Haut-Brion has produced exceptional wines in 2023 across both Le Clarence and the main estate wine, and there is so much to enjoy here. Squid ink, oyster shell freshness and orange peel alongside deep waves of muscular tannins holding cassis, bilberry and blackberry fruits, tobacco leaf, cigar, espresso coiled power and pinpricks of energy. Knitted together, vertical lift, beautiful. A decades-delivering wine. Jean-Philippe Delmas director, Jean-Philippe Masclef technical director, no outside consultant. 69% new oak for ageing.
100 points, Jane Anson (Mar 2026)
With roughly 8,333 cases produced, the 2023 Château Haut-Brion has sensational aromatics of blackcurrants, scorched earth, graphite, and the classic cold fireplace-driven nuances that define this magical estate. It's medium to full-bodied and concentrated on the palate, with ultra-fine yet building tannins, a deep, layered mouthfeel, and a great finish. This brilliant Haut-Brion deserves a solid decade of bottle age and will cruise for 40+ years in cold cellars. Drink 2035-2075.
99 points, Jeb Dunnuck (Mar 2026)
Such transparency and beauty, with black currants, blackberries, blueberries and pencil shavings on both the nose and palate. Full-bodied with open-grained tannins that fill the mouth and make it velvety and very finely textured. Subtle, crunchy aftertaste of blackberries and forest berries. Exquisite. 52.3% merlot, 38.6% cabernet sauvignon and 9.1% cabernet franc. Drink from 2029.
99 points, James Suckling (Dec 2025)
A darker, herbal nose with black chocolate, tobacco and blackcurrant but lots of florality, too. Sappy and fun, well textured, almost chewy and bouncy with flesh and mass appeal. Great acidity with a sweet, stewed strawberry aspect and cooling mintedged minerality. Generous and filling but playful, it’s a wine you can fall instantly in love with: so pristine, juicy, fleshy, round and welcoming. First class, with perfect ripeness. A long way to go, but still so easy to drink.
99 points, Georgie Hindle, Decanter (Jan 2026)
Less immediately approachable than La Mission Haut-Brion, the 2023 Haut-Brion stands among the most powerful and profound wines in the range, revealing aromas of cassis, spices, lead pencil, gentian and dark berries. Medium- to full-bodied, deep and concentrated, it is fleshy yet seamless, endowed with remarkable energy and persistence. In this vintage, the terroir asserts itself with uncommon clarity, resulting in a Haut-Brion that is both racy and precise.
98 points, Yohan Castaing, Wine Advocate (Apr 2026)