Haut Brion - Pessac-Léognan 2018

Vinous

97

byAntonio Gallonithe3/31/2021

The 2018 Haut-Brion is an infant, but its balance and potential are both amply evident. Rich and deep in the glass, the 2018 opens to reveal tremendous complexity and nuance, qualities that only grow with time. The 2018 is not a huge Haut-Brion, nor is it massively endowed, but it is so elegant and classy. I loved it.

Wine Advocate

100

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe3/31/2021

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.

Jeb DUNNUCK

98

byJeb Dunnuckthe3/16/2021

A quintessential expression of this terroir, the 2018 Château Haut-Brion checks in as 49.4% Merlot, 38.7% Cabernet Sauvignon and the balance Cabernet Franc brought up in a mix of new and used barrels. Ripe and sexy, yet also offering subtle aromas and flavors of blackcurrants, smoked earth, tobacco leaf, truffle, lead pencil, and minerals, it takes its time opening up but reveals a full-bodied, concentrated, multi-layered style carrying gorgeous tannins, flawless balance, and just a wonderful symmetry and elegance paired with beautiful richness. This noble, gorgeous Haut-Brion will benefit from 7-8 years of bottle age and cruise for 40 years or so.

The Wine Cellar Insider

100

byJeff Levethe3/16/2021

Opulent, powerful, full-bodied, dense and intense, this incredibly rich wine offers mouth-coating layers of ripe, lush, smoke and tobacco infused dark red and black fruits. What makes this wine great is that with all its power, you also find balance, elegance, harmony and layers of complexity. The expansive finish, with its ripe fruits, tobacco leaf, smoke, barbecue and oceanic minerality holds you captive for over 60 seconds! This will age for at least 3-4 decades with ease. The wine blends 6% Merlot, 37.5% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6.5% Cabernet Franc, 14.6 ABV.

Vinous

96

byNeal Martinthe3/12/2021

The 2018 Haut-Brion was double decanted, assessed after two hours and then over 24 hours, initially blind against La Mission Haut-Brion. There is more red fruit on the nose compared to the La Mission Haut-Brion, wild strawberries commingling with raspberry, light tobacco scents and shavings of black truffle. The palate is medium-bodied and beautifully balanced with superb salinity. Maybe this is more elegant and seductive than the La Mission thanks to the killer line of acidity, though it has slightly less backbone and grip by comparison. Oddly, this First Growth is the most approachable of the pair. It has wonderful cohesion and harmony toward the precise, captivating finish. Superb. My hunch is that this will have wider appeal in its youth, then the La Mission might put its nose in front after 15–20 years.

Jamessuckling.com

99

byJames Sucklingthe2/9/2021

Aromas of currants, leaves, fresh mushrooms, oyster shell, tobacco, and dried flowers, following through to a full body, yet ever so refined and polished and it grows on the palate. Lovely, energetic finish. Subtle and driven at the end of the palate. Drink in 2026 and onwards.

Wine Spectator

98

byJames Molesworththe1/26/2021

Waves of cassis, cherry puree and blackberry paste roll through in this showstopper, with notes of tea, sandalwood, iron and anise providing an entourage for the fruit. A subtle warm earth accent underscores the finish without intruding on the texture. A large-scaled yet eminently refined wine. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2025 through 2045. — JM

Yvesbeck.wine

99

byYves Beckthe1/26/2021

Beaucoup de complexité dans ce bouquet qui affiche des notes florales et fruitées en parfaite symbiose. Je relève des nuances d'iris, des parfums de cerises et une fine touche d'eucalyptus qui confère une subtile fraîcheur. En bouche Haut-Brion présente une attaque précise, linéaire. Il y a du corps, de la tension, de l'ampleur ainsi que des tannins serrés et très fins qui atteignent leur amplitude en fin de bouche. Arômes de réglisse et de baies noires en finale. Beaucoup de longueur et de persistance. Un très grand Haut-Brion.

Decanter.com

98

byJane Ansonthe1/12/2021

Vinous

94-96

byNeal Martinthe11/15/2019

The 2018 Haut-Brion was picked from 6 September to 2 October at 44.6hL/ha. It has a quintessential Haut-Brion bouquet with billowing red cherries, boysenberry, black olive and tobacco aromas. The 2018 coheres beautifully with aeration as more blue fruit emerges. It reminds me of the 2015 at this stage. The palate is medium-bodied with velvety tannin and perfectly judged acidity. There is an unerring symmetry about this First Growth, hints of cracked black pepper and clove towards the layered finish. Maybe what it does not have is the killer precision of a very top vintage, but it is certainly a great Haut-Brion.

