Château Haut-Brion 2018 (Pre-Arrival)

• Domaine: Château Haut-Brion
• Appellation: Pessac-Léognan
• Classification: First Growth, Premier Grand Cru Classé
• Origin: Left Bank, Bordeaux, France
• Importer: Laguna Cellar

Château Haut-Brion is a superb wine among the First Growths. It was the only wine not from Médoc, but instead from Graves area when Originlly listed among the Premier Grand Cru Classé in 1855. It was also on the inaugural list of Grand Cru Classé de Graves in 1959.  In 1987, when Pessac-Léognan was carved out of Graves as an independent AOC, Haut-Brion became a member of Pessac-Léognan.  However, people continue to interchangeably identify Haut-Brion as both Graves and Pessac-Léognan.

Tasting Notes

"The 2018 Haut-Brion is a blend of 49.4% Merlot, 38.7% Cabernet Sauvignon and 11.9% Cabernet Franc, harvested September 6 to October 2. Deep purple-black in color, it is much more closed than the La Mission. It holds back for the first few minutes, reticent to reveal what slowly uncoils to give wave after wave of exotic spices—cardamom, cassis, star anise and fenugreek—over an opulent core of red roses, Black Forest cake, warm cassis and black raspberries with nuances of cigar box, crushed rocks, truffles, tilled black soil, iron ore and smoked meats. The full-bodied palate is truly profound, with restrained black fruit and spice layers slowly offering mineral sparks and savory suggestions within a rock-solid frame of firm, super fine-grained tannins and beautiful freshness, finishing with epic length and depth. This will take longer to come around than the La Mission, but it will be well worth the wait." - Lisa Perotti-Brown, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (4/23/2019, Bordeaux 2018 Issue), Rating: (97-99)+