Château Haut Brion 2005

Pessac Léognan

First growth of Médoc

France - - Red wine

75 cl - 14% vol.

Price/btl: €808.50 inc. VAT

This wine is currently in stock in our cellar

Recommend this wine to...

Download in Pdf

Download in Pdf without price

Press review

Château - Commentaire # web (1/1/2008)

Chateau Classic (BR) (4/9/2006)

Decanter # web (4/11/2006) : 19,5/20 Maturity: 2015-2040

A magical wine that just has it all. Elegant bouquet of dark fruits with a note of violet and added pinch of complexity. Beautifully textured palate of layered fruit and fine, silky tannins. Great depth and wonderful freshness and balance. Drink 2015-2040.

Parker # 176 (4/1/2008) : 98 Maturity: 2017-2040

Another profound effort from Haut-Brion, the 2005 (a 9,000-case blend of 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc) has bulked up to the point that it is fair to compare it to the great successes of 1989, 1990, 1995, 1996, 1998, and 2000. A dark ruby/purple color is followed by a nuanced, noble bouquet of blue and red fruits interwoven with wet stones, unsmoked cigar tobacco, scorched earth, and spring flowers. The wine is full-bodied, pure, and complex as well as exceptionally elegant with laser-like precision. The tannins are still serious and substantial, and in that sense, this is a completely different style of Haut-Brion than the opulent, silky-textured 1989 and 1990. As I have written before, it comes across as an improved, more concentrated and structured version of the 1995 or 1998. Patience will be required for this stunner. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2040+

Revue du Vin de France (6/1/2006) : 5/5

Les cabernets francs ont été pratiquement éliminés, et le vin est à majorité merlot. Grande complexité, bouche dense, compacte, très élégante. Tanins très fins, mais présents. Vin un peu plus puissant que d'habitude, très belle densité. Plus frais que 1989 dont la densité est la même.

Wine Spectator # web (4/11/2006) : 95-100

Superdark for Haut-Brion. The nose is mindblowing. Exotic. Like a bouquet of flowers with raspberries and currants as well as Chinese spices and fruits. Hints of new wood. Full-bodied, with ultrarefined tannins and great length--goes on and on. This is on its way to 100 points. Better than 1989.

The property in brief

1st classified growth in 1855. Haut Brion was founded in 1525 by Jean de Pontac and since then, many illustrious personalities succeeded each other as owners. The lasted among them was Clarence Douglas Dillon, American financial minister under the Kennedy government. Today, the continuity and presence of the Dillon family are ensured by Prince Robert of Luxembourg who watches over the destiny of Domaine Clarence Dillon S.A.S., having joined the management of the Company in June of 1997 and succeeding his mother Princess Joan de Mouchy as President at the end of July 2008. Haut Brion is the sole 1st classified growth from the 1855 classification which is outside of the Medoc appellation. Its terroir may be compared to the one of Latour. Even if it is not the more concentrated wine, Haut Brion ist the noblest wine of Pessac Leognan, and its longevity is incomparable. The silky structure of the tannins is always exceptional. Classed Premier Cru of the Gironde in 1855, and Cru de Graves in 1953 , Château Haut-Brion was also classed thus in 1973, and although this latest classification only concerned the Médoc whilst Haut-Brion is located in the Graves appellation, the minutes of the 1973 classification meeting state: The jury, considering the situation of Château Haut-Brion and its long traditional connections with the Médoc Premiers Crus, and taking into account this tradition, the customs and practices on the one hand, together with its very eminent virtues on the other, has deemed it to be worthy of featuring alongside the Médoc’s Premiers Crus Classés