | Tasted by Burgnick on 8/19/2023 & rated 90 points: A surprisingly disappointing vintage for HB for me. Agree with previous taster the wine is disjointed. (2276 views) | | | Tasted by fcxj on 6/25/2023 & rated 90 points: Big disjointed here. (2536 views) | | | Tasted by dream on 6/5/2023 & rated 94 points: Really a joy to drink this at 20 years of age. I'm not a big fan of the '03 vintage in general but Haut Brion got it right as it's got surprisingly good freshness and great terroir-specific flavors of smoky dark fruits, tobacco and campfire char. Medium-bodied with a developing silky layered texture and a taut, refined finish. This has only just recently opened up and while I wouldn't age it forever, it's best days are definitely ahead. 94+ (2225 views) | | | Tasted by liber on 5/28/2023 & rated 95 points: 3rd of 36, decanted an hour, perfect cork and level, graceful and nuanced per last October's bottle, if still on youthful side, significant upside, 30+ years. VF (18.5).........surprised by some of the low marking on this site for this wine, but HB is very much to my taste. (1984 views) | | | Tasted by Cailles on 5/7/2023 & rated 91 points: Bordeaux 2003 – 20 Years On – 33 Reds: All wines tasted blind, not decanted (some wines would have needed it). Observations: 1) 2003 is not a good vintage. The wines don’t have the depth and elegance of good years. But I was positively surprised, that while it’s clearly a hot year, there are less overripe, over-extracted and prematurely dying wines than in 09/10. Still, there is no comparison to how Chateauxs handle hot years today. 2) Compared to five other vintage retrospectives, the 2003 came in last place (lower average score than 2011), with just Chateau Margaux reaching a group score above 95pts. 3) Margaux wines showed best, with the typical immediate charm, while St. Estephe and Pauillac have potential but will need more time (and/or would have needed more air). 4) Right bank wines did not show as good with some alcohol showing and a few wines being on a downhill path. I would not chase 2003 right banks.
TN: Interesting nose with lots of smoke and BBQ notes as well as some ripe dark fruit. On the palate better, fine and fresh, with round tannins and a good acidity. Quite balanced. But not much mid palate weight and complexity here. Fine red and darker berries, some minerality and smoke. 91/92pts in my book.
Decanting: Usually HBs take long to open up. We didn’t follow it that long but it got better with air. Maybe it would have needed a few hours in a decanter.
Group average: 91.3 pts
Group rank: Shared 14th out of 29 reds (3103 views) | | | Tasted by chatters on 4/25/2023: En Primeur campaign for the 2022 vintage Day Four (Bordeaux): From Magnum. Quite forward; leather, earth, black hued fruits, cedar. Juicy, fleshy, alcohol warmth combined with a sense of diluteness, tannins are soft and talc textured, a little baked on the finish. Hmm (1750 views) | | | Tasted by steinersing on 4/11/2023 & rated 92 points: even 4 hours after opening and double decanting this remains a little mute in the nose. good length but otherwise not a memorable wine - perhaps in a closed period. (1391 views) | | | Tasted by sirpat00 on 3/20/2023 & rated 91 points: Grand Bordeaux 2003 horizontal tasting (Fribourg): Bordeaux 2003 vintage horizontal hosted by a private collector and moderated by Jean-Marc Quarin. Main observations: 1/ Average quality is acceptable, but weighted down by various low-lights, esp. on the right bank. 2/ In general a tannic vintage, lacking balance. 3/ Top 3 wines were Lafite, Mouton and Margaux (all 95). See the tasting story for a complete overview and additional vintage comments.
