No formal notes, but score reflects a "short" decant time of only a couple of hours. Started to open up at the end of the night. I imagine the score is higher after a significant (like 7 hours as mentioned in another review) decant time.
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Bordeaux 2004 - 20 Years On - 33 Reds: All wines tasted blind, not decanted. Observations: 1) 2004 is a mediocre vintage overall, with many pleasant wines, but without the depth of better years. 2) At the top, the vintage produced some classic, old-school wines with lots of freshness and fresh fruit. 3) At the lower end, many wines lacked fruit and ripe tannins, resulting in some astringent and slightly drying wines. 4) An alarming number of Right Bank wines (5 out of 16, no Left Bank wine) were oxidized, including some heavyweights like Petrus, Evangile or Figeac. An unacceptably high proportion of faulty wines. 5) I’m not sure that the 2004 are currently in a good phase, many of my scores were lower than in previous tastings. The question is if it’s just a weaker phase or the beginning of the end. 6) At the top and the only wine >95pts was a layered Le Pin (rated 96pts), with a charming Vieux Chateau Certan, a surprising Issan and Clos l'Eglise, as well as an elegant Lafite sharing second place (all rated 94pts).
TN: One of the better bouquets today with lots of ripe strawberries, other red berries, rhubarb notes and a bit of earthiness. Inviting and very good. On the palate these fruit aromas are there too but the wine was out of balance with a not very well integrated acidity backbone and a bit coarse tannins and a slightly drying finish. 90pts for the superb nose, the palate was clearly in the sub-90pts category. Judging from the other notes here, this wine can achieve higher levels, a good amount of time in a decanter would certainly have helped.
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This was decanted for 7 hours, and it paid dividends, but only really started to loosen up after time in the glass. That said, it is an Haut-Brion for earlier drinking, and far more advanced than the 1998 for example. The nose is integrated and has lost its youthful notes, and now is rich and deep with blackcurrant, leather, and cedar. The palate has great depth and balance, and has shrugged off the primary characteristics. It is not one of the heavyweights from the estate, and it shows in in its simplicity on the palate. The finish is good , but needs more time for the tannin to resolve. I'll probably revisit this in a couple of years, when I suspect it will be really hitting its stride.
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Super Bowl LVIII 2024 (Alpharetta, GA): Cellar Diving: Full disclosure... palate fatigue was in full effect at this point in the night. While young and it needs at least another decade to reach early maturity, it is delicious. Unfortunately, this was only decanted for 30 minutes. Hold this wine for another 10 years before opening if you want to unleash its full potential.
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We allowed to let this wine breathe for about 1.5 hours in a decanter before serving. The wine showcased beautiful aromas of mulberry, black currant, blackberry, smoke, and cedar. The palate showed great harmony from the nose with smooth tannins and great acidity. This specific bottle was in its drinking window now. 94+
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Decanted 2 hrs, so primary, so much fruit forward on the nose. Fragrant of sweet dark fruit aromas like casiss, blueberry, black currant, plum, wafts of violet, tobacco leaf and nutmeg. On the palate, fresh, lush, silky texture, quite dense and tight, medium to full-bodied, fine-grained tannins and goes on for 30 seconds. Still on the young side, a decade to go or needs 1/3 of a day decanting to help loosen up the tight muscles if drinking today. Enjoyed the nose (96) more than the palate (92) at this point. Classic and opulent are the words.
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Opened at 0730 and double decanted over five hours before pairing with a holiday lunch at 1300. This bottle was still closed after this but gradually unfurled to reveal a garnet robe in the glass with slightly bricked edges. Very aromatic on the nose, with smoke-tinged plum and mulberry, forest floor, smoked meats, violet. The overall effect approaches incense, though nothing like the 1998, my favorite bottle of all time. The last glass at 1530 was the best, with the fruit now taking a clear step forward, the body starting to fan out nicely. This bottle proved too young still. Will reserve our second bottle for 5-10 years or will decant for a minimum of 12 hours. Exceptional chameleon!
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Allowed to breathe in glass 60 minutes. Clear dark garnet-blood red color. Fresh blackberries, black currants and their liqueurs, lava stone, violets, lilacs, bay leaf. Medium-full body, seamless, beautifully balanced, refined, sophisticated. Seems youthful and tight, needs a few more more years. Improved with air, needs more than a one hour decant at this stage.
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Medium dark red color. Candied fruit and tobacco bouquet. Youthful fruit entry is followed by a slightly warm and astringent short aftertaste. A little on the young side , I’d give it another 5+ years of aging.
Tasted this at Mark’s yearly Bordeaux tasting. Sampled 12 vintages each of Château Haut Brion and Château Margaux. Great wines and comradeship, what an exceptional event to be part of! Thanks to our host for his generosity in presenting a once in a lifetime Bordeaux tasting experience.
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Dinner Maison Pavlov March 22 2023. WOTN together with Ch. Montrose 1989. Can benefit from more time but already delicious. Smooth yet strong and definitely still some primary.
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The 04 Haut Brion is big step behind the 04 La Mission Haut Brion last night. A classic Bordeaux with tobacco, mineral and forest floor, with a lovely balance of fruit and acidity. However, with air it soon fell apart becoming rather simple albeit still nicely balanced.
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First growth dinner at Otto e Mezzo in Hong Kong. Decanted before serving.
Honestly, this was disappointing. The aromatics at the start were on-point for 'good Bordeaux wine', but the palate was not yielding at all in terms of complexity or depth. This didn't get better in the glass and was overshadowed by the other wines in the line-up. The acidity was there, but it wasn't really balancing anything out.
Given the other notes here I'm going to put this down to bad luck with bottle variation. Would be keen to retry.
Reserved, stoic, discreetly styled wine, better on the nose, with its smoky edge to the red currants, tobacco leaf, cedar, and leaf, than on the tight, crisp, red berry palate. Lovers of old-school classic vintages will probably like this more than I did. Drink from 2023-2040.
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At a private dinner, Little Cove, Noosa.This remains a fine bottle of Haut Brion with a deep crimson red colour and a striking aromatic nose with blackcurrant, dark plums, cedar, tobacco and liquorice all on show. The palate is ripe and moderately intense with lovely balance and poise and very fine length. There was more completeness and drive to this bottle than a previous bottle in 2019 and a sense of a wine beginning to open into its early maturity. Delicious.
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During a Commanderie event. From Imperial. Despite decanting this wine never shed its strict, tannic side. The aromas were good and "on message" with a grand left Bank wine, displaying damp forest floor and dark fruit but the palate was a lot of work. Nose 95, palate 90.
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Fragrant nose with notes of cassis, leather, smoke, and lots of fruit. Tannins are quite integrated with dark fruit notes and great balanced on the palate. Quite long finish. What a lovely wine, the nose alone is absolutely gorgeous!
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Allowed 1 hour of slow-ox in bottle. A very prominent and classical your HB. Comprising everything pleasing with a good texture. Very fine fruits and acidity. Will be better with further 5-10 years of aging.
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PnP at lounge. Beautiful dark ruby color. Nose exudes plums, forest floor. The palate is smooth and round - fresh - with great acidity, loads of complex black fruits, then some tannins, hints of leather (very faint still), moka, tar… so much going on, so good. I think this will be a splendor in 4-5 years!
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Second time of tasting this wine, (the last was 19 months ago,) and I am still so surprised how advanced it is. Admittedly it is not as approachable as the La Mission, but with a few hours in the decanter it is starting to drink well. The nose is deep with blackcurrant, cedar, and leather. The palate is balanced with great complexity and the finish pushes 30+ seconds. It is showing its first growth status in an average vintage, but the tannin needs to further resolve to warrant another point or two, but all the signs are there that this could begin to peak in a year or two. 94+
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Pop and pour to serve. Cassis, dark currant, tobacco and graphite. Round, balanced and long. It has the richness and power. Exceptional for a weak vintage HB.
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Poured into a decanter to serve. Earth, graphite, dark currant and leather. Classic Haut Brion in an average vintage yet it still shows beautifully. The consistency of the domaine’s wine is just off the chart. It is starting to drink well.
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A private dinner (Restaurant d'Oude Schuur, Sint-Martens-Latem, Belgium): Light body, slender, hint of evolution, earthy, slightly drying tannins, tell-tale bricky warmth but light in style, exactly what you would expect from Haut-Brion in 2004. I would suggest drinking this sooner rather than later.
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Showed very little after a 2 plus hour decant. A bit of tobacco, fine tannin and blue fruit. Opened up a little, but left me wondering if it needs more time or is already past prime.
Served double-blind, my first guess was 1995 Pessac, but that was on the nose, only. This had been aerated in wide-bottom decanter for ~ 5 hours, and I have to say, for my palate, that was perfect. Medium>dark ruby core, clear, with little sign of age. The palate does not follow the nose, which suggests a much bigger wine than it actually is. Instead, this lovely, elegant effort is a medium>medium+ body, with aromas of campfire embers, pipe tobacco, cassis fruit, and distinct notes of soil/place. Of course these are the first/dominant qualities - this continues to shift for the several hours we're actually drinking it. Brilliant wine that, for my palate, is absolutely in its preferred zone, and should be enjoyed sooner than later. highly recommended
Pretty, and sort of charmingly awkward. A lighter brick color than I expected. Classic Bordeaux nose, with cigar-box sweetness, cassis, a hint of old perfume, and other lurking notes that I'm too dumb to place. Lightweight and spry on the palate -- "skinny" is the descriptor that comes to my mind. The acidity and the rosewater aspect seem more in line with a Barolo. You can sense the pedigree, and it's certainly interesting start to finish. But it's not altogether true to type.
