Honey in hue, the nose also reflects its honeyed side with accents of flowers, petrol, orange rind, pears, citrus, and spice. The palate is round, oily, and sweet, low in acidity, the wine finishes with citrus, spice, and hints of honey on the backend. This is fully mature. Drink from 2023-2028.
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It's always a treat to try an Haut-Brion blanc. This 2003 was fresh and with generous fruit. On the nose, there was lemon, fresh flowers, and hazelnut. Appeared somewhat early in its evolution. Really fresh finish with bright acidity.
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I was expecting much from this wine. But it did not fully deliver. My only other experience with Haut Brion blanc were two bottles from 1985 drank at around 25 years of which one was magnificent while the other was oxidised. Well, I was not expecting the 2003 to be oxidative in character in only 14 years... but it was. Initially I was quite disappointed.
The color was a healthy-looking deep lemony, not even golden... but the nose was full of Sherry notes. After the initial shock, I started to focus on the complexity of the aromas, the dried nuts, the caramel, the discreet vanilla note, the amazing...saltiness. Went very well with most dishes, very food friendly.
I realised it was not a bad wine, on the palate it was mouth cleansing, flavours were lingering and profound. It sure was a wine that did not belie its pedigree but still I was prepared for something different, something fresher and not as much evolved. It just was not what I was expecting. It tasted more like the oxidised 1985 bottle than the good one. And if I could have tasted it younger I would.
Now, all the above said, I do not know if the condition of the wine was due to a bad bottle or the warm 2003 vintage, but I see no other review of the '03 mentioning either oxidation or sherry character.
To conclude, Haut Brion blanc 2003 was a very interesting experience as it was, but given the price of the wine, I would not buy it again if it were to be as it was. The 'adventure' I had with the '03 prompted me to open within a few days the other bottle of Haut Brion blanc, an '05, which was a different experience altogether - an experience for which I wish I had the money to be able to repeat and repeat...
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The wine looks light gold colored. There is no sediment in the bottle. The body is light/medium. The wine has silky texture. The wine finishes medium. The wine has medium acidity. Absolutely beautiful.
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LMHB (The Ledbury): Blind. Slightly brighter. Vibrant in the glass. Very smooth and creamy. A touch of tropical fruit. Curious. Quite fat and rich with a classy burgundy nose but a slightly bitter finish that hails from further south. Slightly honeyed nose with a high-toned edge. A confusing richness combined with a minerality and edge. Ah! Revealed as 2003 HB. Very dense and long and interesting with a slightly herbal twang to the finish. Nose constantly changing — almost a touch of coffee after 20 minutes. An hour in this is all caramel wafer, and then exotic fruit. Still going strong after the last drop is drained two hours in. ****1/2
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Beautiful white Bordeaux and although the hot vintage is apparent in the exotic quality to the fruit, there is enough underlying acidity to keep this fresh and evolving. Lovely flavors of citrus and honeysuckle give way to a fine complexity on the finish. I think this wine is balanced enough for further aging which it definitely needs as it is clearly holding a lot in reserve. 94+
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Amuse-Bouche/HK. Decanted, 15 minutes. Translucent gold straw color. Ethereal white flower, popcorn, sugary butter nose. Fresh, very round mouthfeel. Slight lemon meringue, vanilla foam. Slightest hue of metal on back palate. Very long finish. Just got better and better... Thanks Ronald! Compared to Smith Haut Lafite 2003 tasted the night before: less volume, much less alcohol, refined, different category.
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Licorice and sharpie marker. Very ripe and aromatic. Yellow fruit aromas as well. Waxy texture. Very difficult to think of a proper pairing. Long, ripe, and definitely 2003. Where's the acidity?
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Light Lumber in Minneapolis: Kind of like white Rhones, these have more of an intellectual interest for me, rather than hedonistic. A full-on wine, that developed well in the glass. Very much enjoyed tasting this, but for my money (and what these go for), I'll stick to Montrachet.
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Lumber Comes To Minneapolis (La Belle Vie Lounge, Minneapolis): Intense gold color. This was a bit slow to unravel at first but constantly improved in the glass, and was in terrific shape by the end of dinner. Very ripe stone fruit, lemon curd, apricot, and honey flavors, with a touch of petrol that grew stronger with air. Full-throttle, dense, and silky-textured, with low but balanced acidity.
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9/1/2023 - Jeff Leve wrote: 93 Points
Honey in hue, the nose also reflects its honeyed side with accents of flowers, petrol, orange rind, pears, citrus, and spice. The palate is round, oily, and sweet, low in acidity, the wine finishes with citrus, spice, and hints of honey on the backend. This is fully mature. Drink from 2023-2028.
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8/29/2022 - WIBA Likes this wine: 94 Points
typical pineapple, petrol nose and concentrated palate. very good.
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8/29/2022 - fcxj wrote: 92 Points
Distinctive grapefruit aromatics of Semillon shine thru. Quite balanced without heat and fairly placid.
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10/22/2020 - G_H wrote: 92 Points
Very exotic, mango papaya, low acidity but still quite fresh
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11/8/2019 - steinersing wrote: 94 Points
Aromatically a little less exciting than others in the tasting. Tangerine. Still great effort for the vintage.
