100 Da Robert Parker
A blend of 50% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, the medium to deep garnet-purple colored 2015 Haut-Brion is reticent to begin, languidly revealing crushed black cherries, ripe black plums and wild blueberries with sparks of cinnamon stick, cloves, nutmeg, espresso, unsmoked cigars, tapenade, crushed rocks and lavender. The full-bodied palate possesses wonderfully complementary contrasts of bold black and blue fruit richness and delicately nuanced cherry fruit, baking spices and floral accents, strutting ripe, finely pixelated tannins and seamless acidity that is placed firmly in the background, finishing very long and with plenty of attitude. This impeccably poised, exquisitely perfumed 2015 Haut-Brion possesses the most alluring yet seemingly effortless beauty. While it bears only a passing resemblance in its opulent personality to the now legendary 1989, like that vintage the 2015 cannot fail to hedonically satiate and intellectually edify all lovers of great Bordeaux who drink it. What’s more, it also has the blue-blooded tenaciousness to remain this jaw-droppingly impressive, throughout its many guises over time, and for a very, very long time.
98 Da Wine Spectator
A brick house of a wine, loaded with roasted fig, warmed currant compote and plum reduction flavors that are as broad as they are deep, carried by warm tar, ganache and smoldering bay leaf and charcoal notes. A swath of tobacco through the finish pulls everything together and ties it up with a bow of roasted mesquite. The core shows lean, muscular strength in spades. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2025 through 2045. 11,250 cases made.—J.M.
98 Da James Suckling
This is all about seduction and beauty with tobacco, berries, tea and wet earth. Full-bodied, round and sexy. Love the polished and beautiful tannins. Racy and refined. Try in 2023.
19 Da Rene Gabriel
50 % Merlot, 42 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 8 % Cabernet Franc. Sattes Purpur-Granat, dicht in der Mitte, lila Schimmer aussen. Wenn ich nicht gewusst hätte, dass ich da auf Haut-Brion auf einem Stuhl sitze und den Primeur verkoste, so hätte ich nasal eventuell glatt auf einen ganz grossen Kalifornier gesetzt. Das Bouquet; schwarze Schokolade, Minze und ein Hauch von Eucalyptus. Im Gaumen fleischig, massige Konturen, angerundete Tannine, aber auch genügend Gerbstoffe für ein sehr langes Leben, die Balance ist wunderbar, das nachhaltige, immer noch Konzentration zeigende Finale ist bereits jetzt schon mit viel dunklem Tabak und Heidelbeeren bestückt. «Gibt es hier möglicherweise vergleichbare Jahrgänge?», frage ich Jean-Philippe Délmas. Er antwortete: «Es wird hoffentlich nie Jahrgänge geben, welche sich genau einem bereits bestehenden Haut-Brion vergleichen lassen. In der Regel sind es bestenfalls mögliche Kombinationen zwischen zwei Jahrgängen. Aber das ist dann auch immer eine Hypothese. Wichtig ist es für uns, einen möglichst grossen Wein zu machen und diese Chancen haben wir heuer genutzt!» Beim Verabschieden bemerkte er noch, dass er natürlich die Chance hätte, bestehende Jahrgänge regelmässig nachzuverkosten. Dabei würde sich der 2011er Haut-Brion prächtig entwickeln. Vom Jahrgang her und vom aktuellen Marktpreis sei das momentan ein richtiger Geheimtipp. 19/20 2024 – 2055
A blend of 50% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, the medium to deep garnet-purple colored 2015 Haut-Brion is reticent to begin, languidly revealing crushed black cherries, ripe black plums and wild blueberries with sparks of cinnamon stick, cloves, nutmeg, espresso, unsmoked cigars, tapenade, crushed rocks and lavender. The full-bodied palate possesses wonderfully complementary contrasts of bold black and blue fruit richness and delicately nuanced cherry fruit, baking spices and floral accents, strutting ripe, finely pixelated tannins and seamless acidity that is placed firmly in the background, finishing very long and with plenty of attitude. This impeccably poised, exquisitely perfumed 2015 Haut-Brion possesses the most alluring yet seemingly effortless beauty. While it bears only a passing resemblance in its opulent personality to the now legendary 1989, like that vintage the 2015 cannot fail to hedonically satiate and intellectually edify all lovers of great Bordeaux who drink it. What’s more, it also has the blue-blooded tenaciousness to remain this jaw-droppingly impressive, throughout its many guises over time, and for a very, very long time.