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needs a little air to coax this one you. initially shy on the nose and more dark fruit, cases and leather that lead one to think it may be paulliac. With some air the gravelly and smoky side of Pessac emerges. Austere on the finish. Long long long finish. Tannins still a little structured and will give way further with time. Not the most hedonistic nor complex but still very nice indeed
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I am pleasantly surprised by how approachable the vintage as a whole is after 16 years, and this was no exception. The nose is delicately perfumed with the palate already displaying secondary notes. Blackcurrant, cedar, and graphite are prominent. Whilst perhaps a little one dimensional on the palate, it has an exceptional balance and finish which is 60+ seconds. It will interesting to see if it develops more complexity over the next few years, but even now it shows its pedigree.
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The New Traditional December 22 Tasting (Anders place): Fantastic blind contribution on last nights tasting. Complex Bordeaux with layers that is both elegant and rustic. Secondary flavours of tobacco, cinnamon, lead and ink and primary cassis that is cool and perfume like. Fresh, delicate and sinewy on the palate. Very long! 95-96 points.
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A sleek and wonderfully crafted nose, showing pencil shavings, rolling tobacco, graphite and a touch of vanilla.
Relaxed and classy on the palate - cool but not austere, bitter without wanting for richness, an excellent food wine (in this case with grouse) - just classic Claret.
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At Sumi, Noosa. This was a fine bottle of Haut Brion which while lacking the gravitas of the recently tasted 2005 still had the elegance and flavour profile of that year with the volume turned down. The colour was a deep crimson red and the nose beautifully aromatic with blackcurrant, dark plums, cedar, tobacco and liquorice all on show. The palate is ripe and moderately intense with lovely balance and poise and very fine length. While the richness of a great year is not present there was certainly no lack of ripeness or astringency. Indeed the overall effect was of lovely balance and completeness.
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2 hours in the decanter then had with wine group over the next 3. Great Graves nose but definitely a bit more refined then the other wines from Graves. Elegant and not overdone, but if you like a more concentrated wine, one may find it lacking. Just entering young adulthood and years left. Showed very well! Had alongside an '04 Lafite and Palmer. All were stylistically different (expected). Palmer had the most extraction and the Lafite had the refinement, finesse, showed the youngest, and was WOTN.
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My first ever full bottle of Haut Brion - what a treat! It's clearly very young, and the new oak is evident with nice wood shavings on the nose. This is classic bordeaux, with blackcurrents and blackberries, medium to high tannins, but balanced. Decanted 3 hours, but a wine that will last decades. Drink 2024-2050+
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Deep ruby color. Complex nose of dark plum, blackberries, ripe cherries, graphite, cigar box and truffles.
Full bodied, yet silky smooth on the palate. Very firm and well structured, with just the right amount of fresh acidity to finish off. Refined and pleasantly long finish.
This is simply beautiful with minerality singing from the glass, which serves as a great reminder of Haut Brion’s amazing terroir in Pessac. So fragrant I could smell this wine the whole night. Tasted this on my First Class flight as part of Emirates vintage collection. Always a pleasure to be drinking Chateau Haut Brion.
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Given the other tasting notes I fear this bottle is prematurely aged. I also don’t know how long it’s been open (served in an airport lounge, yes pretty flash!).
Very soft, cedar and tobacco. I’d guess it were much older.
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Slightly dull medium garnet. Deep, penetrating blackberry and a touch of vanilla on the nose. Blackberry seed, delicious intense raspberry, cream, drinking beautifully. Delicious creamy berry finish.
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Starts as overly ripe and warm, like a hot berry pie, but gradually gains freshness in the glass, becomes juicy - this is where tannin comes forward, all the chewiness that hopefully will soften with age.
Maybe not the best vintage, 2004 - I’d say it misses the verve, the raw energy that the best of HB is famous for - but it’s still a baby, so my score here may not reflect its true potential.
WS 95, RP 93, ST 91+, JR 17.5
Blind set at Tornano / 11 April 2018
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Haut Brion Vertical -1998 to 2009 (The Grill Room at the Rosewood DC): Sandwiched between the 03 which is extremely ripe and the 06 which is opulent, the 04 feels very lean. Medium expressive nose displaying subtle black fruit with a hint of red, crushed blackberry, a hint of red currant, strong lead pencil, oak, spearmint and dark milk chocolate. Medium concentration, subtle fresh black fruit, silky and lean, medium acidity, a hint of medium coarse tannins and a medium subtle black fruit driven finish with strong lead pencil at the end. This seems like a less charming and slightly leaner version of the 01. Nevertheless, it is a classic claret that is enjoyable. I hope this will gain weight and improve in time.
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Open in bottle for 3hrs...has it really been 8yrs since I had this last?? Seductive Bordeaux nose of currants, creme de cassis, pencil shavings, plum liqueur, tobacco spice, smoke. Silky smooth and plush...dark red berry fruits, juicy, yet still showing some green tobacco and dusty dry tannin, med bodied from the vintage. I actually like the more elegant, less powerful vintage here. Shows more of the nuances of the earth, florals, and spice, rather the powerful juicy fruits. Super graphite powder dryness, scorched earth tones, smoke, licorice, violet florals...slight leather from age. Can't wait to have this with some NY strips later tonight! Always a pleasure to drink these!!!
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I thought this was good for a 2004. Lacks some extra ripeness and tobacco notes I look for in Haut Brions, slightly dry but very correct. Could say 'four-square'. I much prefer the 2001 Haut Brion though for a similar price. 92pts
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Au restaurant, pas de notes formelles. Dans un millésime qui a favorisé le merlot, HB tire son épingle du jeu. Bêle couleur grenat foncé, un très beau nez sur les arômes rôtis, une touche de cigare, la bouche est moyennement complexe avec une finale légèrement courte. À boire, très bon.
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A very fine Claret, and perhaps I am being harsh as it is a first growth, but it lacks depth and complexity. Very ripe tannin, quite lush primary flavours but lacks depth in the mid palate. The finish is lacking somewhat. I am not sure how this will develop, I wonder if its pleasure will be best in this phase when it has plenty of fruit...
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Really enjoyed this. A young adolescent. The nose is just gorgeous and pure: black current and blackberry fruit mixed with earthy tobacco. Thrilling. The palate is still youthful and fresh though the feel in the mouth is serious. Needs another 7 or so years. I have not drunk many '04 Bordeaux but this is a winner. (94+)
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Not the deepest coloured - showing some age at the rim; not the most complex nose but nice fruit definition. A touch of old wood spice, quite a charmer; pretty good weight for 2004, nice filigree tannins. very smooth, good concentration. Some sneaky tannins actually lead to a drying finish. Very good - I wouldn't hold much longer though.
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Haut-Brion Vertical (semi-blind tasting) (Amsterdam Wijn Antiquariaat): 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.
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Plums, smoke, tobacco, this was smoking right off the blocks. Satin-like on the palate, with very good freshness to boot, this was very fine, coupled with notes of more plums, dark-cherries. Very nice. Most had this as the wine of the 2nd-flight...
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Deep dark purple in color, no signs of brickage yet. The nose is classic Bordeaux with a mix of limestone rocks and cigar box. On the palate this is still a hugely structured wine. The tannins are steel and just totally coat the palate. Fruit is there but very overwhelmed by the tannin and earthiness. Great smooth and long finish. This will get better just entering its drinking window in my view.
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should be consumed while showing some aging notes misses the mark largely attributed to a less than stellar vintage. disappointed as some of the cellar stars I have waited on failed to deliver.
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Decanted for 2 hours and follow over the evening....this is no where near ready to drink. It opened up but was no match for the 1994 Haut Brion had alongside it.
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Opened four hours before dinner. At opening tannins and little resemblance of Bordeaux. At dinner still not impressive, but after another 2-3 hours, it started opening up showing its legacy.
The Four Seasons Tasting Bordeaux First Growths (Aubergine Restaurant): A mid+ garnet to cherry coloured wine with a heady, aromatic nose of milk chocolate, sweet red fruits, and blackcurrant. The wine has less undergrowth and more tertiary notes, as well as a spicy, clean aroma than the 2006. On the palate, the wine is surprisingly youthful, but lacks mid-palate depth, with a more sinewy blackcurrant skin texture, crisp acidity and narrower yet coarser, seagrass tannins perhaps more gravelly as it opened. More medium-bodied than full with more red fruits than black, earthier, it feels quite athletic and finer boned than the 2006. However, I found the wine less integrated and not as long in the mid-palate nor exit and there is a metallic grasp to it along with a woody tree bark element and green, herbal edge that didn’t live up to the quality of wine 1 and 2. Perhaps reflecting the more classic 2004 vintage it certainly was fresher with a mineral edge and standing upright with a stronger spine. It did take time to open and improve but to me never quite as intense or deep as the first two wines.
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Decanted 2.5 hours. I was actually expecting this to be more closed up and tannic having read some previous notes. Dark, good concentration, and certainly a way to go before this is showing all the secondaries it will - but I think this already goes well with food (given this amount of air) and shows itself to be a success for the vintage. A-
Klar blåbær, fokusert. Taper seg raskt i glasset og ble bedre igjen med påfyll. Intens og konsentrert men ikke så delikat og sjarmerende som man skulle håpe.
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I will pass on rating this for now. What we saw was a good preview for what this wine will be. We had this opened and decanted for nearly 6 hrs and it was unyielding but the raw materials are there. Until next time.
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Forest floor, green and leafy nose. It was also a bit musky. The palate had softened tannins, red fruits, black fruits and some spices. Drinking very well now. But its a bit below my expectation for a first growth.
