Château Haut Brion, Pessac-Leognan, 1er Grand Cru Classe 2020

Château Haut Brion, Pessac-Leognan, 1er Grand Cru Classe 2020

Critic tasting note: (2020 vintage)

"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." - Falstaff (100/100)

"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 ABV 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. The wine blends 42.8% Merlot, 39.7% Cabernet Sauvignon and 17.5% Cabernet Franc, 15% ABV. Harvesting took place September 7-September 29." - Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider (99/100)

"The 2020 Haut-Brion is more aromatically demonstrative than La Mission Haut-Brion, bursting with aromas of blackberries and raspberries mingled with licorice, cigar wrapper, pencil shavings and nicely integrated new oak. Full-bodied, ample and fleshy, it's rich and layered, with an enveloping core of fruit that's girdled by plenty of sweet, powdery tannin. Despite checking in at a similarly lofty alcoholic degree to the 2019, its more granular tannic profile tempers the vintage's sweetness of fruit and lends the wine a more classically proportioned, and more classically structured, profile." - Reviewed by: William Kelley, Robert Parker The Wine Advocate (99/100)

"Aromas of blackberry, licorice, tile, stone and mocha. Tobacco and cigar, too. They follow through to a full body with ultra-fine tannins that go on and on. Sophisticated ripe fruit in the center palate with a brightness. Tangerines in the finish. Very supple and savory at the end, in a classy way. Reminds me of the 1998. Already so attractive, but it will reward you much more after 2028." - James Suckling

"Tasted blind. Deep crimson. Perfumed with sweet black fruits. Really fragrant. Sweet, almost sweet-sour on the palate. Thick, firm, chewy tannins but lots of freshness at the end. Deep, rich, just balanced. A big beast." - Julia Harding MW, JancisRobinson.com

Vineyard Notes

Château Haut-Brion’s vineyard is located in the commune of Pessac, just a few miles southwest of Bordeaux’s city center. 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.

Winemaking

The grape bunches harvested and the berries placed in vats, the temperature rises …. Now it is time for fermentation to begin. Thanks to technology and precise temperature control, the winemaker knows how to regulate these fermentations. Two weeks later, when the colour, tannins and aromatic components have given their full potential, it is time to run off the wine from the vats.

Vintage Notes

Winter, then springtime 2020 were mild and wet, with a very early start to the vine’s growth cycle and budburst beginning on 17th February. This was the third earliest year in living memory at Château Haut-Brion. During spring, it was essential to pay very close attention to the vines. Flowering was early too. In summer, the heat and drought slowed down the vine’s growth and this enabled a slow ripening of the grapes, which were perfectly healthy at harvesting time. All these weather events created ideal conditions for making wines that are concentrated and fresh all at the same time.

Producer Tasting Notes

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.

Maturation

Oaked

Ageing

18 month

Classification

1er Grand Cru Classé

Drinking Window

2027-2068