(Chateau Haut Brion) Easily my second favorite wine of the vertical. This wine had it all. The nose was deep, brooding and ominous. I loved it. Certain nose of certain wines have this all encompassing aspect that also includes a shade of evil. This definetly had that. Lots of minerality with a wisp of deep cassis fruit and currants. That gravelly quality really starts to show itself. Long, firm and structured palate with great finesse. Enormously concentrated but never heavy with just perfect balance. Acid gives this great freshness. A stunner that easily has 40-50 years ahead of it. True first growth vin de garde. I love the 2000 vintage.
(Haut-Brion) Shitake mushrooms. gravel, raspberry sauce, earth, chocolate, nose is unreal!! Tobacco, tar, just singing in the glass. Every great scent that makes Haut Brion what it is is just screaming out of this glass as I type. This has to be the most unique of the first growths. Silky, seamless yet so elegant on the palate with unreal fruit. Concentrated with grainy tannins. Eternal on the finish. Little closed but man what a nose on this wine!
NOTE: Some content is property of Decanter and Vinous and JebDunnuck.com and JancisRobinson.com and The World of Fine Wine and Rockss and Fruit.
By Charles Curtis MW
(Château Haut-Brion, Merlot, Pessac-Léognan, Bordeaux, France, Red) Login and subscribe to see review text.Château Haut Brion vertical: 1982-2010, 7/18/2023, (See more on Decanter...)