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Horizontale Bordeaux 2004: Un boisé plus évident au nez, avec même quelques effluves de Jack Daniels au début (!!). Bouche gommeuse, large, fermée à double tour. Le vin est insondable! Il possède une belle texture, mais que deviendra-t-il? Très boisé, un peu asséchant, sans doute trop jeune mais il me semble le moins prometteur du lot. 92+ (?) pts Reconnu comme Haut Brion.
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Appearance: Bright and clear, it has deep ruby color, with fading rims and legs. Nose: Clean, with medium intensity aromas of black fruit such as blackberry, dark cherries and plum, pungent spice of licorice, maturity notes of savory and tobacco, oak notes of cedar, sweet spice of sage, kernel notes of chocolate. The wine is developing. Palate: Dry with medium acidity, the wine has medium (+) tannin which is smooth and velvety, with medium alcohol, medium body and medium (+) intensity flavors of black fruit such as blackberry, plum and dark cherries, oak notes of cedar, maturity notes of sweet tobacco, pungent spice of pepper. The wine has a medium (+) finish. Conclusion: Very good quality high-priced Bordeaux left-bank, with a reasonably concentrated nose showing good complexity, the palate has the elegance and structure for a good wine, with intensity, complexity and length also demonstrating fine winemaking finesse. Still a bit too young in my opinion to express its full potential, the wine is best to further age for another 3-5 years.
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Finesse styled vintage of Haut Brion, which offers a perfume of smoke, cigar box, cherries, forest floor and green, leafy aromas. Soft and elegant, the finish, with its ripe, black and red fruits, spice box and plum sensations is refined in character. This drinks well today and should be even better with a few more years in the bottle. This is the first vintage where Jean-Philippe Delmas was fully in charge from start to finish at Haut Brion.
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2004 Haut Brion Color: medium red Nose: a burst of sophisticated ripe sweet black fruits, supremely elegant with very little oak Palate: full bodied, balance impeccable, classy, still a baby, ripe fruits, yet to develop secondary flavours so the next bottle we will open be a minimum of 3-4 years, this is a good QPR for a first growth, quite shut Rating: 93 now but easily 95 or more when it matures
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Nose is beautiful, rich and similar to mouton. Again lots of layers or rich fruits. Chocolates, red ripe berries and fruits. Palette is very short and dry. Finish is not too long and of sour red fruits. Not my favorite, in fact disappointing of the Premier Grand Crus. Still tannic as well. Light-Medium red fruits and now sour fruits with a short finish. Loved the nose but the palette and finish did not match the nose profile.
A great lesson in how different wines can be from various vintages and regions. And mostly it was such an educational and wonderful experience to finally sample Premier Grand Cru Classe head to head as I've only sampled other classified growths to this date. Your palette will be a great indicator of what you can pick, understand and ultimately what you enjoy. 92-93pts.
Excellent wine. Takes time to show its best once open. Colour: bright clear crimson/garnet Bouquet: sharp plum, raspberry and blueberry fruit, with spice, mint, vanillin, and hints of tobacco and dried herbs. Palate: as bouquet mint and green tea flavours, great balance, silky big soft tannins, elegant and restrained but potency grows as it breathes offer 3 hours - tight at first. Very dry clean and very long finish. Superb and perfect time to drink though would undoubtedly live much longer. June 2014
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2004 Bordeaux ... 10 years on (Bordeaux Index London): Nuanced and complex, I feel that Haut Brion is clearly more interesting that the Mission, which is almost four square by comparison. Very long finish, with fine tannins that will need at least 15 years to fully melt and reach an optimal drinking window.
La Commanderie de Bordeaux - Boston Annual Gala (Somerset Club, Boston): Served blind. It had been decanted for approximately five hours. Gorgeous, pure violet color. Lovely aroma of lilac and stewed prunes. Great full, rich, round mouth feel - so soft and plush that I was always guessing merlot-driven (60% here!). Long finish. This is just starting to reach the sweet spot. You should have no reservations popping one now, especially if you have the luxury of owning many! Certainly fine to wait another 5-10 yrs.
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Warm spices, fresh cigar, herbs, veggies, with hints of earth and mushrooms on the nose. Dark wild berries & herbs, tea, tobacco, aged cheese and more mushrooms on the palate. Despite all those descriptors, it was quite tight and it took some coaxing to get that kind of detail. Long, silky tannins that seem resolved and ready to drink. Could be great if it opens with time.
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Will be great when it grows up. Nice nose of smoke, crushed violets and candied berries. Tanins remain firm but the grain is plesant. At least another 10 years before I open the next one.
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Decanted a few hours in advance. Obviously incredibly young now but it's already quite compelling and showing a lot of complexity; there's a powerful fragrance of cedar wood and cigar smoke, and layers of dark fruited flavours, dried herbs, savoury earth and cedary elements on the palate. There's impressive balance, finesse and persistence here, though this really needs a lot more time in the cellar.
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Haut Brion Dinner with Jean-Philippe Delmas.: At Wine Society Haut Brion Dinner with Jean-Philippe Delmas. Like the 2006 (see my note) but a bit more age and depth here, with a more developed secondary nose of animale and earth. Very, very long finish with smooth cream.
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Open and inviting. Earth, sage, and wild berry fruit on nose. Mouthfeel was medium bordering on full bodied, and the wine was layered, balanced, pleasing and long.
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Brought this into a restaurant for a very special occasion, though I speculated it might be a bit soon for this wine. The main con is we were only able to experience this wine over a 2.5 hour period, double decanted. With berries and spice on the nose and taste, a bit refined and reserved. After the 2 hour mark the wine started to show more and more of its class. Nice complexity, mid palate, length. Very subtle and elegant, with power and finesse. The fruit is fresh, and the tannins are still a bit firm, suggesting some additional cellar time, but rather lovely. I would give this wine another 4-7 years.
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Decanted for two hours. Dark - that's all, just dark.... A magnetic nose of blackberry, coffee grounds, creamy oak, scorched earth and candied cherries; vibrant and a very "modern" style for one of my all-time favorite producers. This is the wine of the vintage - in my humble opinion - and the velvety tannins, long finish and the layers upon layers of spiced fruit and coffee are all there. The Las Cases and Latour are on the same level in terms of quality. Truly awesome. Drink 2012 -.
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This was outstanding. Only six years old, drank after a 1986 Clerk Milan. Decanted and let sit for 1.5 hours before touching. This wine was completely new worrld on the nose, candied blackberry, cassis, vanilla extract on the nose. Mouthfeel was leaning toward full bodied, and impeccably balanced. TAnnins were soft, and an explosion of ripe fruit, a backbone of crushed gravel, and again, a beautiful balance. This was WOTN hands down, just terrific! Finish was long.
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Tasted side-by-side with the La Mission HB 2004. The Haut Brion is way more firm in structure - had more Merlot in the blend which served it well. The nice hint of strawberry along with ripoe fruit. The Château will proporly call it a above average wine - it's not. And the price........
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BdX 01/04 (Oslo): Dark fruit, some sweetness and spices; a tad short for its class, good intensity, fairly tannic. Some iron and earth after a while. Still a bit closed?
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A pre b-day wine for a Monday.....and also my first ever HB. Very dark garnet color...wonderful floral nose of red fruits, cigar box, dusty powdery graphite, dried cherry. Awesome nose! Pretty tight and tannic in the mouth, yet has a nice smoothness to it, with a kick of spice and acidity on the finish. Great flavors of crushed red fruits, with some dark currant as well....dried florals, sweet tobacco spice and cigar box, dusty graphite, some leather. Very structured with minerals...yet the Merlot gives it a silky smoothness among the power. Feels like a mouthful of French dirt, after the blooming flowers have fallen.....in a tasty way! Does need more time....and should only get better....but damn tasty tonight!!! +pts
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Actually went to Bordeaux and tasted this wine at the Chateau! What a great experience, to drink this wine in situ. Having said that, I would score this wine at a 92. Fully bodied Bordeaux, with hints of cassis, berries. The finish was just ok. Definitely better than the Mission de Haut Brion, same year, which was much lighter, and a bit sour on its ending.
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Sherry-Lehmann Advanced Wine Class (Bordeaux) (Sherry-Lehmann Gallery): Dark, ruby red color. Extremely fragrant nose and luscious palate of dark berry fruits, currants tobacco, earth and cedar. Very well balanced, with good acidity and silky tannins. This wine is drinking very well right now. As with the '06's in the tasting, this one blows away the other '04's.
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From magnum. Dark red fruit on the nose with sweet tobacco and vanilla with cedar notes and some floral. A dense palate with with great intensity of fruit. Very palate coating with very long length. Still very young, but showing well.
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The bottle was purchased from Kazakos Drink Bank (Nea Erithrea - Athens) at a very good price and I brought it at "Telemachus BBQ Club" to consume with my wife Marilena and my friend George. Deep garnet. Typical Haut- Brion nose with red ripe fruits (esp. berries), spice box, lead pencil and tobacco leaves. Medium - bodied with silky texture and well integrated tannins. Flavors of cherries, berries, charcoal, graphite, cedar, black olives and gentle oaky vanilla. Amazing wine for a modest vintage. To pair with lamb or a well made osso bucco
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Upon initial pop, this showed very much like a new world cab with some dark fruits dominated by oak. However, I like how the oak comes across on this wine with a soft texture and a bit of a chocolate note and it only took about 30 mins for the secondary flavors to start to emerge. Balance is wonderful on the palate and constantly improved with time. Excellent finish and tons of potential. Very tasty.
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A bit oaky when first poured, tight, tart, nice acidity but lean and reserved. However with aeration this gained a nice smokiness and more black fruit. Stunning balance, really impeccable wine even as a baby killing. Some of those Graves flavors were already peeking out.
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Deeply colored, this opens with a smoke and violet nose that includes earth and cassis scents. Full bodied with a soft, elegant, plush mouth feel, the round styled finish ends with ample fresh, blackberry and spice notes.
