Purple/Ruby in color. The nose is dusty with dark cherries, cedar and slight dill. On the palate, there is black cherries and tobacco. Firm tannins. Juicy acidity. This is the second wine of Pape Clement and cost $35. It did keep improving as it opened with air. Probably needs some cellaring for a while to hit peak. It is good now but should improve.
This is 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 41% Merlot and 9% Cabernet Franc. A gorgeous wine that is still very young. Purple in color, ruby at the rim. The nose is pretty classic for Haut Brion with cassis, crushed gravel, slight asphalt and strawberries. On the palate there are silky but firm tannins. Deep and complex, the layers unwind in the glass. Cassis and black cherries, slight strawberries over gravel and earth. Great balance. Long finish. This needs another ten years to maturity and should be there for a couple more decades after that. It is delicious right now but give it air.
This is certainly one of the stars of its region. While not in the category of Haut Brion, neither is the pricing. Of course, it is not inexpensive either. This bottle was purchased on release. It was allowed to breathe for an hour and then consumed over the next few. Still on the young side, it offers up plenty of enjoyment right now. If you have a few, go ahead. If you just have one or two, then it's a hold. Purple in color. The nose has cassis, black cherries, some cedar, spice and a bit of minerality. On the palate, light tannins. Tight layers that unwind in the glass of cass
Opened and decanted for sediment. This is drinking well. Purple in color with ruby swirls, slight bricking. The nose is nice with cassis, cherries, leather and cedar. Full bodied. Tannins seem resolved. On the palate, cherries and black cherries with underlying leather. Good balance. Nice finish. This seems fully mature but not over the hill. Complex and also delicious. It would work well with braised lamb. Drink over the next five to seven years.
Typically, Haut Brion is my favorite of all the first growths. Perhaps because the blend is a bit different. This vintage is 50% Merlot, 39% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 11% Cabernet Franc. At age 24, this is just about at maturity. Purple/ruby in color, but starting to show some browning. Mostly clear and bright. The nose has black cherries, cherries, tobacco and slight earthiness. On the palate, a nice tart but sweet fruit - cherries, black cherries and slight black raspberries. Layers of complexity. Long finish. This won't get better from here, but should have ten to fifteen years a
From Magnum. This was an ok year in Bordeaux, but Haut Brion may have made the wine of the vintage. In regular bottles, this should be at or past peak, but in Magnum it was doing just fine. Purple in color, ruby at the rim, mostly opaque and flat. The nose is mature with cassis, cigar box, gravel and slight char. Medium bodied. Medium silky tannins. On the palate, cassis, with some tobacco, gravel and char. Some complexity. Good finish. Older bottles are always variable, but these should be drunk sooner than later. This will work better with hearty food. Cassoulet would work we
