2018 Chateau Haut-Brion (750ml)

Merlot from Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux, France

B-21 Top Recommendation
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From two legendary Bordeaux estates, these rare cellar selections from Chateau Haut-Brion and its sister property Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion boast a plethora of perfect scores and rank among the most long-lived and highly sought after collectibles, delivered in perfect provenance at best on the market pricing while they last. Lots of treasures here so let’s dig in.

As part of Domaine Clarence Dillon, First Growth Chateau Haut-Brion and “Super Second” Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion have shared the same winemaking team in Pessac-Leognan for nearly two decades, crafting blends that uniquely reflect each estate’s exceptional terroir, La Mission offering bigger, more concentrated flavors with Haut-Brion displaying greater length and finesse according to renowned third generation winemaker Jean-Phillipe Delmas. Described by James Suckling as “already breathtaking” with “enormous aging potential,” the extravagant 100 pt. 2009 Haut-Brion offers the estate’s signature ripe, opulent fruit elegantly balancing massive tannins and declared “one of the most compelling examples of Haut-Brion ever made” by Robert Parker Jr. Describing it as “pure perfection and one of truly legendary wines out there,” the powerful 100 pt. 2010 Haut-Brion is “a massive wine in every sense” according to Jeb Dunnuck that Inside Bordeaux’s Jane Anson declares “ready to power through the ages,” certain to be a focal point in any collection in original wooden cases of one. The Wine Spectator’s James Molesworth calls the impressive 100 pt. 2015 Chateau Haut-Brion “a brick house of a wine,” while Antonio Galloni describes the massive 100 pt. 2016 Chateau Haut-Brion as a "nearly indescribable beauty,” exclaiming “What a wine!” Describing it as “a hugely captivating wine,” Inside Bordeaux’s Jane Anson declares the opulent 98 pt. 2017 Chateau Haut-Brion “one of the contenders for red of the vintage,” while the Wine Enthusiast’s Roger Voss names it a Cellar Selection that’s destined to be “a magnificent wine.” According to the Wine Advocate’s Lisa Perrotti-Brown, “Domaine Clarence Dillon pretty much nailed it across the board in 2018,” with James Suckling calling the elegant 100 pt. 2018 Chateau Haut-Brion “a classic beauty in the making.”

Called “a beautifully dense, ripe wine” with “an opulent structure and gorgeous fruits,” by the Wine Enthusiast’s Roger Voss, the powerful 100 pt. 2010 Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion is described as “a real head turner” by the Wine Advocate’s Lisa Perrotti-Brown, robustly structured to evolve over the next five decades. “A total knockout,” Antonio Galloni of Vinous calls the 99 pt. 2016 Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion “absolutely delicious and the kind of wine that is so suggestive of a very bright future,” while he describes the “gracious and wonderfully nuanced” 97 pt. 2017 La Mission Haut-Brion as “a positively stunning wine” that “simply has it all.” Naming it one of the wines of the vintage, the 100 pt. 2019 La Mission Haut-Brion is “already showing its class,” according to Inside Bordeaux’s Jane Anson and is summed up by Jeb Dunnuck as “one of the few 2019s that will make your eyes roll back in your head,” available exclusively in cellar-ready magnums.

A treasure trove of top scoring Bordeaux blends that will make it hard to choose, these outstanding releases from the iconic Chateau Haut-Brion and Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion offer an excellent foundation for a new Bordeaux collection and a golden opportunity for seasoned collectors to fill in a few holes in the cellar, all guaranteeing patient Bordeaux lovers decades of enjoyment ahead.

100WA

99JS

98JD

98WS

The 2018 Haut-Brion is composed of 49.4% Merlot, 38.7% Cabernet Sauvignon and 11.9% Cabernet Franc. Deep garnet-purple in color, the wine needs a lot of swirling before it begins to release a whole complex melody of notes, one at a time to begin: tilled earth, followed by pronounced licorice, then crushed rocks, then the preserved plums. Eventually, it all comes together into a fascinating crescendo of intense crème de cassis, rose oil, wild blueberries and kirsch notes, giving way to quiet, persistent leitmotif scents of cinnamon stick, truffles and redcurrant jelly. The medium to full-bodied palate delivers all this and more, revealing tightly wound black fruit, red berry and exotic spice layers within a solid, wonderfully plush frame and seamless freshness, finishing with epic length and loads of earth and mineral sparks. This is a profound, highly intellectual, multilayered baby, which will require a good 7-8 years to begin to sing its incredible song, then should cellar a further 40 years at least. By way of reference, think 1989 with more restraint and even greater purity.

100 points, Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate (Mar 2021)

Aromas of currants, leaves, fresh mushrooms, oyster shell, tobacco, and dried flowers, following through to a full body, yet ever so refined and polished and it grows on the palate. Lovely, energetic finish. Subtle and driven at the end of the palate. Drink in 2026 and onwards.

99 points, James Suckling (Mar 2021)

A quintessential expression of this terroir, the 2018 Château Haut-Brion checks in as 49.4% Merlot, 38.7% Cabernet Sauvignon and the balance Cabernet Franc brought up in a mix of new and used barrels. Ripe and sexy, yet also offering subtle aromas and flavors of blackcurrants, smoked earth, tobacco leaf, truffle, lead pencil, and minerals, it takes its time opening up but reveals a full-bodied, concentrated, multi-layered style carrying gorgeous tannins, flawless balance, and just a wonderful symmetry and elegance paired with beautiful richness. This noble, gorgeous Haut-Brion will benefit from 7-8 years of bottle age and cruise for 40 years or so.

98 points, Jeb Dunnuck (Mar 2021)

Waves of cassis, cherry puree and blackberry paste roll through in this showstopper, with notes of tea, sandalwood, iron and anise providing an entourage for the fruit. A subtle warm earth accent underscores the finish without intruding on the texture. A large-scaled yet eminently refined wine. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2025 through 2045.

98 points, James Molesworth, Wine Spectator (Mar 2021)

Alcohol By Volume: 14.5%

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$599.88

Compare At: $699.99

This item is a pre-order estimated to arrive 5/31/2024. 9 bottles available.

This item is available in original wood case. Would you like to include the wood case in your order? There is an additional $12.00 shipping fee for wood cases.

Available in Original Wood Case of 6

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