Deep ruby to deep purple, nose is fruit dominated with red currant, black plum, and blackberry, alongside mocha, earth, tobacco, and pencil shavings, fruit forward on the palate as well with blackberry jam, black tea, teethy tannins and medium acidity, finishes with lots of concord grape followed by more complex earthy fruit, lingering tangy acidity, black tea, and more
Note: Although I didn't get a real "Graves" feel to this one and would have struggled distinguishing it from a Napa wine, it's certainly a solid effort and a joy to drink, final thoughts, having had the pleasure of tasting the '10 Haut-Brion, I might be judging this second too harshly
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Decanted for 2 hours. Drank half the bottle with homemade chicken and dumplings. Set the rest aside for Sunday evening. The aroma in the decanter after 1 hour was dark fruits, dark chocolate. My first sip had some grip to it. But with food this softened and smoothed out, revealing bright bing cherries and wonderful earth and bread aromas. Spectacular wine in a perfect window. Puts so much American wine to shame.
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Deep garnet with brick rim. Nose of black fruit, coffee, tobacco, with some earthy note. Medium bodied with resolved tannin and low acidity. Finish is long and complex, but not so impressing. I think the wine is nearly matured and better to be consumed within 3-4 years.
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Clear medium ruby; clean medium nose of green pepper, musty/dusty library and strawberry/ raspberry compote: dry; medium plus acidity; medium plus tannins; medium plus alcohol; medium plus body; pronounced flavour intensity; plate is tarter with addition of cocoa; medium plus finish; big and muscular with lots of opportunity to develop; tasted at Haut Brion LCBO dinner
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good medium deep red color, lovely nose of dark spice and minerals, dried herbs, cassis, classic and relaxing, on the palate a pure cherry note, savory leaves and herbs, clay notes, still some youthful tannins and oak, developing nicely but this still needs time, great length, very fine.
**(**), 2025-2035+
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Surprised reviewers didn't rate this more highly. WS gave it like 88pts? - ridiculous. This had power, but also restraint, elegance and subtlety. There was some camphor and smoke on the palate, along with some of the freshness of the vintage. Hedonistic, but everything so well measured. A bit too pricey now, but quite the treat nonetheless. Reminds me a bit of an excellent vintage of Clos de Sarpe, which is also powerful (though more hit or miss and needs even more time). 95+pts.
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Intense dark plum color. Nose is still slightly hot, but is beginning to show leather, cassis, and cured meat. Hot on first taste and much brighter than expected. Very complex at first, yielding to leather, tobacco, and earth after about 30 seconds. Incredibly long finish with medium tannins and a dry mouthfeel.
Four hours open:
Nose is much less hot, wine has opened more. Salinity on the nose along with spicy salami, rosemary, and limestone. Still bright on first taste, but much less hot. Some tart cherry (this sounds ridiculous, but almost like a cherry Jolly Rancher) mellowing into ripe plum, medium-high tannins, with the same earthiness as before, almost chalky. Long finish, with lots of herbs and subtle earth. Very complex--could still open longer.
Six hours open:
Definitely approaching the right amount of time to open. Cassis and prune on the nose with the same spice and earthy tones. Everything smells much more balanced, no one aroma outdoing another. Same tasting notes, but the tannins are more pronounced.
Out of curiosity I kept the wine open for 24 hours. It was still evolving even then, with jammier fruits, more textured mouthfeel, and subtler notes. Even that didn't quite bring the wine to where I think it will be in even five years time.
Moral of the story... this wine needs time to age. Everything necessary for aging is there. It is holding onto something truly special that will come out over the next few decades. I can't give it a score now, knowing it can easily become a 99 later. I will eagerly wait to give it another try then!
X/100
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First impression upon opening; expansive nose, ripe dark fruits, and earth, then maraschino cherry, plum, finishing with tobacco and pencil lead. Lovely tannins, not overwhelming but clearly present. An hour and a half later, with filet mignon, seared potatoes, and sautéed mushrooms; the nose is still wonderful dark fruits, the palate hits notes of vanilla and cassis, while still keeping the lovely fruit from opening. The tannins seem stronger but still pleasant with the filet. Lovely length to the finish. Wonderful.