Tasting note:
Ripe and concentrated fruit, lots of smoke and dark minerality, leather, dried herbs and a fine floral overlay. So far so good, but the palate felt more aged, imbalanced and with beef juice accents. (1630 views) | | | Tasted by dream on 2/24/2023 & rated 94 points: This is improving nicely and is really amazing in that it shows very little of the heat of the vintage. Very fine and silky with classic HB notes of smoky dark fruits, sweet gravel and tobacco just emerging. Medium-bodied and well-balanced with some fine tannins left to ameliorate. Double-decanted 6 hours prior to opening and it continued to unfurl in the glass. 94+ (1514 views) | | | Tasted by liber on 10/15/2022 & rated 95 points: 2nd of 36, opened 3 hours then decanted 90 minutes, perfect cork and level, flavours as described for first bottle in August 20 with some tar notes added, less massive and gaining balance as it enters into a late adolescent phase, altogether delightful and well mannered for 03, usual HB class and complexity with easy expression of fruit, significant upside, 30+ years. VF (18.5). (2398 views) | | | Tasted by punter on 8/27/2022 & rated 90 points: Deep translucent dark ruby color. Light dark berries, limestone, gravel, and cedar bark nose. Fruit is light on palate, frame short of muscle but palate is not lean in flavor. The gravel underpinning and nearly resolved tannin with pleasant acidic/fruit balance is elegant, without HB's power, depth, length, and richness of top vintages. Reminiscent of the off-vintage '87, which in its window packed more punch, depth, and length. Do not see this improving. Drink over next 2-4 years (2686 views) | | | Tasted by Jmgcary on 5/25/2022 flawed bottle: Served at Commanderie Fine Wine Dinner but unfortunately corked (3399 views) | | | Tasted by Plabella on 4/8/2022 & rated 95 points: I decantered for 2hours and should have allowed 4 hours. This wine changes by the hour as the fruit comes forward. (3549 views) | | | Tasted by MC2 Wines on 10/23/2021: Wine Spectator 40th Anniversary; 10/21/2021-10/23/2021 (Marriott Marquis): Beautiful red fruits, leather, very tasty. Does not even remotely seem like a super hot year. This is very balanced. Very well balanced and elegant. Just a great wine. (5347 views) | | | Tasted by KenK on 10/23/2021 & rated 91 points: NYWE Some light bricking already. impressive earthy rustic red fruit aromas with black spice. dried herbal flavors leaner more mature fruit. reasonable concentration & good acid yet seems older than expected with dried out tired feel. Good, but admit being a bit disappointed.
Prince Robert de Luxembourg runs it now 5th generation involved since 1989. 1935 Dillon family bought. Dumas was the winemaker several generations of Dumas as winemakers.
1945, 1947, 1955, 1959, 1961, 1982, 1990, 2003, 2015, 2016 very hot dry summers. these typically make best vintages. must dry farm in Bordeaux.
2003 hottest vintage ever (3862 views) | | | Tasted by vide on 10/3/2021 & rated 93 points: Very fine wine, but very expensive.
Worth it? I think not. (3604 views) | | | Tasted by conviction buy on 8/12/2021 & rated 92 points: Pnp, airing in glass, color is much darker than the 90 Lafite, denser atoma of dark fruits, licorice, forest floor and earth. More intense in all dimensions, oak still upfront, but sweet fruits and mild acidity helped made thia wine an enjoyable 2003. Not as long as the Lafite surprisingly, this has a lot more life ahead. (3617 views) | | | Tasted by RN on 6/10/2021: Took to WC. Decanted for aprox 2 hrs. Obviously left bank ….espec when blind with some comparable quality Pomerol. Quite elegant for a 2003. Still many years ahead. V good length. (3824 views) | | | Tasted by pavel_p on 1/16/2021 & rated 93 points: Bordeaux blend's double blind: Double blind. Again clearly a left bank Bordeaux. This one was however showing more toasted oak. Good weight. Guessed again 2006 left bank. Group's #1, My #3.
Very well done for a 2003 Graves, not showing the overripe or even burned fruit some others do. (4603 views) | | | Tasted by tbuysse on 11/29/2020 & rated 93 points: I must agree with the classic critics. Magic, of course. Nice nose, of course. Full body, of course. But not in line what you are used to from Haut Brion. For this price category (without being judgemental), one exepcts just that extra touch. Both the nose and the taste fade faster than expected. Still a great wine, but missed the perfection one can find in tha 1996, 2000, 2005, 2016, etc vintages. (4148 views) | | | Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
| By Neal Martin
Vinous, A Century of Bordeaux: The Threes (Aug 2023) (8/1/2023)
(Haut-Brion Haut-Brion Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Chris Kissack
Winedoctor, April 2023 (4/1/2023)
(Château Haut-Brion Pessac-Léognan Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Jancis Robinson, MW
JancisRobinson.com (11/8/2013)
(Ch Haut-Brion Pessac-Léognan Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Julia Harding, MW
JancisRobinson.com (3/21/2013)
(Ch Haut-Brion Pessac-Léognan Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Chris Kissack
Winedoctor, March 2013 (3/1/2013)
(Château Haut-Brion Pessac-Léognan Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Richard Hemming, MW
