2021 Chateau Haut Brion - 1er Grand Cru Classe Pessac-Leognan

Bettane & Desseauve – (96-97) pts: *Forte couleur, nez puissant, précis, bien formé, plus sur le réglisse et la fleur que sur les fruits noirs ou rouge, pas aussi monumental de corps que dans les millésimes précédents mais structuré, long, racé. Finalement très classique de son terroir. Belle complémentarité des cabernets et du merlot. Grande longévité probable.*

Decanter.com - 97 pts - GH: *One of the absolute stand out wines on 2021 with an electric appeal almost unrivalled in the vintage. Blackcurrant leaf, dark chocolate, cocoa powder, rose petals, sweet cherries and bramble fruits on the nose. Incredibly lively and energetic on the palate with a burst of sharp, sweet and sour fruits that just fills the mouth coated by chalk, slate and pencil lead mineral tannins that give a intensity while the fruit persistency lingers above and through to the long finish. Such delicacy yet multi-layered and full of concentration, clear ripeness and power, though delivered with suaveness and style. Tannins are firm and robust, mouthfilling, no doubt about that, but they give the structure and frame to the plush and plump fruit which also has such a crystalline purity to it. I love the intensity and also these spicy bitter dark chocolate and liquorice elements on the finish which give nuance.* - 04/2022

Falstaff Magazin – 96 pts – PM: *Dunkles Rubingranat, tiefer Farbkern, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Einladender Duft nach feinem Cassis und schwarzen Kirschen, ein Hauch von Edelholz, zarter Nougatanklang. Gute Komplexität, dunkle Waldbeeren, feine Fruchtsüße, reife, gut integrierte Tannine, elegant und mit guter Länge ausgestattet, finessenreich und frisch, sehr zugänglich, ein toller Speisenbegleiter.* - 05/2022

The Wine Advocate – (96-98) pts – WK: *A candidate for the title of wine of the vintage, the 2021 Haut-Brion unwinds in the glass with aromas of rich red and black fruit mingled with notions of cigar wrapper, licorice, black truffles, loamy soil and burning embers. Full-bodied, deep and concentrated, it's elegant and multidimensional, with superb depth at the core, lively acids and ultra-refined tannins. Combining the classical proportions of the vintages of two decades ago with the viticultural and winemaking of today, it's a timeless classic in the making, but it's difficult to find an obvious analogy with an older vintage. When pressed, Jean-Philippe Delmas suggests a superior version of the 2014 vintage, and to me, a more concentrated, serious version of the 2012 vintage also comes to mind. What is clear, however, is that this is one of the real high points of 2021. The blend is 50% Merlot, 38% Cabernet Sauvignon and 12% Cabernet Franc, and it attained 13.8% alcohol—a percentage point or so lower than in 2020 or 2019.*

Vinum Magazin – 18,5/20pts: *Von ausgesuchter, schierer Rasse und Frische, sehr zurückhaltend, schnörkellos, gleichsam pfeffriges Tannin und ausgeprägte Säure, ungemein lang; so mögen wir diesen Wein.*

WeinWisser – 19,5/20pts – GL, TW: *50 % Merlot, 38 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 12 % Cabernet Franc, 13,8 Vol.-%, 48 hl/ha. Dicht verwobenes Bouquet mit frisch gepflückter schwarzer Johannisbeere, Olivenpaste und dunklem Edelholz. Im zweiten Ansatz Sommertrüffel, Palisander und Burleytabak. Am komplexen Gaumen mit seidiger Textur, kakaoartigem Tannin, zarte Muskeln spürbar, ungemein tiefgründig mit perfekt geformtem Körper. Im konzentrierten Finale kleine schwarze Beeren, schwarze Johannisbeerpastillen und erhabene Adstringenz mit ganz kleinen (körnigen) Ecken. Perfekt dem Jahrgang angepasst, erinnert (wegen des tieferen Alkohols) an 1990 mit mehr Präzision im Weinberg, ganz klar Klassenprimus aus Pessac!* – 04/2022

JancisRobinson.com – 18/20pts – JL: *Bright crimson-purple. Fragrant berry-fruit notes as the wine opens. Smooth and refined on attack, the mid palate full and generous swathing powerful but integrated tannins. Impressive length and drive. Quite a powerhouse for such a complicated year. Huge potential.* - 04/2022

quarin.com – 95 pts - JMQ: *Couleur sombre, intense et belle. Nez fruité, subtil et un peu discret. Une discrétion que je retrouve en entrée de bouche, où le vin se montre savoureux, mais aussi assez vite tannique. Il s'achève long, avec un retour de l'arôme en finale. Une présentation un peu plus ferme que parfois. Assemblage : 50,3 % merlot, 38 % cabernet sauvignon, 11,7 % cabernet franc. Degré d'alcool : 13°8 naturel - pH : 3,66 (moyenne moins). Le merlot a été saigné à 10 %. IPT : 66. Rendement : 48,6 hl/ha.*

JamesSuckling.com – (97-98) pts - JS: *A very structured young Haut-Brion with blackberry, blackcurrant, black-olive and mushroom character. Medium to full-bodied with a driving balance of firm and ripe tannins and gorgeous fruit. 50.3% merlot, 38% cabernet sauvignon and 11.7% cabernet franc.*

Vinous.com – (95-97) pts – AG: *The 2021 Haut-Brion is all class, all finesse. Naturally the overt intensity of recent vintages is replaced by a more understated style in 2021. Silky tannins caress a core of dark cherry/plum fruit. Hints of lavender, new leather, cloves and menthol gradually open. The trademark Haut-Brion aromatics are going to need a number of years in bottle to develop. The 2021 is hardly a blockbuster, and yet in many ways it is so primary.*

Vinous.com – (95-97) pts – NM: *The 2021 Haut-Brion has a more extravagant, charming bouquet compared directly with the La Mission at the moment, offering copious blackberry, black truffle, undergrowth and menthol scents. The palate is very well balanced, harmonious and poised, with fine-grained tannins and an almost pixelated finish. This Haut-Brion seems to have reveled in the cooler growing season, and at 13.8% alcohol, there is almost a degree less than recent vintages. Jean-Philippe Delmas has fashioned a contender for wine of the vintage.*

Thewinecellarinsider.com – (95-97) pts – JL: *Flowers, tobacco wrapper, chocolate, burning wood, ash, cigar box, currants, black cherries, and spice. On the palate, the wine is fresh, bright, vibrant, lifted, and floral. The wine is elevated, refined, soft, and silky with a refreshing, silky edge to the fruits in the finish. There is richness and waves of fruit on the palate, but the waves are small and continuous. This is a good example of a modern classic Haut-Brion. The wine blends 50% Merlot, 38% Cabernet Sauvignon and 12% Cabernet Franc, 13.85% ABV. Harvesting took place September 13, finishing October 8, making this one of the longest harvest periods for Haut Brion. 48 hectoliters per hectare, with 43% of the harvest placed into the Grand Vin. Drink from 2027-2060.*