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Chateau Haut-Brion Seminar (Binny's South Loop - Chicago, IL): Esquisite elegance packing a serious punch. Massive structure underneath the surface. Deep rich red fruit. Currants, tobacco laced plums and other dark dried berries. Classic first growth length displayed in the finish. Enjoyed more than the '03 but not as much as the '06.
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Wine Spectator Grand Tour 2009 (Borgata -- Atlantic City, NJ): didn't like this quite as much as the week prior -- but it was up against stiffer competition here. lighter bodies than the other FG, lots of red fruit, spice, and a touch of brisket. medium(-) finish leaves something to be desired after a really nice palate.
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Floral aromas with smoke and earth. Wine was a lot lighter then I expected, perhaps due to the higher percentage of Merlot. On the palate I got smoke again, plum, cranberry and other fruit. Had a silky finish that I would think will improve with some time in the bottle.
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(Acker MegaTasting 2008) Nose opens a bit into a vanilla nobility. Nice mouthfeel. Couldn't agree more with the previous taster regarding the tempranillo like character. Only upon arriving at the last half millilter in the glass did nice aromatics open up.
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Acker 2004 Tasting Part One; 5/2/2009-5/3/2009: Slate and sweet red fruit on the perfumed nose. Ruby color; a bit of dirt on the palate along with subtle, slightly aged-tasting sweet fruit; moderately tannic finish. Nice, but not a life-changing example of a First-Growth. To be fair, had this at a tasting, and this style of wine needs an extended leisurely tasting to show its best. It did have a refined sense that hinted at more.
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Thematic tasting of Bordeaux 2004 (Crystal Wines): A little browning already at the edges! Smells like a tempranillo with sweet morello cherries and strawberries. Very elegantly styled. I tried to get more secondary aromas but as hard as I tried... nothing...I will not trick myself to make up aromas for this illustrious first growth. On the palate, soft and cherryish . Good finesse but I wouldn't say I was blown away. I don't understand what is the fuss about. Am forgetting about it as we speak. Another 2004 that has closed down for the moment?
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After 2.30 hours, elegant, flowery, very beautiful nose of young Haut-Brion, dream away...
Texture is superb, dense, delicate tannic, much more dramatic than 2002 ( Testing last few weeks ), Due to its young, that’s why it’s very yummy…I fall in love by accident !!
Aftertaste is very smooth, long and beautiful finished….this one I agree with Bob.
Drink now - 2027.....................94-95/100...............
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Upon opening, great nose packed with berries and black fruit. First taste after opening was very tight, tannic, and bitter. After a 2 hour decant, this one really showed its potential. Already drinking very well at this stage, showed beautiful notes of black fruit, cassis, and a charming sweetness to it. This one should age gracefully and really be a pleasure to drink down the road. 94 pts for now.
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My wife and I enjoyed this great bottle of wine the night of our wedding....Realizing this was a bit early todrink...Ifelt it more important to remember the bottle we enjoyed on our special day...The first grand cru we have enjoyed....A wonderful wine through and through....
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Brightish start. Balanced tannins, dusty. Short (!). Subtle but lovely. SILKY smooth. Chocolate. Accessible. Aged nose. Very mellow acidity. Pure silk feel. Still a little closed off - probably needed to breathe more. $275
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Wine Spectator Grand Tour (Las Vegas): Aromas of meat flowers and earth. Not as earth dominated as some others but still there. Cant say I appreciate it that much yet. Silky mouth feel with strong tannic structure. Good but not overwhelming.
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Wow – a beauty that needs to sleep. Lovely middle weight Bordeaux with excellent purity – tobacco and cassis – that is currently supported by a wall of tannin. While tasty now (because of the balance) it will improve by a multiplier if let for 10 to 15 years. I believe this will prove to be a very good, classic bottle of Haut Brion. (92++)
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A somewhat sweet start. Then ripe and soft cassis appears. Little later some lead pencil and luxurious toasted oak. This wines combines complexity, elegance and sophisticated power in a beautiful way. So young, but already so beautiful. I score it 95 for the moment, which is quite high in my opinion, but I would not be surprised if this wine scores even one point higher in the long term.
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4/27/2024 - mbwineguy Likes this wine: 90 Points
No formal notes, but score reflects a "short" decant time of only a couple of hours. Started to open up at the end of the night. I imagine the score is higher after a significant (like 7 hours as mentioned in another review) decant time.
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3/24/2024 - Eric wrote:
2004 Bordeaux at 20 years courtesy of Mark Taylor; 3/23/2024-3/24/2024 (Atlanta, GA): Shy, cedar, powdered sugar, spice, mint, menthol. Really silky, focused, pretty, light, elegant, dry. Dusty and fine finish, super sneaky tannins. My #3 and the group #1. Incorrectly guessed as Lafite.
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2/24/2024 - Cailles wrote: 90 Points
Bordeaux 2004 - 20 Years On - 33 Reds: All wines tasted blind, not decanted. Observations: 1) 2004 is a mediocre vintage overall, with many pleasant wines, but without the depth of better years. 2) At the top, the vintage produced some classic, old-school wines with lots of freshness and fresh fruit. 3) At the lower end, many wines lacked fruit and ripe tannins, resulting in some astringent and slightly drying wines. 4) An alarming number of Right Bank wines (5 out of 16, no Left Bank wine) were oxidized, including some heavyweights like Petrus, Evangile or Figeac. An unacceptably high proportion of faulty wines. 5) I’m not sure that the 2004 are currently in a good phase, many of my scores were lower than in previous tastings. The question is if it’s just a weaker phase or the beginning of the end. 6) At the top and the only wine >95pts was a layered Le Pin (rated 96pts), with a charming Vieux Chateau Certan, a surprising Issan and Clos l'Eglise, as well as an elegant Lafite sharing second place (all rated 94pts).
TN: One of the better bouquets today with lots of ripe strawberries, other red berries, rhubarb notes and a bit of earthiness. Inviting and very good. On the palate these fruit aromas are there too but the wine was out of balance with a not very well integrated acidity backbone and a bit coarse tannins and a slightly drying finish. 90pts for the superb nose, the palate was clearly in the sub-90pts category. Judging from the other notes here, this wine can achieve higher levels, a good amount of time in a decanter would certainly have helped.
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2/24/2024 - djhammond Likes this wine: 94 Points
This was decanted for 7 hours, and it paid dividends, but only really started to loosen up after time in the glass. That said, it is an Haut-Brion for earlier drinking, and far more advanced than the 1998 for example. The nose is integrated and has lost its youthful notes, and now is rich and deep with blackcurrant, leather, and cedar. The palate has great depth and balance, and has shrugged off the primary characteristics. It is not one of the heavyweights from the estate, and it shows in in its simplicity on the palate. The finish is good , but needs more time for the tannin to resolve. I'll probably revisit this in a couple of years, when I suspect it will be really hitting its stride.
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2/11/2024 - Francophile1 Likes this wine:
Super Bowl LVIII 2024 (Alpharetta, GA): Cellar Diving: Full disclosure... palate fatigue was in full effect at this point in the night. While young and it needs at least another decade to reach early maturity, it is delicious. Unfortunately, this was only decanted for 30 minutes. Hold this wine for another 10 years before opening if you want to unleash its full potential.
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11/27/2023 - Philolesen Likes this wine: 94 Points
We allowed to let this wine breathe for about 1.5 hours in a decanter before serving. The wine showcased beautiful aromas of mulberry, black currant, blackberry, smoke, and cedar. The palate showed great harmony from the nose with smooth tannins and great acidity. This specific bottle was in its drinking window now.
94+
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10/7/2023 - Winsip Likes this wine: 94 Points
Decanted 2 hrs, so primary, so much fruit forward on the nose. Fragrant of sweet dark fruit aromas like casiss, blueberry, black currant, plum, wafts of violet, tobacco leaf and nutmeg.
On the palate, fresh, lush, silky texture, quite dense and tight, medium to full-bodied, fine-grained tannins and goes on for 30 seconds.
Still on the young side, a decade to go or needs 1/3 of a day decanting to help loosen up the tight muscles if drinking today. Enjoyed the nose (96) more than the palate (92) at this point.
Classic and opulent are the words.
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9/3/2023 - wicozani Likes this wine: 94 Points
Opened at 0730 and double decanted over five hours before pairing with a holiday lunch at 1300. This bottle was still closed after this but gradually unfurled to reveal a garnet robe in the glass with slightly bricked edges. Very aromatic on the nose, with smoke-tinged plum and mulberry, forest floor, smoked meats, violet. The overall effect approaches incense, though nothing like the 1998, my favorite bottle of all time. The last glass at 1530 was the best, with the fruit now taking a clear step forward, the body starting to fan out nicely. This bottle proved too young still. Will reserve our second bottle for 5-10 years or will decant for a minimum of 12 hours. Exceptional chameleon!
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7/12/2023 - Javachip Likes this wine: 94 Points
Allowed to breathe in glass 60 minutes. Clear dark garnet-blood red color. Fresh blackberries, black currants and their liqueurs, lava stone, violets, lilacs, bay leaf. Medium-full body, seamless, beautifully balanced, refined, sophisticated. Seems youthful and tight, needs a few more more years. Improved with air, needs more than a one hour decant at this stage.
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4/11/2023 - Philippe_C wrote: 95 Points
WOW nose of cigar box, roasted meat, sandalwood... Super silky tannin, red cold fruit, lenght of 30 sec, delicious mature claret.
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3/25/2023 - VinhoVerde Likes this wine: 90 Points
Medium dark red color. Candied fruit and tobacco bouquet. Youthful fruit entry is followed by a slightly warm and astringent short aftertaste. A little on the young side , I’d give it another 5+ years of aging.
