- BrandChateau Haut Brion
- CountryFrance
- RegionBordeaux
- TypeRed Wine
- Size5
- SKU 210000049726
Château Haut-Brion is one of the five First Growth wines of Bordeaux, and the only one from Graves. Located on two hillocks gravel over clay and sand in Pessac for a classic Graves terroir. It consists of 51 hectares of mostly red varieties (Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot). It is the oldest wine estate in Bordeaux and was even served to Charles II! The estate is now owned and lovingly managed by the Dillon family, the royal family of Luxembourg. Long associated with technical innovation in Bordeaux, Haut-Brion was an early adopter of stainless-steel fermentation vats in the 1960s while retaining traditional élevage in French oak. The 1998 vintage is one of the better regarded Left Bank examples from a year often discussed for its stronger Right Bank results.
Very classic deep, dense color. Although slightly closed, the nose discovers
a handsome complexity and immense richness. The whole evolves with an evident softness where a mixture of the suaveness and inky depth of a seasoned Porto comes to mind. The slightly caramelized ripe fruit melds its hint of wood
with the more obvious notes of roasted coffee and cacao. The tannin is superb and still dense. Altogether one finds volume with a rich promise of intensity to come. A very good year that one should patiently wait for.
Critical Acclaim
98 Robert Parker I Wine Advocate
This is a prodigious Haut-Brion. It exhibits a dense ruby/purple colour in addition to a tight, but incredibly promising nose of smoke, earth, minerals, lead pencil, black currants, cherries, and spice. This full-bodied wine unfolds slowly but convincingly on the palate, revealing a rich, multitiered, stunningly pure, symmetrical style with wonderful sweetness, ripe tannin, and a finish that lasts for nearly 45 seconds. It tastes like liquid nobility. There is really no other way of describing it. It is unquestionably the finest Haut-Brion since the fabulous1989 and 1990, and the titanic 2000. However, patience is warranted as it is not as flashy and forwardas those two vintages. Anticipated maturity 2008-2035.