JancisRobinson.com (6/15/2012)
(Ch Haut Brion Pessac-Léognan Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Jancis Robinson, MW
JancisRobinson.com (10/1/2010)
(Ch Haut-Brion Pessac-Léognan Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Jancis Robinson, MW
JancisRobinson.com (3/15/2010)
(Ch Haut-Brion Pessac-Léognan Blanc) Subscribe to see review text. | By John Kapon
Vintage Tastings, Hong Kong Diaries 2009, BYO (5/29/2009)
(Haut Brion) Login and sign up and see review text. | By Julia Harding, MW
JancisRobinson.com (1/23/2008)
(Ch Haut-Brion Pessac-Léognan Red) Subscribe to see review text. | The World of Fine Wine, December 2007, Issue #18
(Château Haut-Brion) Login and sign up and see review text. | By Stephen Tanzer
Vinous, May/June 2005, IWC Issue #120
(Chateau Haut Brion Pessac-Leognan) Subscribe to see review text. | By Jancis Robinson, MW
JancisRobinson.com (4/7/2005)
(Ch Haut-Brion Pessac-Léognan Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Stephen Tanzer
Vinous, May/June 2004, IWC Issue #114
(Chateau Haut Brion Pessac-Leognan) Subscribe to see review text. | By Richard Jennings
RJonWine.com (4/18/2008)
(Château Haut-Brion) Medium red violet color; juicy berry, boysenberry and lavender nose; tight, soft red fruit, but one-dimensional now; medium finish 89+ pts. 89 points |
NOTE: Scores and reviews are the property of Vinous and Winedoctor and JancisRobinson.com and Vintage Tastings and The World of Fine Wine and RJonWine.com. (manage subscription channels) |
| Château Haut-Brion Producer website - Read more about Chateau Haut BrionRed Bordeaux BlendRed Bordeaux is generally made from a blend of grapes. Permitted grapes are Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Malbec and rarely Carménère.Today Carménère is rarely used, with Château Clerc Milon, a fifth growth Bordeaux, being one of the few to still retain Carménère vines. As of July 2019, Bordeaux wineries authorized the use of four new red grapes to combat temperature increases in Bordeaux. These newly approved grapes are Marselan, Touriga Nacional, Castets, and Arinarnoa.
Wineries all over the world aspire to making wines in a Bordeaux style. In 1988, a group of American vintners formed The Meritage Association to identify wines made in this way. Although most Meritage wines come from California, there are members of the Meritage Association in 18 states and five other countries, including Argentina, Australia, Canada, Israel, and Mexico.France Vins de France (Office National Interprofessionnel des Vins ) | Pages Vins, Directory of French Winegrowers | French Wine (Wikipedia)
Wine Scholar Guild vintage ratings
2018 vintage: "marked by a wet spring, a superb summer and a good harvest"
2019 vintage reports
2021: "From a general standpoint, whether for white, rosé or red wines, 2021 is a year marked by quality in the Rhône Valley Vineyards. Structured, elegant, fresh and fruity will be the main keywords for this new vintage."
2022 harvest: idealwine.info | wine-searcher.comBordeaux Bordeaux Wine Guide
Vins Bordeaux (Conseil Interprofessionnel du Vin de Bordeaux)
History of Bordeaux
History of 1855 Bordeaux Classification
"2009 is all about ripeness, with wines impressively packed with ripe fruit and high alcohol levels. They are showy, in-your-face, and full of pleasure. The 2010s have the fruit and alcohol levels of the 2009s, but with a compelling freshness on the finish that balances the fruit and provides a perfect sense of structure." - Ben Nelson
"2016 is a landmark vintage in certain spots of Bordeaux and it should be remembered as one of the most inspired campaigns of the last 40-50+ years." -Jon Rimmerman
"The quality of red Bordeaux in 2016 was universally lauded – although the response to the en primeur campaign was muted. Quantity was high too, with the equivalent of 770 million bottles of wine produced. An exceptionally dry summer with cool nights eventually, thanks to mid September rain, resulted in small, thick-skinned, ripe grapes, and the wines are marked by high tannin and acidity, with superb aromatic fragrance." - Jancis Robinson
"2017 was complicated, but there are some excellent wines. Expect plenty of freshness and drinkability from wines that will offer excellent value, and others that will rival 2016 in terms of ripeness and ageability. But they are likely to be the exception not the rule, making careful selection key." - Jane Anson
"In the past, a vintage such as 2022 may have been overripe, raisined and low in acidity but 2022 had a sneaky little reservoir in its back pocket - a near perfect marriage of cool/cold/rain the previous winter and the previous vintage that literally soaked the soils (a key to why 2022 is not 2003...or 1893)." - Jon RimmermanGraves Vins de Graves (Conseil des Vins de Graves) - Read more about Pessac Leogan Graves and its winesPessac-Léognan Pessac-Leognan reds:
Grape Varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
Soil: Predominantly gravel and sandy rock, with varying proportions of clay and sandstone
Surface Area: 1,491 ha
Pessac-Leognan whites:
Grape Varieties: Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon
Soil: Gravel and rocks covered with sand, sandstone, and clay
Surface Area: 275 ha |
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