The Story
One of Bordeaux's greatest wines, Château Haut-Brion reveals extraordinary aromas of cassis, blackberry, cigar box, graphite, cedar, smoked earth, and exotic spice. Powerful yet effortlessly elegant, it delivers silky tannins, exceptional complexity, and legendary aging potential.
Food Pairing: Pair with beef Wellington, roast lamb, venison, duck breast, truffle dishes, aged Comté, or wild mushroom risotto.
100 Points - Jeb Dunnuck
Unquestionably one of the greatest wines of the vintage, the 2020 Château Haut-Brion is a blend of 42.8% Merlot, 39.7% Cabernet Sauvignon and the balance Cabernet Franc, aged 15–18 months in 77% new French oak. A deep purple color introduces a thrilling bouquet of mineral-laced blackcurrants, black raspberries, toast, spice, scorched earth and graphite. Possessing Lafite-like elegance alongside immense concentration, it is full-bodied with flawless balance, beautiful tannins and remarkable depth. Despite its estimated 15% alcohol, it remains perfectly composed and never feels heavy. It should require at least a decade before entering its prime and has the potential to evolve gracefully for 30–50 years.
99 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2020 Haut-Brion is more immediately expressive than La Mission Haut-Brion, offering aromas of blackberries, raspberries, licorice, cigar wrapper, pencil shavings and beautifully integrated oak. Full-bodied, rich and layered, it delivers an enveloping core of fruit framed by abundant sweet, powdery tannins. Its more granular tannic structure lends a classic sense of proportion and balance despite the vintage's richness. Best after 2030.
98 Points - James Suckling
Aromas of blackberry, licorice, stone, tile, mocha, tobacco and cigar lead into a full-bodied palate with ultra-fine tannins that seem endless. Sophisticated ripe fruit fills the mid-palate while vibrant freshness carries through to notes of tangerine on the finish. Supple, savory and exceptionally refined. Reminiscent of the outstanding 1998. Already impressive, but even better after 2028.
97 Points - Wine Enthusiast
Tightly structured with a brilliant future ahead, this wine combines intense fruit, spice and subtle toast from oak aging. Its concentration, richness and firm structure promise decades of graceful development.
96 Points - Decanter
Concentrated, powerful and remarkably precise, this wine grips the palate with layers of licorice, roasted coffee bean, chocolate, blackcurrant pastille, cassis bud and wet stone minerality that balances its richness. After time in the glass, delicate gunflint and smoke emerge, revealing even greater complexity. A seriously age-worthy Haut-Brion with immense potential.
Description
One of Bordeaux's greatest wines, Château Haut-Brion reveals extraordinary aromas of cassis, blackberry, cigar box, graphite, cedar, smoked earth, and exotic spice. Powerful yet effortlessly elegant, it delivers silky tannins, exceptional complexity, and legendary aging potential.
Food Pairing: Pair with beef Wellington, roast lamb, venison, duck breast, truffle dishes, aged Comté, or wild mushroom risotto.
100 Points - Jeb Dunnuck
Unquestionably one of the greatest wines of the vintage, the 2020 Château Haut-Brion is a blend of 42.8% Merlot, 39.7% Cabernet Sauvignon and the balance Cabernet Franc, aged 15–18 months in 77% new French oak. A deep purple color introduces a thrilling bouquet of mineral-laced blackcurrants, black raspberries, toast, spice, scorched earth and graphite. Possessing Lafite-like elegance alongside immense concentration, it is full-bodied with flawless balance, beautiful tannins and remarkable depth. Despite its estimated 15% alcohol, it remains perfectly composed and never feels heavy. It should require at least a decade before entering its prime and has the potential to evolve gracefully for 30–50 years.
99 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2020 Haut-Brion is more immediately expressive than La Mission Haut-Brion, offering aromas of blackberries, raspberries, licorice, cigar wrapper, pencil shavings and beautifully integrated oak. Full-bodied, rich and layered, it delivers an enveloping core of fruit framed by abundant sweet, powdery tannins. Its more granular tannic structure lends a classic sense of proportion and balance despite the vintage's richness. Best after 2030.
98 Points - James Suckling
Aromas of blackberry, licorice, stone, tile, mocha, tobacco and cigar lead into a full-bodied palate with ultra-fine tannins that seem endless. Sophisticated ripe fruit fills the mid-palate while vibrant freshness carries through to notes of tangerine on the finish. Supple, savory and exceptionally refined. Reminiscent of the outstanding 1998. Already impressive, but even better after 2028.
97 Points - Wine Enthusiast
Tightly structured with a brilliant future ahead, this wine combines intense fruit, spice and subtle toast from oak aging. Its concentration, richness and firm structure promise decades of graceful development.
96 Points - Decanter
Concentrated, powerful and remarkably precise, this wine grips the palate with layers of licorice, roasted coffee bean, chocolate, blackcurrant pastille, cassis bud and wet stone minerality that balances its richness. After time in the glass, delicate gunflint and smoke emerge, revealing even greater complexity. A seriously age-worthy Haut-Brion with immense potential.
