2011 Chateau Haut-Brion - 1er Grand Cru Classe Pessac-Leognan

Falstaff Magazin – 94 pts – PM: *Dunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, dezente Randaufhellung, rauchig, dunkle Mineralik, feine Edelholzanklänge, schwarze Beeren, tabakige Nuancen, ein Hauch von Orangenzesten. Kräftig, straff, intensive rotbeerige Frucht, frische Kirschen, gut eingebundene Tannine, lebendiger Säurebogen, zarter Nougat im Abgang, noch sehr frisch und jugendlich, wird einige Zeit brauchen, Kirschen und Kräuterwürze im Nachhall.* - 03/2014

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate - 94pts - NM: *Tasted blind as a vintage comparison at the Valandraud vertical, the 2011 Haut Brion has always been an excellent Pessac-Léognan, though recent encounters suggest it does not have the potential of the 2012. It has a gentle and caressing bouquet full of copious dark cherry and raspberry fruit, a touch of saddle leather and a seam of dark chocolate emanating from the oak regime, which needs more time to integrate (though it is not an Haut-Brion that is going to demand years and years in bottle). The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin and feels gentle in the mouth. It is very well balanced, although perhaps the oak comes through too strongly on the finish, when frankly there is no need. Nevertheless, this is a classic Pessac-Léognan - maybe "mild mannered" and a little conservative compared to more ambitious recent vintages, yet there is no doubting its class and pedigree. Tasted December 2016.* -02/2017

Vinum Magazin – 18/20pts: *Wer Klassiker schätzt, greife zu: dieser Haut-Brion besitzt absolute Grösse, er ist von perfekten Proportionen und genau richtiger Herbe, die den Reifeprozess unterstützt.* - 05/2014

WeinWisser – 19/20pts: *46 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 35 % Merlot, 19 % Cabernet Franc. Extrem dunkles Purpur mit lila und violetten Reflexen. Florales Bouquet, dunkelviolette Rosen, schwarze Beeren, wie beim Mission etwas Teer und Herbsttrüffel. Während die Nase wenig hergibt, ist im Gaumen schon sehr viel Aromatik da, alles im schwarzbeerigen Bereich, Finessen und Dichte, mittlere Power, klingt lange nach. Charaktervoller Haut-Brion, der aber auch recht viel Weibliches zeigt. Der vielleicht beste Premier des Jahrgangs.* – 04/2021

(04/12): *Manages to harness the angularity of the vintage extremely well, almost burying the acidity
in the core of cassis, black cherry skin, plum pit and maduro tobacco flavors. This is typically among the
most backward wines of the vintage when young, and it´s still tight and primal, but with admirable length
and density already. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Tasted non-blind. (93-96/100)*

JancisRobinson.com – 17,5+/20pts – JR: *Tasted blind. Interesting yeast-extract nose. Solid and chunky. Dominated by tannin at the moment and still with lots in reserve. Lots of interest on the finish.* - 10/2021