2018 Chateau Haut-Brion Premier Grand Cru Classé Pessac-Léognan

• Country: France Region: Bordeaux Appellation: Pessac-Léognan AOC Producer: Château Haut-Brion Product: Premier Grand Cru Classé Size: 750 ml Varietal: 49.4% Merlot 38.7% Cabernet Sauvignon 9.8% Cabernet Franc 2.1% Petit Verdot Wine Type: Red Wine

100 points Wine Advocate

"The 2018 Haut-Brion is composed of 49.4% Merlot, 38.7% Cabernet Sauvignon and 11.9% Cabernet Franc. Deep garnet-purple in color, the wine needs a lot of swirling before it begins to release a whole complex melody of notes, one at a time to begin: tilled earth, followed by pronounced licorice, then crushed rocks, then the preserved plums. Eventually, it all comes together into a fascinating crescendo of intense crème de cassis, rose oil, wild blueberries and kirsch notes, giving way to quiet, persistent leitmotif scents of cinnamon stick, truffles and redcurrant jelly. The medium to full-bodied palate delivers all this and more, revealing tightly wound black fruit, red berry and exotic spice layers within a solid, wonderfully plush frame and seamless freshness, finishing with epic length and loads of earth and mineral sparks. This is a profound, highly intellectual, multilayered baby, which will require a good 7-8 years to begin to sing its incredible song, then should cellar a further 40 years at least. By way of reference, think 1989 with more restraint and even greater purity.'

-Lisa Perrotti-Brown Mar 31, 2021

2018