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Wine Spectator newbies; 10/18/2018-10/20/2018 (Marriott Marquis): Had a rather different experience from the note before mine. This was I thought drinking quite well. More complex than I had expected for the second wine. Great balance between the fruit and the earth and just generally well structured. Still perhaps on the young side, but expressive (esp compared to some of the first wines that we had afterwards which had great stuffing, but were getting drunk much too young).
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Totally underperforming second wine of a great growth like Haut-Brion ! Tasted blind in a three-wine flight, and tasted by three other random tasters on the day, it did not have the great features of a complex slightly aged Bordeaux at all. No real complexity, even after hours of opening, the quality of tannins is consistent with that type of wine but the alcohol is slightly unbalanced, and the finish does not bring anything special except for bitterness and some blackcurrant notes. At somewhat €170 retail today, I would feel ripped off if I bought one for myself or for a relative! I suppose it has more to do with a fourth wine of Haut-Brion than a second...Other CT notes do not agree, but noone spotted any fault in that bottle on that day, so I still wonder.
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Decanted. Clear deep garnet color. Bright fresh black and blue fruit, fresh lilacs and acacia, more Margaux than Graves. Full body, seamless, excellent balance and structure. Outstanding.
Wet earth, cigar, ferns, a really dark wet foresty character with dark cassis-blackberry notes; graphite, anise, clove hidden in there as well, but still bery primary, dry aggressive tannins, and a bit hot. This really is powerful and needs time. Better than the '11 Pontet Canet.
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From a 375ml. A sweet nose and a very smooth wine. Medium to full bodied. Well integrated tannins. Nice chocolate notes and taste. Solid wine probably comparable to most chateaus first wine. Drink now to 2025
Bright and translucent ruby red. Nose of wood with black fruits breaking through. Medium to full bodied with a sharp intensity. A pleasingly long aftertaste. Really does smoothen out after one hour of air, albeit a touch simple at this stage as needs a few more years to develop. 92 now. Possibly 93/94 with time. Drink 2020-2030
Drank side by side with Pavie Macquin 2011. This won.
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Really nice wine. Nice smoke and minerals. Certainly get that it is the little brother to its bigger/more expensive sibling. A lot of pleasure or the price.
Big, black, rich smelling nose of earth, cassis, leather, some oak-baking spice notes; lots going on here, but very tannic, built. This needs 5-10 years at this point. 91-93
Plums, slightest hints of coffee, cream, sweet spice and polished French oak. On agitation the plum element increases and ripens and is joined by a herbaceous note. Also some black and red currant. In the mouth the wine is juicy, generous with spiced plum and blackcurrant fruit. almost a bit savoury and this impression is reinforced by the sizable tannic, though the savoury plum persists beneath this and is joined by a touch of alcohol heat. Hmm. Good, but not sure it's for me.
fresh and very good. Not haut brion or even close but a delicious wine. Classic cassis, dry finish, good acid structure and ok length. Complexity will unfold over time, still a little tight.
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Hedonism Wines' Enomatic Sampling (Hedonism Wines, Mayfair): Not being a seasoned drinker of second wines, I must admit that this is a major success. The bouquet jumping from the glass with blueberries, wet stone. On the palate brambles, cedar, a backbone of silky tannins and a very nice and pure finish. Great.
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Cedar wood, forest, cassis and espresso scents open to a fleshy, soft, refined, concentrated wine with real personality that finishes with polished red berries, freshness and spice.
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Le Clarence de Haut Brion With 52% Merlot 36% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Petit Verdot in the blend, the wine opens with smoke, oak, boysenberry, cassis and earthy tones. Soft cassis, flavors and a long finish make this a strong, surprisingly fresh and ample effort for a second wine. 91-93 Pts
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A very different nose here, very different grape blend, more opulent fruit than the Chapelle, less dark Cabernet notes; smooth, opulent palate. Quite voluptuous, lovely fruit expression. Very nice wine. 91-93
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3/31/2024 - Janda_42 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Decanted off considerable sediment. Aired 30 minutes.
Eye: Dark purple center to light ruby rim. The wine shows light bricking.
