CHÂTEAU HAUT BRION 2018

Château Haut-Brion 2018

“Deep garnet-purple in color, the wine needs a lot of swirling before it begins to release a whole complex melody of notes, one at a time to begin: tilled earth, followed by pronounced licorice, then crushed rocks, then the preserved plums. Eventually, it all comes together into a fascinating crescendo of intense crème de cassis, rose oil, wild blueberries and kirsch notes, giving way to quiet, persistent leitmotif scents of cinnamon stick, truffles and redcurrant jelly. The medium to full-bodied palate delivers all this and more, revealing tightly wound black fruit, red berry and exotic spice layers within a solid, wonderfully plush frame and seamless freshness, finishing with epic length and loads of earth and mineral sparks.”  – 100/100, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate

VARIETIES: 49.4% Merlot, 38.7% Cabernet Sauvignon and 11.9% Cabernet Franc
REGION: Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux, France
AGEING: 62% in new barrels for 20 month/s
GUARDING POTENTIAL: Enjoy now or will cellar well up to 30 years +, at an optimal hygrometric degree of 70%
SERVE: Serve at 16ºC – 18ºC
FITS TO: Best served with all types of classic meat dishes, Chateau Haut Brion is also good with Asian dishes, Hearty Fish courses like Tuna, Salmon, Mushrooms, and Pasta
CRITICS SCORES: RP/100, JS/99, D/98, WE/98, WS/98, JD/98

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1ᵉr Grand Cru Classé – 1855, Pessac-Léognan Appellation | Range | Château Haut-Brion 2018

The first vines appeared on the gravel hillsides of Haut-Brion in the first century AD. In 1521, Château Haut-Brion became the first Bordeaux vineyard to be named after its terroir, instead of the owner or the parish, making the estate the first luxury wine brand in the world. This led Haut-Brion to earn the rare distinction of Premier Grand Cru Classé (Classified First Growth) in the 1855 classification, the only cru outside the Médoc to receive this prestigious title.

The spring of 2018 was marked by frequent stormy weather. The growing season started very well, although was later slowed down as a result of a violent hailstorm on the 26th of May. The vines nevertheless recovered fairly quickly. The month of June was relatively warm, conducive to even flowering. A hot summer followed, with little rainfall. Véraison (colour change) took place under ideal conditions. A high-pressure system set in during the month of September. The grapes were picked under clear blue skies at peak ripeness and in excellent condition.

2018 is pretty much a classic 50:50 blend with 49.4% Merlot, 38.7% Cabernet Sauvignon and 11.9% Cabernet Franc. Jean-Philippe describes it as being closer to 2016 and 2010 in style than it is to 2015 and 2009. He likens it to the excellent 1998 made here, but better.

Dark, intense red colour. The initial impression on the nose is deep, spicy, and incredibly complex, underscored by ripe black fruit aromas. Starts out soft and well-structured on the palate, becoming full-bodied with impressive volume and smooth tannin. The finish is incredibly long, enhanced by rich flavours that are neither heavy nor harsh. Unquestionably a very fine Haut-Brion!