Chateau Haut Brion 2020

Chateau Haut Brion, First Growth Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux, France, 2020 

Grapes: 42.8% Merlot, 39.7% Cabernet Sauvignon and 17.5% Cabernet Franc, 51ha vineyard on gravel with clay/sand/ limestone subsoil, hand picked, 18-20 months' maturation in French oak barrels (77% new)

Château Haut-Brion’s vineyard is located in the commune of Pessac, just a few miles southwest of Bordeaux’s city centre. It belongs to the Pessac-Léognan appellation, to the north of the Graves wine-growing region. Château Haut-Brion is the only wine to be both First Growth from the 1855 classification and Classified Growth of the Graves.

Producer Tasting Note:

The colour of this Château Haut-Brion is a dark, radiant red. Before swirling, the nose already reveals both fresh and spicy notes. Swirling the wine confirms good ripeness of the grapes, with no excess. The first taste is incredibly tightly-knit and precise. Straight away the wine is assertive, with instant presence. The development is never forceful, but what presence on the palate! The tactile sensations are completed by the taste, the flavours. The tannins are well-rounded, refined, juicy.
Excellent length, even when the wine is no longer in the mouth. The musical score composed by the three grape varieties, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, is incredibly accurate and harmonious.

Critics' Tasting Notes:

"Opaque purple-black colored, it leaps from the glass with a first wave of vibrant black raspberries, ripe blackberries and mulberries scents, followed by a powerful core of warm cassis, dark chocolate and violets, before bursting into an array of crushed rocks, iron ore, tree bark and black truffles notes. The concentrated, densely packed, full-bodied palate is not in the least bit heavy, delivering a refreshing backbone of red berry and dried herbs suggestions, framed by seamless acidity and very finely grained tannins, finishing on an epically long, fragrant earth note. Simply stunning."  Drink 2029-2064

(98-100/100) points, Lisa Perrotti-Brown, WINE ADVOCATE, May 2021

"Dark, ruby, garnet in color, the wine exudes cedar, cigar box, tobacco leaf, smoke, roasted cherries, herbs, spice box and forest floor scents. What is amazing here is the incredible level of density, because it is also light on its feet, perfectly balanced, poised and energetic. Texturally, this is surreal. Picture velvet and polished silk on your palate coating each berry. The fruit offers intensity, purity and length, with a finish that exceeds 60 seconds. The seamless finish could put a smile on the most jaded taster. Do not be concerned with the alcohol levels as there is no heat. All of that is buried in the wealth of fruit. If you have the money, this is one of the great vintages of Haut Brion that promises to evolve for at least 4-5 decades with ease."

99/100 points, Jeff Leve, THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER, May 2021

"Where usually Haut-Brion feels rooted in the Left Bank, this is almost Pomerol in its fleshy fruits. Strikingly powerful layers of plum, damson, cocoa, crushed rocks, bitter black chocolate. Easy to see the brilliance of this wine, one to stand back and admire, wiat for those muscular tannins and fresh acidities to melt together over the next few decades. Harvest from 7th to 29th September, 77% new oak."

96/100 points, Jane Anson, INSIDE BORDEAUX, December 2022

"Dark ruby garnet with purple reflections, a deep core and hints of edge brightening. Dark forest berries, a hint of precious wood, ripe cherries and some floral nuances of candied violets on the nose, with sweet tobacco underneath - a very inviting bouquet. Complex and juicy on the palate with a red berry-led texture and well-integrated, ripe tannins. There's a fine sweetness on the finish. Feels already very calm, with great length, and an excellent food companion."

100/100 points, FALSTAFF (Austria), January 2024

Food Match: Pair with beef and venison dishes