Nose: Tobacco, mint, rich crème de cassis. Lightly spicy. Graphite.
Palate: Really soft. Low to medium tannin. Well balanced acidity. Loads of anise, red currant. Red and black fruit. Burnt caramel.
Finish: Long. Herbaceous, meaty, spicy. Mushroom and earth.
Overall: Wonderfully complex and elegant; exactly what I expected from HB.
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1/12/2024 - duchamp wrote: 93 Points
Deep ruby to deep purple, nose is fruit dominated with red currant, black plum, and blackberry, alongside mocha, earth, tobacco, and pencil shavings, fruit forward on the palate as well with blackberry jam, black tea, teethy tannins and medium acidity, finishes with lots of concord grape followed by more complex earthy fruit, lingering tangy acidity, black tea, and more
Note: Although I didn't get a real "Graves" feel to this one and would have struggled distinguishing it from a Napa wine, it's certainly a solid effort and a joy to drink, final thoughts, having had the pleasure of tasting the '10 Haut-Brion, I might be judging this second too harshly
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8/12/2023 - John III Likes this wine: 94 Points
Decanted for 2 hours. Drank half the bottle with homemade chicken and dumplings. Set the rest aside for Sunday evening. The aroma in the decanter after 1 hour was dark fruits, dark chocolate. My first sip had some grip to it. But with food this softened and smoothed out, revealing bright bing cherries and wonderful earth and bread aromas. Spectacular wine in a perfect window. Puts so much American wine to shame.
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6/25/2023 - Ohlawuly Likes this wine: 92 Points
Deep garnet with brick rim. Nose of black fruit, coffee, tobacco, with some earthy note. Medium bodied with resolved tannin and low acidity. Finish is long and complex, but not so impressing. I think the wine is nearly matured and better to be consumed within 3-4 years.
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4/30/2023 - jmoon Likes this wine: 91 Points
Nice med body well balanced but a bit generic bordeaux blend. Good straight from the bottle.
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3/20/2023 - Orange Tsian wrote: 91 Points
主要是黑醋栗、黑樱桃和李子之类的黑果，带着些许蓝莓奶油、动物皮毛和复合香料粉的味道，在鼻腔中有一定扩张性，生青味比较重，贯穿了整体。喝起来酒体中大，有一定的结构感，单宁多，比较粉，布满整个口腔，还有一些粗糙感。果味依然是黑樱桃、李子和黑醋栗之类的黑果味为主，带着淡淡的紫罗兰，后段带有些黑胡椒粒、香叶、丁香之类的味道，还有些皮革和动物皮毛。91-92/100
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11/30/2022 - Brent25 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Clear medium ruby; clean medium nose of green pepper, musty/dusty library and strawberry/ raspberry compote: dry; medium plus acidity; medium plus tannins; medium plus alcohol; medium plus body; pronounced flavour intensity; plate is tarter with addition of cocoa; medium plus finish; big and muscular with lots of opportunity to develop; tasted at Haut Brion LCBO dinner
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9/7/2022 - KeepItSimple Likes this wine: 93 Points
Nice texture, silky smooth, fruit driven, starting its plateau
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9/6/2022 - Hanibal Likes this wine: 91 Points
Refined, nothing sticks out. Good bordeaux
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2/16/2022 - RobbieK Likes this wine: 92 Points
Zacht, fluweelachtige smaak, tabak,pruimen, zwarte bessen. Heerlijk
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2/12/2022 - ASMB Likes this wine: 91 Points
Not nearly as good as the last bottle. I explanation, just seems flatter.
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10/29/2021 - Elpaninaro Likes this wine:
good medium deep red color, lovely nose of dark spice and minerals, dried herbs, cassis, classic and relaxing, on the palate a pure cherry note, savory leaves and herbs, clay notes, still some youthful tannins and oak, developing nicely but this still needs time, great length, very fine.