Tasted this at Mark’s yearly Bordeaux tasting. Sampled 12 vintages each of Château Haut Brion and Château Margaux. Great wines and comradeship, what an exceptional event to be part of!
Thanks to our host for his generosity in presenting a once in a lifetime Bordeaux tasting experience.
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3/22/2023 - MOWineBoston Likes this wine: 93 Points
Dinner Maison Pavlov March 22 2023. WOTN together with Ch. Montrose 1989. Can benefit from more time but already delicious. Smooth yet strong and definitely still some primary.
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3/18/2023 - Eric wrote:
Haut-Brion and Margaux courtesy of Mark Taylor; 3/18/2023-3/19/2023 (Atlanta, GA): Scorchy, opening up to show much more savory/umami aromatics. Beautiful and pure with light, cherry fruit. Surprisingly formidable structure.
My #5 and the group #6. Guessed as 2002.
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1/8/2023 - Hazeo wrote: 91 Points
The 04 Haut Brion is big step behind the 04 La Mission Haut Brion last night. A classic Bordeaux with tobacco, mineral and forest floor, with a lovely balance of fruit and acidity. However, with air it soon fell apart becoming rather simple albeit still nicely balanced.
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1/2/2023 - oxwombat wrote: 89 Points
First growth dinner at Otto e Mezzo in Hong Kong. Decanted before serving.
Honestly, this was disappointing. The aromatics at the start were on-point for 'good Bordeaux wine', but the palate was not yielding at all in terms of complexity or depth. This didn't get better in the glass and was overshadowed by the other wines in the line-up. The acidity was there, but it wasn't really balancing anything out.
Given the other notes here I'm going to put this down to bad luck with bottle variation. Would be keen to retry.
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12/12/2022 - Jeff Leve wrote: 93 Points
Reserved, stoic, discreetly styled wine, better on the nose, with its smoky edge to the red currants, tobacco leaf, cedar, and leaf, than on the tight, crisp, red berry palate. Lovers of old-school classic vintages will probably like this more than I did. Drink from 2023-2040.
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10/22/2022 - drjb Likes this wine: 95 Points
At a private dinner, Little Cove, Noosa.This remains a fine bottle of Haut Brion with a deep crimson red colour and a striking aromatic nose with blackcurrant, dark plums, cedar, tobacco and liquorice all on show. The palate is ripe and moderately intense with lovely balance and poise and very fine length. There was more completeness and drive to this bottle than a previous bottle in 2019 and a sense of a wine beginning to open into its early maturity. Delicious.
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10/16/2022 - Serge Birbrair wrote:
I had better 1st Growth...
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3/3/2022 - steinersing wrote: 94 Points
I like the acidity and freshness here. True to the vintage not very showy, but a very nice drink.
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3/3/2022 - Collector1855 wrote: 93 Points
During a Commanderie event. From Imperial. Despite decanting this wine never shed its strict, tannic side. The aromas were good and "on message" with a grand left Bank wine, displaying damp forest floor and dark fruit but the palate was a lot of work. Nose 95, palate 90.
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12/24/2021 - glou.sf Likes this wine: 95 Points
Fragrant nose with notes of cassis, leather, smoke, and lots of fruit. Tannins are quite integrated with dark fruit notes and great balanced on the palate. Quite long finish. What a lovely wine, the nose alone is absolutely gorgeous!
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12/24/2021 - burgburgburg wrote: 92 Points
Allowed 1 hour of slow-ox in bottle. A very prominent and classical your HB. Comprising everything pleasing with a good texture. Very fine fruits and acidity. Will be better with further 5-10 years of aging.
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12/6/2021 - Condrieu82 Likes this wine: 95 Points
PnP at lounge. Beautiful dark ruby color. Nose exudes plums, forest floor. The palate is smooth and round - fresh - with great acidity, loads of complex black fruits, then some tannins, hints of leather (very faint still), moka, tar… so much going on, so good. I think this will be a splendor in 4-5 years!
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10/31/2021 - djhammond Likes this wine: 94 Points
Second time of tasting this wine, (the last was 19 months ago,) and I am still so surprised how advanced it is. Admittedly it is not as approachable as the La Mission, but with a few hours in the decanter it is starting to drink well. The nose is deep with blackcurrant, cedar, and leather. The palate is balanced with great complexity and the finish pushes 30+ seconds. It is showing its first growth status in an average vintage, but the tannin needs to further resolve to warrant another point or two, but all the signs are there that this could begin to peak in a year or two. 94+
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9/8/2021 - Burgnick Likes this wine: 94 Points
Pop and pour to serve. Cassis, dark currant, tobacco and graphite. Round, balanced and long. It has the richness and power. Exceptional for a weak vintage HB.
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9/4/2021 - Burgnick Likes this wine: 93 Points
Poured into a decanter to serve. Earth, graphite, dark currant and leather. Classic Haut Brion in an average vintage yet it still shows beautifully. The consistency of the domaine’s wine is just off the chart. It is starting to drink well.
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7/12/2021 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 93 Points
A private dinner (Restaurant d'Oude Schuur, Sint-Martens-Latem, Belgium): Light body, slender, hint of evolution, earthy, slightly drying tannins, tell-tale bricky warmth but light in style, exactly what you would expect from Haut-Brion in 2004. I would suggest drinking this sooner rather than later.
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6/25/2021 - bboy wrote: 89 Points
Dark as the night but a little closed
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6/11/2021 - Redrum wrote: 92 Points
Showed very little after a 2 plus hour decant. A bit of tobacco, fine tannin and blue fruit. Opened up a little, but left me wondering if it needs more time or is already past prime.
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3/21/2021 - Tim Heaton Likes this wine:
Served double-blind, my first guess was 1995 Pessac, but that was on the nose, only. This had been aerated in wide-bottom decanter for ~ 5 hours, and I have to say, for my palate, that was perfect. Medium>dark ruby core, clear, with little sign of age. The palate does not follow the nose, which suggests a much bigger wine than it actually is. Instead, this lovely, elegant effort is a medium>medium+ body, with aromas of campfire embers, pipe tobacco, cassis fruit, and distinct notes of soil/place. Of course these are the first/dominant qualities - this continues to shift for the several hours we're actually drinking it. Brilliant wine that, for my palate, is absolutely in its preferred zone, and should be enjoyed sooner than later. highly recommended
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11/27/2020 - Stephan O Likes this wine: 94 Points
Pretty, and sort of charmingly awkward. A lighter brick color than I expected. Classic Bordeaux nose, with cigar-box sweetness, cassis, a hint of old perfume, and other lurking notes that I'm too dumb to place. Lightweight and spry on the palate -- "skinny" is the descriptor that comes to my mind. The acidity and the rosewater aspect seem more in line with a Barolo. You can sense the pedigree, and it's certainly interesting start to finish. But it's not altogether true to type.
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8/16/2020 - shemmy wrote: 90 Points
Tasty. But didn't have the HB distinctive smokiness. Nothing in particular stood out as a flaw, but not a special wine this night.
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6/21/2020 - ANWW89 Likes this wine: 93 Points
needs a little air to coax this one you. initially shy on the nose and more dark fruit, cases and leather that lead one to think it may be paulliac. With some air the gravelly and smoky side of Pessac emerges. Austere on the finish. Long long long finish. Tannins still a little structured and will give way further with time. Not the most hedonistic nor complex but still very nice indeed
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4/13/2020 - Larslatour wrote:
Beautiful classic, elegant, balanced wine.
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3/22/2020 - djhammond Likes this wine: 95 Points
I am pleasantly surprised by how approachable the vintage as a whole is after 16 years, and this was no exception. The nose is delicately perfumed with the palate already displaying secondary notes. Blackcurrant, cedar, and graphite are prominent. Whilst perhaps a little one dimensional on the palate, it has an exceptional balance and finish which is 60+ seconds. It will interesting to see if it develops more complexity over the next few years, but even now it shows its pedigree.
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12/22/2019 - Bobhelge wrote: 95 Points
The New Traditional December 22 Tasting (Anders place): Fantastic blind contribution on last nights tasting. Complex Bordeaux with layers that is both elegant and rustic. Secondary flavours of tobacco, cinnamon, lead and ink and primary cassis that is cool and perfume like. Fresh, delicate and sinewy on the palate. Very long!
95-96 points.
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10/8/2019 - NickA Likes this wine: 94 Points
A sleek and wonderfully crafted nose, showing pencil shavings, rolling tobacco, graphite and a touch of vanilla.
Relaxed and classy on the palate - cool but not austere, bitter without wanting for richness, an excellent food wine (in this case with grouse) - just classic Claret.
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6/22/2019 - drjb Likes this wine: 94 Points
At Sumi, Noosa. This was a fine bottle of Haut Brion which while lacking the gravitas of the recently tasted 2005 still had the elegance and flavour profile of that year with the volume turned down. The colour was a deep crimson red and the nose beautifully aromatic with blackcurrant, dark plums, cedar, tobacco and liquorice all on show. The palate is ripe and moderately intense with lovely balance and poise and very fine length. While the richness of a great year is not present there was certainly no lack of ripeness or astringency. Indeed the overall effect was of lovely balance and completeness.
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6/2/2019 - spineguy Likes this wine: 94 Points
2 hours in the decanter then had with wine group over the next 3. Great Graves nose but definitely a bit more refined then the other wines from Graves. Elegant and not overdone, but if you like a more concentrated wine, one may find it lacking. Just entering young adulthood and years left. Showed very well! Had alongside an '04 Lafite and Palmer. All were stylistically different (expected). Palmer had the most extraction and the Lafite had the refinement, finesse, showed the youngest, and was WOTN.
