Château Haut-Brion
Graves Red Bordeaux Blend
Graves, Bordeaux, France
From what can best be described as a bottle that was clearly not in great condition... 6cm ullage, faded light-kissed label, shrunken loose cork but the sludge around it at the top kept a good seal. Opened and let sit for 2 hours in the bottle, then decanted and left in decanter for 60 min. Dark amber tawny, opaque with some age showing in the rims. Killer old Bordeaux nose with notes of black cherry, tobacco leaf, cigar ash, old cedar wood and gravel stone. Silky in the mouth. Luscious. Lasting finish. This was a bottle that was part of a larger auction lot I bought a few years back and I knew there were risks with this particular bottle. Thus its amazing how what clearly wasn’t the best stored bottle can tonight still deliver a most memorable experience.
From what can best be described as a bottle that was clearly not in great condition... 6cm ullage, faded light-kissed label, shrunken loose cork but the sludge around it at the top kept a good seal. Opened and let sit for 2 hours in the bottle, then decanted and left in decanter for 60 min. Dark amber tawny, opaque with some age showing in the rims. Killer old Bordeaux nose with notes of black cherry, tobacco leaf, cigar ash, old cedar wood and gravel stone. Silky in the mouth. Luscious. Lasting finish. This was a bottle that was part of a larger auction lot I bought a few years back and I knew there were risks with this particular bottle. Thus its amazing how what clearly wasn’t the best stored bottle can tonight still deliver a most memorable experience.
Aug 30th, 2020Tasted blind. Dark tawny. Almost opaque. Notes of dark cherry, cola, soil, rhubarb, cigar, and lots of gravel. Elegant in the mouth. You know it’s special juice from a great year. I guessed 61 LMHB. The 59 HB continues to deliver special experiences.
Tasted blind. Dark tawny. Almost opaque. Notes of dark cherry, cola, soil, rhubarb, cigar, and lots of gravel. Elegant in the mouth. You know it’s special juice from a great year. I guessed 61 LMHB. The 59 HB continues to deliver special experiences.
Sep 8th, 2019From a bottle with a nice fill and solid cork. Tawny color. Dense. Exotic nose. Notes of plum, black cherries, old wood desk, tobacco, leather saddle, dark soil and a little menthol. Improved over 5 hours as it got more air. Long finish. A truly great aged bottle of HB.
From a bottle with a nice fill and solid cork. Tawny color. Dense. Exotic nose. Notes of plum, black cherries, old wood desk, tobacco, leather saddle, dark soil and a little menthol. Improved over 5 hours as it got more air. Long finish. A truly great aged bottle of HB.
Jul 4th, 2019
Bouquet, unbelievable. This is a Beautiful beautiful wine. Nothing hits you over the head. It's purely sublime. Subtle shifting notes in an incredibly integrated experience. This wine makes you consider the chemical possibilities of producing such a masterpiece. Medium bodied, violet, raspberry and rose hip overlaying light Winter spice and pine. A little tar makes its way in after breathing to further enhance its dimensionality.
Bouquet, unbelievable. This is a Beautiful beautiful wine. Nothing hits you over the head. It's purely sublime. Subtle shifting notes in an incredibly integrated experience. This wine makes you consider the chemical possibilities of producing such a masterpiece. Medium bodied, violet, raspberry and rose hip overlaying light Winter spice and pine. A little tar makes its way in after breathing to further enhance its dimensionality.
Jan 27th, 2017From an old dusty bottle bought at auction with 5 cm fill. Dark ruby with purple center and tawny reddish orange rims. Great old wine nose of warm dark fruit, gravel, barnyard soil and wood pile. Still some great structure in the mouth that matches the present but slightly fading fruit. Steady performance over 9 hours of enjoyment. Great Haut Brion. This wine seems like it will last forever.
From an old dusty bottle bought at auction with 5 cm fill. Dark ruby with purple center and tawny reddish orange rims. Great old wine nose of warm dark fruit, gravel, barnyard soil and wood pile. Still some great structure in the mouth that matches the present but slightly fading fruit. Steady performance over 9 hours of enjoyment. Great Haut Brion. This wine seems like it will last forever.
Jul 30th, 2016Long smooth palate... black truffles, slight hibiscus and red flowers. Violets..decanted for a small period of time. Iron at the end slightly.
Long smooth palate... black truffles, slight hibiscus and red flowers. Violets..decanted for a small period of time. Iron at the end slightly.
Mar 24th, 2016Who knows if I will ever be able to sample this wine again but wow, this one definitely lived up to the hype. So perfectly balanced and more fruit@on a wine this old than I have ever seen.
Who knows if I will ever be able to sample this wine again but wow, this one definitely lived up to the hype. So perfectly balanced and more fruit@on a wine this old than I have ever seen.
Oct 20th, 2015
It's my favorite 50's HB. It's got it all!
It's my favorite 50's HB. It's got it all!
Nov 28th, 2014Rich wine with cedar and currant highlights; more refined than prior bottles; everything in balance; long finish; in a great drinking window right now.
Rich wine with cedar and currant highlights; more refined than prior bottles; everything in balance; long finish; in a great drinking window right now.
Jun 1st, 2014