Château Haut-Brion 2023

Often more restrained than La Mission, yet no less complex; darker in fruit, more masculine on the palate. The juicy fruit is wrapped in the finest tannins—an iron fist in a velvet glove—with great precision and superb length. Built for a small eternity.

A stand-out wine from Haut-Brion this year and one of the most charming en primeur samples from the estate. A little sombre on the nose, quiet with dark fruit, blackcurrant and brambles. Not so open on the nose, but this wows on the palate—rich, dense for the vintage, weighty in the mouth, clearly ripe and so filling. Chewy and alive, this is brilliant with a buzz of acidity, a sharp, sour tartness, yet all so excellently delivered. So charming and so cuddly, this wine wants you to adore it. Bright and voluptuous—and not many can say that in this vintage. Really so great, still with chocolate, mint, pepper, raspberries, and floral notes all the way through. A complete knock-out because it has flesh, juice, brightness and style. 3.7 pH, 4.3 acidity, 80 IPT—the second highest year after 2010 for concentration. 42% grand vin production. A potential 100-point wine.

Even the nose is vibrant this year. You instantly sense it in the perfume with its flowers, red currants, smoke, spice, and cherries. The wine is powerful, yet reserved, long, intense, silky, and vivacious. The fruit has this lift that elevates on the palate. There is richness, elegance, and purity here. But, what is most striking is that on the palate, the wine moves in every direction, covering both sides, as well as the roof of your mouth as the wealth of fruit lingers for over 60 seconds. Part of the success of the vintage is due to July, with its cloudy skies, providing protection from the sun, helping to keep ABV levels down. There is also less green harvesting taking place this year. It is important to note that not only are the harvest dates becoming earlier here, they are also finishing later. More attention is paid to finding phenolic maturity on a parcel by harvest basis, adding nuance and balance. In the cellars, the extraction was soft, at lower temperatures, adding the elegance in the wine. The wine blends 52.3% Merlot, 38.6% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 9.1% Cabernet Franc, 14.6% ABV. 3.7 pH. Harvesting took place, September 4 - October 4. Only 42% of the harvest was placed into the grand Vin. Drink from 2030-2065. 97-99 Pts.

What power on the palate! Sun-drenched, juicy, with a vigorous chew on the finish and striking peppery notes, its profile is more classic than 2022. A corset of finely tapered tannins, a subtle mid-palate minerality, delicious crème de cassis aromas, hyacinth nuances on the retro-nasal, it will be a landmark wine—the potential is staggering.

96-98. Barrel Sample. Ripe black-fruit aromas as well as licorice give this wine its setting of firmness. It has a dense character and wonderful juicy black fruits that are powerful and concentrated. This is a wine with great potential.