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5/10/2019 - _water.into.wine_ Likes this wine:
My first ever full bottle of Haut Brion - what a treat! It's clearly very young, and the new oak is evident with nice wood shavings on the nose. This is classic bordeaux, with blackcurrents and blackberries, medium to high tannins, but balanced. Decanted 3 hours, but a wine that will last decades.
Drink 2024-2050+
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5/10/2019 - Claret & CdP Gang Likes this wine:
Decanted for 2 hours, dark coloured, regal nose of dark fruits, tobacco, pencil lead, very elegant mouthfeel, inky, approachable, lovely wine
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2/18/2019 - OenoDrZH Likes this wine: 96 Points
Deep ruby color. Complex nose of dark plum, blackberries, ripe cherries, graphite, cigar box and truffles.
Full bodied, yet silky smooth on the palate. Very firm and well structured, with just the right amount of fresh acidity to finish off. Refined and pleasantly long finish.
This is simply beautiful with minerality singing from the glass, which serves as a great reminder of Haut Brion’s amazing terroir in Pessac. So fragrant I could smell this wine the whole night. Tasted this on my First Class flight as part of Emirates vintage collection. Always a pleasure to be drinking Chateau Haut Brion.
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2/15/2019 - Ltim BE wrote: 94 Points
Lovely mature HB. Decanted for one hour. Showing class and smoothness. Simply stunning.
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1/25/2019 - ProfByron Likes this wine: 89 Points
Given the other tasting notes I fear this bottle is prematurely aged. I also don’t know how long it’s been open (served in an airport lounge, yes pretty flash!).
Very soft, cedar and tobacco. I’d guess it were much older.
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12/23/2018 - TexasBob Likes this wine: 94 Points
Slightly dull medium garnet. Deep, penetrating blackberry and a touch of vanilla on the nose. Blackberry seed, delicious intense raspberry, cream, drinking beautifully. Delicious creamy berry finish.
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4/11/2018 - ve23 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Blind tasting on April 11, 2018 (Tornano, Moscow): 93/100
A young HB, well ahead of its prime.
Starts as overly ripe and warm, like a hot berry pie, but gradually gains freshness in the glass, becomes juicy - this is where tannin comes forward, all the chewiness that hopefully will soften with age.
Maybe not the best vintage, 2004 - I’d say it misses the verve, the raw energy that the best of HB is famous for - but it’s still a baby, so my score here may not reflect its true potential.
WS 95, RP 93, ST 91+, JR 17.5
Blind set at Tornano / 11 April 2018
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2/8/2018 - dcwino wrote: 93 Points
Haut Brion Vertical -1998 to 2009 (The Grill Room at the Rosewood DC): Sandwiched between the 03 which is extremely ripe and the 06 which is opulent, the 04 feels very lean. Medium expressive nose displaying subtle black fruit with a hint of red, crushed blackberry, a hint of red currant, strong lead pencil, oak, spearmint and dark milk chocolate. Medium concentration, subtle fresh black fruit, silky and lean, medium acidity, a hint of medium coarse tannins and a medium subtle black fruit driven finish with strong lead pencil at the end. This seems like a less charming and slightly leaner version of the 01. Nevertheless, it is a classic claret that is enjoyable. I hope this will gain weight and improve in time.
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1/28/2018 - Mrbuzz Likes this wine: 94 Points
Open in bottle for 3hrs...has it really been 8yrs since I had this last?? Seductive Bordeaux nose of currants, creme de cassis, pencil shavings, plum liqueur, tobacco spice, smoke. Silky smooth and plush...dark red berry fruits, juicy, yet still showing some green tobacco and dusty dry tannin, med bodied from the vintage. I actually like the more elegant, less powerful vintage here. Shows more of the nuances of the earth, florals, and spice, rather the powerful juicy fruits. Super graphite powder dryness, scorched earth tones, smoke, licorice, violet florals...slight leather from age. Can't wait to have this with some NY strips later tonight! Always a pleasure to drink these!!!
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1/7/2018 - JulianSkeels wrote: 92 Points
I thought this was good for a 2004. Lacks some extra ripeness and tobacco notes I look for in Haut Brions, slightly dry but very correct. Could say 'four-square'. I much prefer the 2001 Haut Brion though for a similar price. 92pts
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1/1/2018 - MC wrote:
Decanted 4 hours. Although interesting to taste, this is just too young for me to enjoy. I would say 3-5 more years before trying another. A-
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11/11/2017 - Whinojb wrote: 93 Points
good but not great. rather thin - evolved over a few hours but the fruit was deep within. great finish as expected.
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10/19/2017 - Ericsson Likes this wine: 93 Points
Au restaurant, pas de notes formelles.
Dans un millésime qui a favorisé le merlot, HB tire son épingle du jeu.
Bêle couleur grenat foncé, un très beau nez sur les arômes rôtis, une touche de cigare, la bouche est moyennement complexe avec une finale légèrement courte.
À boire, très bon.
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10/18/2017 - barolo300 Likes this wine: 92 Points
A very fine Claret, and perhaps I am being harsh as it is a first growth, but it lacks depth and complexity. Very ripe tannin, quite lush primary flavours but lacks depth in the mid palate. The finish is lacking somewhat. I am not sure how this will develop, I wonder if its pleasure will be best in this phase when it has plenty of fruit...
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7/31/2017 - dbkitc wrote: 94 Points
Really enjoyed this. A young adolescent. The nose is just gorgeous and pure: black current and blackberry fruit mixed with earthy tobacco. Thrilling. The palate is still youthful and fresh though the feel in the mouth is serious. Needs another 7 or so years. I have not drunk many '04 Bordeaux but this is a winner. (94+)
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5/29/2017 - CGWIND Likes this wine: 92 Points
Long finish. Nice balance. Lovely fruit. A more reserved wine - but thoroughly enjoyable
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5/11/2017 - vespasian wrote:
Not the deepest coloured - showing some age at the rim; not the most complex nose but nice fruit definition. A touch of old wood spice, quite a charmer; pretty good weight for 2004, nice filigree tannins. very smooth, good concentration. Some sneaky tannins actually lead to a drying finish. Very good - I wouldn't hold much longer though.
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4/8/2017 - Ary wrote: 94 Points
Haut-Brion Vertical (semi-blind tasting) (Amsterdam Wijn Antiquariaat): 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.
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3/29/2017 - etyc Likes this wine:
2nd-bottle of the '04 HB. This was more reticent and unyielding compared to the 1st. Firmly believe that this will in doubt improve with cellar time.
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3/29/2017 - etyc Likes this wine:
Plums, smoke, tobacco, this was smoking right off the blocks. Satin-like on the palate, with very good freshness to boot, this was very fine, coupled with notes of more plums, dark-cherries. Very nice. Most had this as the wine of the 2nd-flight...
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2/11/2017 - jnocera Likes this wine: 94 Points
Deep dark purple in color, no signs of brickage yet. The nose is classic Bordeaux with a mix of limestone rocks and cigar box. On the palate this is still a hugely structured wine. The tannins are steel and just totally coat the palate. Fruit is there but very overwhelmed by the tannin and earthiness. Great smooth and long finish. This will get better just entering its drinking window in my view.
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12/20/2016 - The Wine Guy wrote: 90 Points
should be consumed while showing some aging notes misses the mark largely attributed to a less than stellar vintage. disappointed as some of the cellar stars I have waited on failed to deliver.
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6/10/2016 - robertek wrote: 93 Points
Good but not spectacular GC.
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4/9/2016 - Rollerball wrote: 91 Points
Smells sweet , gently red, and floral, then hits with good structure and echoes of the bouquet ... but soon falls flat.
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3/22/2016 - SlimShaney Likes this wine: 93 Points
Classic intellectual French wine. Sour. Sweet. Tannic. Less earth. Write poetry. Be enlightened.
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1/26/2016 - RayOB wrote: 90 Points
Drank in Hong Kong
Quite closed, I would leave for another couple of years.
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1/1/2016 - Dave Canada wrote: 92 Points
Decanted for 2 hours and follow over the evening....this is no where near ready to drink. It opened up but was no match for the 1994 Haut Brion had alongside it.
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12/24/2015 - thomas.bagge@me.com wrote: 94 Points
Opened four hours before dinner. At opening tannins and little resemblance of Bordeaux. At dinner still not impressive, but after another 2-3 hours, it started opening up showing its legacy.
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8/11/2015 - JJA Likes this wine: 91 Points
Tasted this side by side with 2004 Margaux. This is a terrific wine, but the Margaux was smoother, more complex and charming.
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7/28/2015 - rikipedia Likes this wine: 91 Points
The Four Seasons Tasting Bordeaux First Growths (Aubergine Restaurant): A mid+ garnet to cherry coloured wine with a heady, aromatic nose of milk chocolate, sweet red fruits, and blackcurrant. The wine has less undergrowth and more tertiary notes, as well as a spicy, clean aroma than the 2006. On the palate, the wine is surprisingly youthful, but lacks mid-palate depth, with a more sinewy blackcurrant skin texture, crisp acidity and narrower yet coarser, seagrass tannins perhaps more gravelly as it opened. More medium-bodied than full with more red fruits than black, earthier, it feels quite athletic and finer boned than the 2006. However, I found the wine less integrated and not as long in the mid-palate nor exit and there is a metallic grasp to it along with a woody tree bark element and green, herbal edge that didn’t live up to the quality of wine 1 and 2. Perhaps reflecting the more classic 2004 vintage it certainly was fresher with a mineral edge and standing upright with a stronger spine. It did take time to open and improve but to me never quite as intense or deep as the first two wines.
