Château Haut Brion 2018

Château Haut Brion 2018

Pessac-Léognan - Premier Grand Cru Classé

100/100 Parker - Legendary vintage

- Cellaring: 2028 - 2068

- By Lisa Perrotti-Brown on March 31, 2021: "The 2018 Haut-Brion is 49.4% Merlot, 38.7% Cabernet Sauvignon and 11.9% Cabernet Franc. Deep garnet-purple in color, the wine needs a lot of agitation before it begins to release a whole complex melody of notes: plowed earth, followed by pronounced licorice, crushed rocks, then candied plums. 

Finally, it all comes together in a fascinating crescendo of intense notes of creme de cassis, rose oil, wild blueberries and kirsch, giving way to quiet, lingering leitmotif scents of cinnamon stick, truffles and currant jelly. The palate offers layers of tightly packed dark fruit, red berry and exotic spice in a solid, wonderfully plush and unabashedly fresh frame, finishing with epic length and sparks of earth and minerals. This is a deep, highly intellectual, multi-layered baby that will need 7-8 years to start singing its incredible song, then should be kept for at least 40 more years. As a reference, think of 1989 with more restraint and even greater purity."

 - To produce Château Haut Brion's red wine, the vinification is carried out in unique double-walled stainless steel tanks. It is interesting to note that Château Haut Brion was one of the first châteaux in Bordeaux to start using stainless steel for winemaking.

- The wine is aged in new French oak barrels (up to 100%) for up to 24 months, depending on the strength and character of the vintage. No less than 70% of the barrels used by Haut Brion are produced in their own cooperage. This is done in collaboration with the company Seguin Moreau.

- The blending at Château Haut Brion takes place shortly after the end of malolactic fermentation and before the start of barrel ageing. Indeed, the estate believes that it is preferable to blend the wines before the influence of wood begins to be felt in the wine.

- The wine of Château Haut Brion is in a class of its own. There is no other Bordeaux wine like it. The complex aromas with all the earthy, tar, leather, smoke, truffle, blackcurrant and spice elements are unique to Haut Brion. It is an incredibly refined, elegant and sensual style of wine that is never heavy or unbalanced.

- There is a purity of fruit in this elegant Bordeaux wine that is unique to Haut Brion. Compared to other premier crus, it will generally be ready to drink at a younger age. But that doesn't mean it won't age as well. Far from it. In fact, for example, well-preserved bottles from 1928, 1929 and 1945 all offer compelling drinking experiences today. Life is too short not to drink Haut Brion as often as possible.

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