WeinWisser

20

byTjark Witzgallthe5/7/2019

Vinous

93-96

byAntonio Gallonithe5/3/2019

The 2018 Haut-Brion is a regal wine. Creamy, soft and inviting, the 2018 is one of the more open-knit young Haut-Brions I can remember tasting. Cedar, tobacco, smoke, licorice, grilled herbs, leather and menthol are nicely layered in the glass. In 2018, Haut-Brion is almost shockingly elegant at this very early stage. There is plenty of tannin, but it is totally woven into the wine's fabric. In 2018, the blend is 49.4% Merlot, 38.7% Cabernet Sauvignon and 11.9% Cabernet Franc.

Jeb DUNNUCK

97-99

byJeb Dunnuckthe5/1/2019

The grand vin 2018 Haut-Brion (49.4% Merlot, 38.7% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the rest Cabernet Franc) is as deeply colored as its stablemate but has a darker, smoky bouquet of blackcurrants, roasted herbs, tobacco, and gravelly earth. Silky, polished, and ethereally textured on the palate, with beautiful tannins as well as mid-palate density, it's one of the most regal, classic wines in the vintage.

Vinifera

97

byJacques Perrinthe5/1/2019

Belle robe sombre. De la profondeur au nez. Notes d'épices, de bois précieux, de tabac et de fruits noirs. Corps majestueux qui affirme sa présence comme une évidence dès l'entame de bouche. Suave, ample d'un développement ascendant, très uni, il conquiert par son caractère harmonieux et son envolée finale, complexe.  

The Wine Cellar Insider

98-100

byJeff Levethe4/23/2019

It's rare to find the combination of elegance and power that you'll find in this year's Haut Brion. It's incredibly difficult to produce a wine with this much volume, harmony, balance, complexity and refinement. Once the wine hits your palate, it's impossible not to take another sip just to make sure it wasn't just a dream. The purity in the fruit, the silk in the tannins, the seemingly endless finish paired with the ability to age for decades is all here in spades. A blend of 56% Merlot, 37.5% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6.5% Cabernet Franc with the harvest taking place September 19-October 13. The wine reached 14.6% alcohol with a pH of 3.8 and 50.6% of the harvest was placed into the Grand Vin.

Wine Advocate

97-99

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe4/23/2019

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.

Wine Enthusiast

96-98

byRoger Vossthe4/17/2019

This wine has an immense structure that’s powered by tannins, yet backed by a dry core and bright acidity. The black currant flavor is very fine and concentrated while also having a juicy freshness that marks the vintage. It has all the structure that should be expected from this estate.

Decanter.com

99

byJane Ansonthe4/17/2019

A beautiful Haut-Brion that combines generosity and elegance. It's rich, and velvety, with a vibrant ruby rim, all conveying structure and a sense of power. The flavour floods in through the mid-palate, displaying wonderfully vibrant blackberry, blueberry, slate, touches of blond tobacco, freshly cut herbs and exotic spicing. You can feel in the texture that it's a warm year, not holding back. It's powerful but elegant and unforced at the same time, with some brambled edges that give a welcome sense of acidity and a touch of bitterness. 

Harvested 6 September to 2 October, yielding 44hl/ha. 3.8pH. IPT72 - the same level as 2015, but it was a little higher in 2010 and 2009.

Jamessuckling.com

98-99

byJames Sucklingthe4/12/2019

The length and texture to this wine is so very impressive. It’s not so much the sheer power that is impressive here, rather the form, tension and exquisite form that the abundant, fine-grained tannins provide. It lasts for minutes on the palate. A classic beauty in the making.

Jean-Marc QUARIN

96

byJean-Marc Quarinthe4/8/2019

Yvesbeck.wine

97-98

byYves Beckthe4/1/2019

49.4% Merlot, 38.7% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11.9% Cabernet Franc
Pourpre violacé. Bouquet aux multiples facettes, très complexe, alliant les notes fruitées et florales. Effluves de baies noires et rouges, agréable fraîcheur, touches épicées et chocolatées. Finalement je relève une touche d’iris. Caractère crémeux, onctueux. Belle intensité aromatique et beaucoup de profondeur. Les tannins sont puissants et se révèlent lentement. Ils affichent de la puissance et de la finesse. En crescendo. Un grand vin. 2025-2045