2013 Haut Brion
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Tasting notes
The 2013 Haut-Brion offers light loam and forest floor scents, missing its usual fruit intensity as you would expect, though it presents pressed flower and dry tobacco with further aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins. Cohesive with a little more body than La Mission, this has a finely-tuned, pure finish with clove and white pepper hints. This is persistent on the finish in the context of the season. Classy. Tasted at Bordeaux Index's 10-Year On tasting.
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Neal Martin
More reviews and scores
Dark brick colour. Intense nose. Big and bloody and arguably not as refined as La Mission 2013. But it doesn’t lack ripeness of fruit or tannins. Should be a long-term bet. (JR)
Looking back at my En Primeur notes, I wrote 'just love Haut-Brion in difficult vintages, always such a lesson in expert winemaking', and I stand by that comment at the 10 years mark. This is gorgeous, with a density of fruit that elevates it above most. Clear woodsmoke and charcoal twist, with grip and even a hint of length. Characterful and although again we are in drinking window territory, and this is a great opportunity to open and enjoy a 1st growth within living memory of buying it En Primeur if you did so. 45% of production in this wine.
Tasted blind. Very little on the nose, just a bit dusty. Better on the palate: definite oak but with the citrus fruit to fill it out and a very long mineral finish. (JH)
About the producer
Ch. Haut-Brion is the only classified growth in Pessac-Léognan. One of the five First Growths, it is renowned for producing both exceptional reds and whites. Along with its sister estate, Ch. la Mission Haut-Brion, it is part of the Clarence Dillon stable.