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6/1/2015 - MC wrote:
Decanted 2.5 hours. I was actually expecting this to be more closed up and tannic having read some previous notes. Dark, good concentration, and certainly a way to go before this is showing all the secondaries it will - but I think this already goes well with food (given this amount of air) and shows itself to be a success for the vintage. A-
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4/20/2015 - Atreyu wrote:
Klar blåbær, fokusert. Taper seg raskt i glasset og ble bedre igjen med påfyll. Intens og konsentrert men ikke så delikat og sjarmerende som man skulle håpe.
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4/6/2015 - mattyboy_ Likes this wine:
I will pass on rating this for now. What we saw was a good preview for what this wine will be. We had this opened and decanted for nearly 6 hrs and it was unyielding but the raw materials are there. Until next time.
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4/1/2015 - Burgnick wrote: 92 Points
Forest floor, green and leafy nose. It was also a bit musky. The palate had softened tannins, red fruits, black fruits and some spices. Drinking very well now. But its a bit below my expectation for a first growth.
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3/26/2015 - d'Artagnan wrote: 92 Points
Horizontale Bordeaux 2004: Un boisé plus évident au nez, avec même quelques effluves de Jack Daniels au début (!!). Bouche gommeuse, large, fermée à double tour. Le vin est insondable! Il possède une belle texture, mais que deviendra-t-il? Très boisé, un peu asséchant, sans doute trop jeune mais il me semble le moins prometteur du lot. 92+ (?) pts Reconnu comme Haut Brion.
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2/14/2015 - peterchoy wrote: 92 Points
Appearance: Bright and clear, it has deep ruby color, with fading rims and legs.
Nose: Clean, with medium intensity aromas of black fruit such as blackberry, dark cherries and plum, pungent spice of licorice, maturity notes of savory and tobacco, oak notes of cedar, sweet spice of sage, kernel notes of chocolate. The wine is developing.
Palate: Dry with medium acidity, the wine has medium (+) tannin which is smooth and velvety, with medium alcohol, medium body and medium (+) intensity flavors of black fruit such as blackberry, plum and dark cherries, oak notes of cedar, maturity notes of sweet tobacco, pungent spice of pepper. The wine has a medium (+) finish.
Conclusion: Very good quality high-priced Bordeaux left-bank, with a reasonably concentrated nose showing good complexity, the palate has the elegance and structure for a good wine, with intensity, complexity and length also demonstrating fine winemaking finesse. Still a bit too young in my opinion to express its full potential, the wine is best to further age for another 3-5 years.
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1/4/2015 - Jeff Leve wrote: 94 Points
Finesse styled vintage of Haut Brion, which offers a perfume of smoke, cigar box, cherries, forest floor and green, leafy aromas. Soft and elegant, the finish, with its ripe, black and red fruits, spice box and plum sensations is refined in character. This drinks well today and should be even better with a few more years in the bottle. This is the first vintage where Jean-Philippe Delmas was fully in charge from start to finish at Haut Brion.
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12/29/2014 - Claret & CdP Gang Likes this wine: 93 Points
2004 Haut Brion
Color: medium red
Nose: a burst of sophisticated ripe sweet black fruits, supremely elegant with very little oak
Palate: full bodied, balance impeccable, classy, still a baby, ripe fruits, yet to develop secondary flavours so the next bottle we will open be a minimum of 3-4 years, this is a good QPR for a first growth, quite shut
Rating: 93 now but easily 95 or more when it matures
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10/8/2014 - Double-A wrote: 90 Points
Compact nose; subtle, but distinct. Good structure; lush, smoky finish. Tasted blind.
4/5
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7/6/2014 - winemanintheden wrote: 93 Points
Nose is beautiful, rich and similar to mouton. Again lots of layers or rich fruits. Chocolates, red ripe berries and fruits. Palette is very short and dry. Finish is not too long and of sour red fruits. Not my favorite, in fact disappointing of the Premier Grand Crus. Still tannic as well. Light-Medium red fruits and now sour fruits with a short finish. Loved the nose but the palette and finish did not match the nose profile.
A great lesson in how different wines can be from various vintages and regions. And mostly it was such an educational and wonderful experience to finally sample Premier Grand Cru Classe head to head as I've only sampled other classified growths to this date. Your palette will be a great indicator of what you can pick, understand and ultimately what you enjoy. 92-93pts.
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6/6/2014 - rmarkey Likes this wine: 94 Points
Excellent wine. Takes time to show its best once open.
Colour: bright clear crimson/garnet
Bouquet: sharp plum, raspberry and blueberry fruit, with spice, mint, vanillin, and hints of tobacco and dried herbs.
Palate: as bouquet mint and green tea flavours, great balance, silky big soft tannins, elegant and restrained but potency grows as it breathes offer 3 hours - tight at first. Very dry clean and very long finish. Superb and perfect time to drink though would undoubtedly live much longer.
June 2014
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3/10/2014 - PanosKakaviatos Likes this wine: 95 Points
2004 Bordeaux ... 10 years on (Bordeaux Index London): Nuanced and complex, I feel that Haut Brion is clearly more interesting that the Mission, which is almost four square by comparison. Very long finish, with fine tannins that will need at least 15 years to fully melt and reach an optimal drinking window.
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12/7/2013 - nortonnose wrote: 94 Points
La Commanderie de Bordeaux - Boston Annual Gala (Somerset Club, Boston): Served blind. It had been decanted for approximately five hours. Gorgeous, pure violet color. Lovely aroma of lilac and stewed prunes. Great full, rich, round mouth feel - so soft and plush that I was always guessing merlot-driven (60% here!). Long finish. This is just starting to reach the sweet spot. You should have no reservations popping one now, especially if you have the luxury of owning many! Certainly fine to wait another 5-10 yrs.
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10/28/2013 - lifeattable Likes this wine: 92 Points
Warm spices, fresh cigar, herbs, veggies, with hints of earth and mushrooms on the nose. Dark wild berries & herbs, tea, tobacco, aged cheese and more mushrooms on the palate. Despite all those descriptors, it was quite tight and it took some coaxing to get that kind of detail. Long, silky tannins that seem resolved and ready to drink. Could be great if it opens with time.
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10/20/2013 - PGB wrote:
Not ready, not soon
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12/25/2012 - kidsmurf2000 wrote: 93 Points
Really nice, smooth, complex... More time could bring out some more. Decanted 4 hours
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5/26/2012 - speedywine wrote: 94 Points
Décanté 5 heures;
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1/14/2012 - Impulse wrote: 93 Points
Will be great when it grows up. Nice nose of smoke, crushed violets and candied berries. Tanins remain firm but the grain is plesant. At least another 10 years before I open the next one.
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12/25/2011 - salil wrote: 94 Points
Decanted a few hours in advance. Obviously incredibly young now but it's already quite compelling and showing a lot of complexity; there's a powerful fragrance of cedar wood and cigar smoke, and layers of dark fruited flavours, dried herbs, savoury earth and cedary elements on the palate. There's impressive balance, finesse and persistence here, though this really needs a lot more time in the cellar.
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11/25/2011 - Lord of the Bottles wrote: 93 Points
Haut Brion Dinner with Jean-Philippe Delmas.: At Wine Society Haut Brion Dinner with Jean-Philippe Delmas. Like the 2006 (see my note) but a bit more age and depth here, with a more developed secondary nose of animale and earth. Very, very long finish with smooth cream.
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7/27/2011 - mmyette wrote: 96 Points
Open and inviting. Earth, sage, and wild berry fruit on nose. Mouthfeel was medium bordering on full bodied, and the wine was layered, balanced, pleasing and long.
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12/30/2010 - edub7 wrote: 94 Points
Brought this into a restaurant for a very special occasion, though I speculated it might be a bit soon for this wine. The main con is we were only able to experience this wine over a 2.5 hour period, double decanted. With berries and spice on the nose and taste, a bit refined and reserved. After the 2 hour mark the wine started to show more and more of its class. Nice complexity, mid palate, length. Very subtle and elegant, with power and finesse. The fruit is fresh, and the tannins are still a bit firm, suggesting some additional cellar time, but rather lovely. I would give this wine another 4-7 years.
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12/24/2010 - Matt Scott wrote: 95 Points
Decanted for two hours. Dark - that's all, just dark.... A magnetic nose of blackberry, coffee grounds, creamy oak, scorched earth and candied cherries; vibrant and a very "modern" style for one of my all-time favorite producers. This is the wine of the vintage - in my humble opinion - and the velvety tannins, long finish and the layers upon layers of spiced fruit and coffee are all there. The Las Cases and Latour are on the same level in terms of quality. Truly awesome. Drink 2012 -.
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12/18/2010 - mmyette wrote: 95 Points
This was outstanding. Only six years old, drank after a 1986 Clerk Milan. Decanted and let sit for 1.5 hours before touching. This wine was completely new worrld on the nose, candied blackberry, cassis, vanilla extract on the nose. Mouthfeel was leaning toward full bodied, and impeccably balanced. TAnnins were soft, and an explosion of ripe fruit, a backbone of crushed gravel, and again, a beautiful balance. This was WOTN hands down, just terrific! Finish was long.
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12/11/2010 - ChiefNose wrote: 92 Points
Tasted side-by-side with the La Mission HB 2004. The Haut Brion is way more firm in structure - had more Merlot in the blend which served it well. The nice hint of strawberry along with ripoe fruit. The Château will proporly call it a above average wine - it's not. And the price........
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11/10/2010 - Yagil wrote: 95 Points
unusual great aroma, rich with lots of fruits in it;
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9/22/2010 - LWI wrote: 92 Points
BdX 01/04 (Oslo): Dark fruit, some sweetness and spices; a tad short for its class, good intensity, fairly tannic. Some iron and earth after a while. Still a bit closed?
