Very refined, well balanced and elegant Haut Brion. Great nose with concentrated dark cherries, (Pessac-) tobacco and cedar. More refined palate than the 2004 (before this bottle) with great delineation, lots of dark fruits, good freshness, some cocos and licorice. Well integrated fine tannins in the finish. Excellent 2001 with a long life ahead.

Translucent brick-orange color. Woody, old-Rioja style in the nose with iron notes and some chocolate. Refined on the medium palate with Autumn notes, chocolate and coffee. Some 'unnatural' sweet notes in the medium-length finish. Above expectation from this long written-off vintage.

Coffee-beans, tobacco, smoke and boudin-noir in the nose; notes typical to well-aged Haut-Brion. Very refined and elegant on the medium-bodied palate. Soft and smooth with iron, earth and chocolate notes and a spectacular finish. Another major surprise! Well stored bottles should hold well for at least another 5 years.

Monolithic and sweet (flawed). Probably not properly stored.

Fully mature, good but fairly light. Orange-brick color. Tea leaves, tobacco, iron and a sweet note in the nose. Light and elegant on the palate with good complexity but missing delineation.

Great showing in the Haut-Brion vertical today. Powerful nose with young fruit, fruit-liquor, licorice, tar and tobacco. Well-delineated on the palate with tobacco, black current, and other dark fruits. Needs more time (promising), 95+ points for today.

Unfortunately the Mission 2003 didn't do well. Dark ruby color. Hard to access, a wine to chew on, missing elegance and might dry out. Nose is well-delineated with loads of dark fruits, licorice and spices.

Superb Haut Brion, a long distance runner with excellent delineation. On the palate powerful, complex and elegant with thick ripe black fruits, tar and eucalyptus notes. Long and fresh with loads of tannin. Still quite young, try again in 5 years - 96+ points.

Perfect bottle; a gorgeous Haut Brion (and another great 1985). Translucent brick color. Notes of earth, iron, smoke, tar, bacon and boudin-noir in the nose. The palate is amazing, such complexity and refinement. Long and lingering finish (iron) with well integrated silky tannins. No hurry.

Bit square and less attractive, one could say brutal compared to the 1985 tasted before this bottle. Concentrated, well integrated tannins. Attractive nose with dark fruits, tobacco and minerals. Does the 1986 need more time?

Classic 1982, classic Haut-Brion. Ruby red with orange-brick on the rim. Typical Haut-Brion in the nose; cigar box, iron, earth and smoke. Powerful palate with excellent elegance, softness and intensity. A longlingering finish with well-integrated tannins. Should hold well for at least another ten years.

Powerful, complex and still closed. A promising Haut Brion. Little black fruits, Asian spices, fruit-cake as well as rum-raisin ice cream notes in the nose. Still fairly closed on the powerful but elegant palate. Good delineation and great length. This needs time or several hours of air before opening. 94p and potential for more.