Château Haut-Brion 2011

If you appreciate classics, reach for this one: this Haut-Brion has absolute greatness, perfect proportions, and just the right bitterness to support its maturation.

The unbelievably superb 2011 Haut-Brion (a tiny production of 7,600 cases from a blend of 46% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, and 19% Cabernet Franc) exhibits a classic nose of subtle smoldering embers, warm rocks, black currants, new saddle leather, spice box and high quality, unsmoked cigar tobacco. The color is a dense ruby/purple to the edge, and the wine cuts a serious as well as broad swath across the palate. The most amazing aspect of this terroir is that the wine, despite all its power and richness, literally dances on the palate, as if it were a 90 pound ballerina. This brilliant 2011 should evolve quickly, hitting its prime in 7-8 years, and drink beautifully for 20-25 years.

This packs some serious density for the vintage, with layers of braised fig, blackberry pâte de fruit and dark currant paste, all inlaid with lively briar, tobacco leaf and roasted apple wood notes. Shows lots of energy through the finish, with the grip generating a mouthwatering feel. One of the stars of the vintage. Best from 2018 through 2035.

A serious Haut-Brion, still very much closed. Concentrated with firm tannins, this has real depth to it, showing walls and structure. Beautiful juice starts to seep through the walls after a few moments and this has great potential. It has a tannic frame that softens as it opens, and lets the light in, showing its more elegant side. Cleverly constructed, this is great winemaking, a clear success. 72% new oak. Harvest August 31 to September 27.

Darker toasty oak and dark fruits with red hues too. Very smoothly executed meaty barrel-fermented aromas here with ripe cassis and cherry fruit flavors. The tannins are nicely articulated, layered and smooth, rising nicely through the finish with a velvety fine texture. -NS

Elegant, cedary dark-fruit aroma. Tight and lively with just enough flesh in the middle. Quite chewy and again has a sort of smudgy palate. (JH)

Deep ruby. Complex, soil-driven aromas of redcurrant, dark cherry and raspberry are complicated by exotic notes of Oriental spices and soy sauce. Rich, tactile and sweet, offering intense, elegant dark fruit and spice flavors lifted by a saline nuance. Finishes with sweet tannins and lingering saline and smoky notes. This is deeper and fleshier than the La Mission.

Smoky dark notes, red fruits, tobacco, flowers, espresso and caramel create the perfume. Refined in style, the wine has soft tannins and a generous dose of cherry griotte on the elegant finish. Having tasted some lighter vintages of Haut Brion over the past few days, this should develop nicely with 5–10 years of age.

Dark ruby garnet, purple reflections, subtle ochre rim brightening. Delicately savoury, black forest berries, nuances of heart cherry, tobacco, blueberry nuances with a hint of oak. Fine sweetness on the palate, firm tannins, delicate nougat, finesse-rich acidity structure, red berry finish, fine currant touch in the aftertaste, salt and lemon, fine minerality, certain ageing potential.

46% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 19% Cabernet Franc. Extremely dark purple with lilac and violet highlights. Floral bouquet, dark violet roses, black berries, showing, as with Mission, a touch of tar and autumn truffle. While the nose gives little, the palate already offers plenty of aromatics, all in the black-berry spectrum, finesse and density, medium power, long finish. A characterful Haut-Brion that also shows quite a lot of feminine charm. And that’s exactly how it should be. For me, it belongs at the top of the Premiers this year. (19/20). 16: Dark garnet, fairly saturated at the center, ruby rim. Incredibly red-berried, red cherries, pink peppercorns, finely perfumed and to be placed in the delicate register. With a very elegant attack, it is already surprisingly accessible, as it is still fully in its fruit phase. Juicy, caressing palate, staying red-berried and, as a young Premier, already giving a lot of pleasure. Burgundian parallels. For now: 18/20. 19: Tasted at Mission together with Mission. The Haut-Brion is sturdier and denser. (19/20).

Dense, elegant, fresh, complex bouquet of black berries, tobacco, cedar, coffee beans and mint. Dense, elegant, silky palate with dense, fine fruit, plenty of good tannins, powerful aromatics, finely woven, dense structure, and a very long, full finish with sweet aftertastes. 19/20 2020 - 2040

Compact garnet red. Such freshness and finesse on the nose of Haut Brion 2011. Notes of red berries, peppermint, and spices. On the palate, the attack is elegant, refreshing, and juicy. The tannins are fine yet fleshy, allowing them to stand up to the breed of the structure. I’m surprised by how inviting the wine is right now because, alongside its pleasant side, it remains powerful and clearly built to age. A fine success.

Logo on the cork: inverted T (Trescases) Color of medium, evolved intensity. Intense nose with ripe, almost sweet fruit. Precise on entry, very aromatic mid-palate, with a melting texture and a hint of cognac; the wine develops in an interesting way, but is a bit too oaky on the finish, even though the aromatic atmosphere remains captivating and original. Good length. Needs more time.

94-96. Barrel sample. An impressively silky wine. Dry yet intensely fruity, the palate shows big fruit, smooth tannins and a perfumed character.