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5/3/2010 - Mrbuzz Likes this wine: 94 Points
A pre b-day wine for a Monday.....and also my first ever HB. Very dark garnet color...wonderful floral nose of red fruits, cigar box, dusty powdery graphite, dried cherry. Awesome nose! Pretty tight and tannic in the mouth, yet has a nice smoothness to it, with a kick of spice and acidity on the finish. Great flavors of crushed red fruits, with some dark currant as well....dried florals, sweet tobacco spice and cigar box, dusty graphite, some leather. Very structured with minerals...yet the Merlot gives it a silky smoothness among the power. Feels like a mouthful of French dirt, after the blooming flowers have fallen.....in a tasty way! Does need more time....and should only get better....but damn tasty tonight!!! +pts
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5/2/2010 - DOCTA WINE wrote: 92 Points
Actually went to Bordeaux and tasted this wine at the Chateau! What a great experience, to drink this wine in situ. Having said that, I would score this wine at a 92. Fully bodied Bordeaux, with hints of cassis, berries. The finish was just ok. Definitely better than the Mission de Haut Brion, same year, which was much lighter, and a bit sour on its ending.
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4/6/2010 - Dillo wrote: 93 Points
Sherry-Lehmann Advanced Wine Class (Bordeaux) (Sherry-Lehmann Gallery): Dark, ruby red color. Extremely fragrant nose and luscious palate of dark berry fruits, currants tobacco, earth and cedar. Very well balanced, with good acidity and silky tannins. This wine is drinking very well right now. As with the '06's in the tasting, this one blows away the other '04's.
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12/3/2009 - MatthewF wrote:
From magnum. Dark red fruit on the nose with sweet tobacco and vanilla with cedar notes and some floral. A dense palate with with great intensity of fruit. Very palate coating with very long length. Still very young, but showing well.
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11/15/2009 - balassis wrote: 95 Points
The bottle was purchased from Kazakos Drink Bank (Nea Erithrea - Athens) at a very good price and I brought it at "Telemachus BBQ Club" to consume with my wife Marilena and my friend George.
Deep garnet.
Typical Haut- Brion nose with red ripe fruits (esp. berries), spice box, lead pencil and tobacco leaves.
Medium - bodied with silky texture and well integrated tannins.
Flavors of cherries, berries, charcoal, graphite, cedar, black olives and gentle oaky vanilla.
Amazing wine for a modest vintage.
To pair with lamb or a well made osso bucco
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11/7/2009 - JOsgood wrote: 91 Points
Needs another decade in the cellar. A bit thin on the palate right now and not giving off much of anything. Smooth and elegant with plenty of air.
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10/29/2009 - Rob MacKay wrote: 95 Points
Upon initial pop, this showed very much like a new world cab with some dark fruits dominated by oak. However, I like how the oak comes across on this wine with a soft texture and a bit of a chocolate note and it only took about 30 mins for the secondary flavors to start to emerge. Balance is wonderful on the palate and constantly improved with time. Excellent finish and tons of potential. Very tasty.
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10/29/2009 - Eric wrote:
A bit oaky when first poured, tight, tart, nice acidity but lean and reserved. However with aeration this gained a nice smokiness and more black fruit. Stunning balance, really impeccable wine even as a baby killing. Some of those Graves flavors were already peeking out.
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6/28/2009 - Jeff Leve wrote: 92 Points
Deeply colored, this opens with a smoke and violet nose that includes earth and cassis scents. Full bodied with a soft, elegant, plush mouth feel, the round styled finish ends with ample fresh, blackberry and spice notes.
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6/16/2009 - soyhead wrote: 92 Points
nose - delicious cigar box and aromatic red berry fruit, a touch stinky per lisa
mouth - midbodied, smooth, good tannins. young
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5/14/2009 - Edward A wrote: 94 Points
Binny's Chateau Haut-Brion Seminar (Binny's South Loop, Chicago, IL): 13.0% ABV. Med dark red color. Nose with plums and black cherry. Lots of black fruits on the palate. Softened tannins. Long finish.
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5/14/2009 - beezer6 wrote: 94 Points
Chateau Haut-Brion Seminar (Binny's South Loop - Chicago, IL): Esquisite elegance packing a serious punch. Massive structure underneath the surface.
Deep rich red fruit. Currants, tobacco laced plums and other dark dried berries.
Classic first growth length displayed in the finish.
Enjoyed more than the '03 but not as much as the '06.
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5/9/2009 - ews3 wrote: 92 Points
Wine Spectator Grand Tour 2009 (Borgata -- Atlantic City, NJ): didn't like this quite as much as the week prior -- but it was up against stiffer competition here. lighter bodies than the other FG, lots of red fruit, spice, and a touch of brisket. medium(-) finish leaves something to be desired after a really nice palate.
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5/8/2009 - slywka7 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Floral aromas with smoke and earth. Wine was a lot lighter then I expected, perhaps due to the higher percentage of Merlot. On the palate I got smoke again, plum, cranberry and other fruit. Had a silky finish that I would think will improve with some time in the bottle.
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5/3/2009 - Gargantua wrote:
(Acker MegaTasting 2008) Nose opens a bit into a vanilla nobility. Nice mouthfeel. Couldn't agree more with the previous taster regarding the tempranillo like character. Only upon arriving at the last half millilter in the glass did nice aromatics open up.
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5/2/2009 - ews3 wrote: 94 Points
Philadelphia Wine Festival (Marriott, Philadelphia PA): very nice, one of the top 5 or so wines I had at the tasting. red cherry and berry fruit, earth, and meaty notes with a long finish.
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5/2/2009 - jrobs7777 wrote:
The Eighth Annual Philadelphia Wine Festival (Philadelphia Marriott Downtown): Really nice. Earthy and deep, in contrast to the Margaux which was spicy and perfumed. Again, tough to appreciate the subtleties but the quality and finish show its class.
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5/2/2009 - amateurwino wrote: 92 Points
Acker 2004 Tasting Part One; 5/2/2009-5/3/2009: Slate and sweet red fruit on the perfumed nose. Ruby color; a bit of dirt on the palate along with subtle, slightly aged-tasting sweet fruit; moderately tannic finish. Nice, but not a life-changing example of a First-Growth. To be fair, had this at a tasting, and this style of wine needs an extended leisurely tasting to show its best. It did have a refined sense that hinted at more.
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3/21/2009 - Alex H wrote: 83 Points
Thematic tasting of Bordeaux 2004 (Crystal Wines): A little browning already at the edges! Smells like a tempranillo with sweet morello cherries and strawberries. Very elegantly styled. I tried to get more secondary aromas but as hard as I tried... nothing...I will not trick myself to make up aromas for this illustrious first growth. On the palate, soft and cherryish . Good finesse but I wouldn't say I was blown away. I don't understand what is the fuss about. Am forgetting about it as we speak. Another 2004 that has closed down for the moment?
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1/16/2009 - noppakit s. wrote: 95 Points
This is too young, creamy and simply buy wait...
After 2.30 hours, elegant, flowery, very beautiful nose of young Haut-Brion, dream away...
Texture is superb, dense, delicate tannic, much more dramatic than 2002 ( Testing last few weeks ), Due to its young, that’s why it’s very yummy…I fall in love by accident !!
Aftertaste is very smooth, long and beautiful finished….this one I agree with Bob.
Drink now - 2027.....................94-95/100...............
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8/23/2008 - c.chew wrote: 94 Points
Upon opening, great nose packed with berries and black fruit. First taste after opening was very tight, tannic, and bitter. After a 2 hour decant, this one really showed its potential. Already drinking very well at this stage, showed beautiful notes of black fruit, cassis, and a charming sweetness to it. This one should age gracefully and really be a pleasure to drink down the road. 94 pts for now.
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8/9/2008 - sadiebear wrote: 94 Points
My wife and I enjoyed this great bottle of wine the night of our wedding....Realizing this was a bit early todrink...Ifelt it more important to remember the bottle we enjoyed on our special day...The first grand cru we have enjoyed....A wonderful wine through and through....
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5/29/2008 - joshwoodward wrote: 95 Points
Brightish start. Balanced tannins, dusty. Short (!). Subtle but lovely. SILKY smooth. Chocolate. Accessible. Aged nose. Very mellow acidity. Pure silk feel. Still a little closed off - probably needed to breathe more. $275
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5/3/2008 - WineForRob wrote: 91 Points
Wine Spectator Grand Tour (Las Vegas): Aromas of meat flowers and earth. Not as earth dominated as some others but still there. Cant say I appreciate it that much yet. Silky mouth feel with strong tannic structure. Good but not overwhelming.
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2/1/2008 - dbkitc wrote: 92 Points
Wow – a beauty that needs to sleep. Lovely middle weight Bordeaux with excellent purity – tobacco and cassis – that is currently supported by a wall of tannin. While tasty now (because of the balance) it will improve by a multiplier if let for 10 to 15 years. I believe this will prove to be a very good, classic bottle of Haut Brion. (92++)
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12/10/2007 - Zweder wrote: 95 Points
A somewhat sweet start. Then ripe and soft cassis appears. Little later some lead pencil and luxurious toasted oak. This wines combines complexity, elegance and sophisticated power in a beautiful way. So young, but already so beautiful. I score it 95 for the moment, which is quite high in my opinion, but I would not be surprised if this wine scores even one point higher in the long term.
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12/9/2007 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 94 Points
Closed and a bit awkward but lovely roundness and sève, restrained oak, very lovely.
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10/25/2007 - winefool wrote: 94 Points
WS NYWE Grand Tastings; 10/25/2007-10/26/2007 (Marriott Marquis): Full coffee red color. Very nice focused nose - clean. Lovely rich round red fruit with nice iron and iodine on the finish. A great wine for the vintage and a good overall concentrated HB.
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