Robert Parker Score: 96

Region: Bordeaux

District: Pessac-Leognan/Graves

Type: Still Wine

Color: Red

Varietal: Blends & Meritage

Vintage: 2008

Size: 750ML

Available: 6

Brand: See more from Chateau Haut Brion

Sku: 104946

Price: $599.99

Quantity:   

Wine Spectator Review:
A very complex wine, with black licorice, sweet tobacco, blackberry and earth. Full-bodied and long, with big, juicy tannins and lots of bright fruit, mushroom, earth and decadent fruit flavors. The most powerful wine of the vintage. Only 35 percent of the total production (normally this is 50 percent or 55 percent). Shows the selection. Score range 93 - 96.

Parker Review:
This is profound! 2008 Haut-Brion The extraordinary 2008 Haut-Brion is a candidate for -wine of the vintage.- Composed of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 41% Merlot and 9% Cabernet Franc, it reveals more evolution and complexity in its large-scaled perfume. The dense purple color is followed by a sweet nose of creosote, asphalt, blueberries, black currants and jammy raspberries, sweet tannins, a savory, fleshy mouthfeel and a stunning finish. This incredibly pure, noble wine was produced from one of the estate-s smallest crops (only 7,000 cases produced versus the usual 12,000 cases). It should drink well for three decades or more.

Tanzer Review:
Deep ruby, darker than La Mission. The closed nose is classic Bordeaux, with ripe cassis and graphite aromas nicely lifted by violet and mineral, and showing an obvious presence of high-quality cabernet franc. Rich and opulent on the palate, with loads of ripe black fruits framed by bright but harmonious acids and extremely smooth tannins. With its very long, sweet finish, this is one of the best wines of the vintage. In 2008, Haut-Brion's larger vineyard area gave it more to choose from for the grand vin than was possible at La Mission. According to estate manager Jean-Philippe Delmas, there were some particularly fine cabernets picked this year at Haut-Brion, such as the old vines from the Arcachon parcel, which are two-thirds cabernet sauvignon and one-third franc. 92 - 95 points.

Other Notes:
A blend of 41% Merlot, 50% Cabernet Sauvignon and 9% Cabernet Franc. The nose is very expressive, ripe redcurrants, wild strawberries, a touch of gravel and a little wild hedgerow and black plum. The bouquet appears to be more expressive than recent vintages. The palate is very well balanced and slightly grainy, very fresh, lots of energy on the finish with a minerally undertow. The focus is very impressive one feels this is an Haut-Brion that will blossom after bottling, for unlike the nose, the palate feels as if it is holding something back. Firm tannins, traces of earth and bay leaf on the finish. Excellent but patience is necessary. 94 - 96 points, Neal Martin