Château Haut-Brion 2015

The estate's history stretches back to the first century, making it one of the oldest in Bordeaux, with evidence of winegrowing at Haut-Brion traceable to Roman Gaul. Over the centuries, the chateau's reputation has been acknowledged by notable figures throughout history, including King Charles II and Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson was so taken with the style that he imported 6 cases to enjoy in the US, making Haut-Brion the first First Growth to be imported to the country. The bottle itself represents immense history, as it is shaped to emulate old decanters, giving the wine an immediately recognizable and distinctive profile.

The terroir of Haut-Brion is characterized by deep gravel soils, which are crucial for the exceptional expression of Cabernet Sauvignon. Interspersed within these gravels are pockets of clay that have proven particularly important for the cultivation of high-quality Merlot. This unique combination of soil types is best showcased in the estate's Grand Vin, which features a slightly higher proportion of Merlot compared to typical Left Bank Bordeaux. The result is a softer, more rounded profile with remarkable aromatic complexity, displaying an earthy bouquet reminiscent of forest floor and mushrooms, a testament of the estate's unique terroir.

50% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, aged in 78% new oak.

"A blend of 50% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, the medium to deep garnet-purple colored 2015 Haut-Brion is reticent to begin, languidly revealing crushed black cherries, ripe black plums and wild blueberries with sparks of cinnamon stick, cloves, nutmeg, espresso, unsmoked cigars, tapenade, crushed rocks and lavender. The full-bodied palate possesses wonderfully complementary contrasts of bold black and blue fruit richness and delicately nuanced cherry fruit, baking spices and floral accents, strutting ripe, finely pixelated tannins and seamless acidity that is placed firmly in the background, finishing very long and with plenty of attitude. This impeccably poised, exquisitely perfumed 2015 Haut-Brion possesses the most alluring yet seemingly effortless beauty. While it bears only a passing resemblance in its opulent personality to the now legendary 1989, like that vintage the 2015 cannot fail to hedonically satiate and intellectually edify all lovers of great Bordeaux who drink it. What's more, it also has the blue-blooded tenaciousness to remain this jaw-droppingly impressive, throughout its many guises over time, and for a very, very long time." 100 Points, Robert Parker

"The 2015 Haut Brion is a perfect wine that couldn’t be any better and is certainly at the top of this great vintage. A blend of 50% Merlot, 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the balance Cabernet Franc, this full-bodied, concentrated, backward, yet sensationally pure 2015 boast knockout notes of blackcurrants, smoked tobacco, ground herbs, and graphite, with a terrific damp earth/minerality quality emerging with time in the glass. Straight, focused, and built like a skyscraper, with a stacked mid-palate, forget bottles for 7-8 years and enjoy over the following three to four decades.” - 100 Points, Jeb Dunnuck

Producer: Château Haut-Brion

Country: France

Region: Bordeaux

Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc

Appellation: Pessac-Léognan

Vintage: 2015

Size: 750ml