**(**), 2025-2035+
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5/5/2021 - steinersing wrote: 91 Points
Good - smooth
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2/3/2021 - John McCabe wrote: 95 Points
Surprised reviewers didn't rate this more highly. WS gave it like 88pts? - ridiculous. This had power, but also restraint, elegance and subtlety. There was some camphor and smoke on the palate, along with some of the freshness of the vintage. Hedonistic, but everything so well measured. A bit too pricey now, but quite the treat nonetheless. Reminds me a bit of an excellent vintage of Clos de Sarpe, which is also powerful (though more hit or miss and needs even more time). 95+pts.
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7/15/2020 - Aberry126 Likes this wine:
Left open two hours prior to tasting:
Intense dark plum color. Nose is still slightly hot, but is beginning to show leather, cassis, and cured meat. Hot on first taste and much brighter than expected. Very complex at first, yielding to leather, tobacco, and earth after about 30 seconds. Incredibly long finish with medium tannins and a dry mouthfeel.
Four hours open:
Nose is much less hot, wine has opened more. Salinity on the nose along with spicy salami, rosemary, and limestone. Still bright on first taste, but much less hot. Some tart cherry (this sounds ridiculous, but almost like a cherry Jolly Rancher) mellowing into ripe plum, medium-high tannins, with the same earthiness as before, almost chalky. Long finish, with lots of herbs and subtle earth. Very complex--could still open longer.
Six hours open:
Definitely approaching the right amount of time to open. Cassis and prune on the nose with the same spice and earthy tones. Everything smells much more balanced, no one aroma outdoing another. Same tasting notes, but the tannins are more pronounced.
Out of curiosity I kept the wine open for 24 hours. It was still evolving even then, with jammier fruits, more textured mouthfeel, and subtler notes. Even that didn't quite bring the wine to where I think it will be in even five years time.
Moral of the story... this wine needs time to age. Everything necessary for aging is there. It is holding onto something truly special that will come out over the next few decades. I can't give it a score now, knowing it can easily become a 99 later. I will eagerly wait to give it another try then!
X/100
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3/23/2019 - hermanlong wrote:
Plums blackberry jam ending with graphite peppery aroma on the nose. Nice acidity. Alcohol feels high but not sure of the %
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12/23/2018 - NAS Likes this wine: 96 Points
First impression upon opening; expansive nose, ripe dark fruits, and earth, then maraschino cherry, plum, finishing with tobacco and pencil lead. Lovely tannins, not overwhelming but clearly present.
An hour and a half later, with filet mignon, seared potatoes, and sautéed mushrooms; the nose is still wonderful dark fruits, the palate hits notes of vanilla and cassis, while still keeping the lovely fruit from opening. The tannins seem stronger but still pleasant with the filet. Lovely length to the finish. Wonderful.
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10/20/2018 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine:
Wine Spectator newbies; 10/18/2018-10/20/2018 (Marriott Marquis): Had a rather different experience from the note before mine. This was I thought drinking quite well. More complex than I had expected for the second wine. Great balance between the fruit and the earth and just generally well structured. Still perhaps on the young side, but expressive (esp compared to some of the first wines that we had afterwards which had great stuffing, but were getting drunk much too young).
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12/20/2017 - stadler Does not like this wine:
Totally underperforming second wine of a great growth like Haut-Brion ! Tasted blind in a three-wine flight, and tasted by three other random tasters on the day, it did not have the great features of a complex slightly aged Bordeaux at all. No real complexity, even after hours of opening, the quality of tannins is consistent with that type of wine but the alcohol is slightly unbalanced, and the finish does not bring anything special except for bitterness and some blackcurrant notes. At somewhat €170 retail today, I would feel ripped off if I bought one for myself or for a relative! I suppose it has more to do with a fourth wine of Haut-Brion than a second...Other CT notes do not agree, but noone spotted any fault in that bottle on that day, so I still wonder.
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11/15/2017 - steinersing wrote: 90 Points
showing pretty well, the vintage plays out here
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11/14/2017 - fcxj wrote: 88 Points
Solid second wine. Single tone, but impressive length.
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5/14/2017 - RussK wrote: 91 Points
Russk. Wine Spectator Gran Tour at the Fontainebleau. Tar and grippy
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12/2/2016 - Zweder wrote: flawed
Bordeaux: Second wines in great vintages. (Valuas): Corked
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11/5/2016 - cubswinws Likes this wine: 92 Points
Lovely wine with nice depth and mineral structure.
