April 28, 2024 - Still young
January 4, 2024 - I think this has not quite reached its drinking window - fabulous potential like so many 2009's but still quite reticent
December 31, 2023 - A very good one ,it tastes a strong oak flavor with some berry
December 19, 2023 - Surprise of the night, really good.
December 24, 2021 - I'm going up and up rating this with every bottle I consume.
This is at such a sweet spot right now, hardly any fault to it.
Again, can only imagine what the 09 Grand Vin would taste like.
November 19, 2021 - Friday Night Brown Bagger (Eagle Brook CC): Double blind. Deep crimson color. I am immediately smitten with this wine with its classy bouquet of violet, currants, burnings embers, mineral and cedar. Very sleek and refined. Full-bodied, with flavors of currant, liqueur, licorice and black fruit with fine, sweet tannins. I am torn between Bordeaux and a Napa version of Bordeaux from someone like Francoise Peschon. Adds earthy clay and black cherry elements. Long finish. With such nice fruit I settled on Napa. This was opened maybe forty five minutes before the flight was poured. (R&D)
October 23, 2021 - Seriously underwhelmed. Expected better. Read all the previous accounts and decided to open it up. First whiffs seemed Haut Briton-like. Subsequent aromas and drinking displayed a tight core of fruit. Some concentration and surprisingly more on the red fruit spectrum and found nothing indicating overripe fruit. Aftertaste did exhibit hard/astringent tannins. I was hoping for more; given the ripe vintage and generous review by RP. My overall impression is that HB tries to make too much of their second wine; at the sacrifice of being something really special; as with other First Growth Second Wines. I keep hoping for more from HB’s second wine; but I would put my money on La Chapelle de la Mission Haut Briton, Pavillon Rouge du Chat Margaux or Les Forts de Latour.
August 29, 2021 - Rich, concentrated, super ripe tasting without tipping it out of balance. Excellent with grilled meats
August 28, 2021 - Cedar, redcurrant, smoke on the nose. Elegant yet robust, lots of dark berries on the palate.
August 14, 2021 - No formal note; very enjoyable in the nose and on the palate to pair with fusion cuisine, plus a lingering long and savory finish; however, probably getting close to if not past full maturity as the structure seemed to decline slightly in 2-3 hours; overall, 92-93 points.