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8/22/2019 - Jeff Leve wrote: 93 Points
On the orange citrus side, with lemon zest, flowers and tangerine the wine is low in acid, round and fleshy. Drink this now...
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9/26/2017 - DrinkBordeaux wrote: 93 Points
It's always a treat to try an Haut-Brion blanc. This 2003 was fresh and with generous fruit. On the nose, there was lemon, fresh flowers, and hazelnut. Appeared somewhat early in its evolution. Really fresh finish with bright acidity.
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8/11/2017 - Stefanos T. Likes this wine: 93 Points
I was expecting much from this wine. But it did not fully deliver. My only other experience with Haut Brion blanc were two bottles from 1985 drank at around 25 years of which one was magnificent while the other was oxidised. Well, I was not expecting the 2003 to be oxidative in character in only 14 years... but it was. Initially I was quite disappointed.
The color was a healthy-looking deep lemony, not even golden... but the nose was full of Sherry notes. After the initial shock, I started to focus on the complexity of the aromas, the dried nuts, the caramel, the discreet vanilla note, the amazing...saltiness. Went very well with most dishes, very food friendly.
I realised it was not a bad wine, on the palate it was mouth cleansing, flavours were lingering and profound. It sure was a wine that did not belie its pedigree but still I was prepared for something different, something fresher and not as much evolved. It just was not what I was expecting. It tasted more like the oxidised 1985 bottle than the good one. And if I could have tasted it younger I would.
Now, all the above said, I do not know if the condition of the wine was due to a bad bottle or the warm 2003 vintage, but I see no other review of the '03 mentioning either oxidation or sherry character.
To conclude, Haut Brion blanc 2003 was a very interesting experience as it was, but given the price of the wine, I would not buy it again if it were to be as it was. The 'adventure' I had with the '03 prompted me to open within a few days the other bottle of Haut Brion blanc, an '05, which was a different experience altogether - an experience for which I wish I had the money to be able to repeat and repeat...
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7/21/2015 - jhpwine Likes this wine: 96 Points
The wine looks light gold colored. There is no sediment in the bottle. The body is light/medium. The wine has silky texture. The wine finishes medium. The wine has medium acidity. Absolutely beautiful.
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5/19/2014 - SimonG wrote: 94 Points
LMHB (The Ledbury): Blind. Slightly brighter. Vibrant in the glass. Very smooth and creamy. A touch of tropical fruit. Curious. Quite fat and rich with a classy burgundy nose but a slightly bitter finish that hails from further south. Slightly honeyed nose with a high-toned edge. A confusing richness combined with a minerality and edge. Ah! Revealed as 2003 HB. Very dense and long and interesting with a slightly herbal twang to the finish. Nose constantly changing — almost a touch of coffee after 20 minutes. An hour in this is all caramel wafer, and then exotic fruit. Still going strong after the last drop is drained two hours in. ****1/2
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2/8/2014 - dream Likes this wine: 94 Points
Beautiful white Bordeaux and although the hot vintage is apparent in the exotic quality to the fruit, there is enough underlying acidity to keep this fresh and evolving. Lovely flavors of citrus and honeysuckle give way to a fine complexity on the finish. I think this wine is balanced enough for further aging which it definitely needs as it is clearly holding a lot in reserve. 94+
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11/29/2013 - steinersing wrote: 96 Points
Opulent, creamy - yet elegant and effortless. Best 03 Bordeaux I had.
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8/16/2013 - kwaky Likes this wine: 90 Points
Burgundy v Bordeaux - Cellartracker (La Trompette, W4): Mid Yellow; not much on the palate, a hint of rosemary. It didn't stand up well to the rest of the competition in this flight despite its pedigree.
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5/25/2012 - Revenga wrote: 96 Points
Amuse-Bouche/HK. Decanted, 15 minutes. Translucent gold straw color. Ethereal white flower, popcorn, sugary butter nose. Fresh, very round mouthfeel. Slight lemon meringue, vanilla foam. Slightest hue of metal on back palate. Very long finish. Just got better and better... Thanks Ronald! Compared to Smith Haut Lafite 2003 tasted the night before: less volume, much less alcohol, refined, different category.
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10/22/2011 - acyso wrote: 90 Points
Licorice and sharpie marker. Very ripe and aromatic. Yellow fruit aromas as well. Waxy texture. Very difficult to think of a proper pairing. Long, ripe, and definitely 2003. Where's the acidity?
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9/4/2009 - BradE wrote:
Light Lumber in Minneapolis: Kind of like white Rhones, these have more of an intellectual interest for me, rather than hedonistic. A full-on wine, that developed well in the glass. Very much enjoyed tasting this, but for my money (and what these go for), I'll stick to Montrachet.
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9/3/2009 - Siggy wrote: 94 Points
Lumber Comes To Minneapolis (La Belle Vie Lounge, Minneapolis): Intense gold color. This was a bit slow to unravel at first but constantly improved in the glass, and was in terrific shape by the end of dinner. Very ripe stone fruit, lemon curd, apricot, and honey flavors, with a touch of petrol that grew stronger with air. Full-throttle, dense, and silky-textured, with low but balanced acidity.
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