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7/26/2016 - Javachip wrote: 93 Points
Decanted. Clear deep garnet color. Bright fresh black and blue fruit, fresh lilacs and acacia, more Margaux than Graves. Full body, seamless, excellent balance and structure. Outstanding.
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7/9/2016 - peternelson wrote: 92 Points
Wet earth, cigar, ferns, a really dark wet foresty character with dark cassis-blackberry notes; graphite, anise, clove hidden in there as well, but still bery primary, dry aggressive tannins, and a bit hot. This really is powerful and needs time. Better than the '11 Pontet Canet.
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6/22/2016 - _water.into.wine_ Likes this wine: 91 Points
From a 375ml. A sweet nose and a very smooth wine. Medium to full bodied. Well integrated tannins. Nice chocolate notes and taste. Solid wine probably comparable to most chateaus first wine. Drink now to 2025
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5/11/2016 - _water.into.wine_ wrote:
Bright and translucent ruby red. Nose of wood with black fruits breaking through. Medium to full bodied with a sharp intensity. A pleasingly long aftertaste. Really does smoothen out after one hour of air, albeit a touch simple at this stage as needs a few more years to develop. 92 now. Possibly 93/94 with time. Drink 2020-2030
Drank side by side with Pavie Macquin 2011. This won.
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12/19/2015 - cubswinws Likes this wine: 93 Points
Really nice wine. Nice smoke and minerals. Certainly get that it is the little brother to its bigger/more expensive sibling. A lot of pleasure or the price.
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12/15/2015 - peternelson wrote: 91 Points
Big, black, rich smelling nose of earth, cassis, leather, some oak-baking spice notes; lots going on here, but very tannic, built. This needs 5-10 years at this point. 91-93
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5/4/2015 - chatters wrote:
Plums, slightest hints of coffee, cream, sweet spice and polished French oak. On agitation the plum element increases and ripens and is joined by a herbaceous note. Also some black and red currant. In the mouth the wine is juicy, generous with spiced plum and blackcurrant fruit. almost a bit savoury and this impression is reinforced by the sizable tannic, though the savoury plum persists beneath this and is joined by a touch of alcohol heat. Hmm. Good, but not sure it's for me.
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11/5/2014 - jmoon Likes this wine: 91 Points
fresh and very good. Not haut brion or even close but a delicious wine. Classic cassis, dry finish, good acid structure and ok length. Complexity will unfold over time, still a little tight.
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4/3/2014 - mwanasheria Likes this wine: 92 Points
Hedonism Wines' Enomatic Sampling (Hedonism Wines, Mayfair): Not being a seasoned drinker of second wines, I must admit that this is a major success. The bouquet jumping from the glass with blueberries, wet stone. On the palate brambles, cedar, a backbone of silky tannins and a very nice and pure finish. Great.
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12/14/2013 - j30 wrote:
Medium berry nose. Still closed in the mouth, dense and slightly austere.
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5/7/2013 - Jeff Leve wrote: 92 Points
Cedar wood, forest, cassis and espresso scents open to a fleshy, soft, refined, concentrated wine with real personality that finishes with polished red berries, freshness and spice.
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4/21/2011 - Jeff Leve wrote: 92 Points
Le Clarence de Haut Brion With 52% Merlot 36% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Petit Verdot in the blend, the wine opens with smoke, oak, boysenberry, cassis and earthy tones. Soft cassis, flavors and a long finish make this a strong, surprisingly fresh and ample effort for a second wine. 91-93 Pts
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4/8/2011 - vespasian wrote: 92 Points
A very different nose here, very different grape blend, more opulent fruit than the Chapelle, less dark Cabernet notes; smooth, opulent palate. Quite voluptuous, lovely fruit expression. Very nice wine. 91-93
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4/4/2011 - dcwino wrote: 92 Points
2010 Bordeaux En Primeur; 4/3/2011-4/4/2011 (Bordeaux): The fruit expression is fresher, crushed blueberries and tannins better integrated than the 10 La Chapell. Nice silky palate, good length. 91-93 pts
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