Chateau Haut Brion, Pessac-Léognan, 1er Grand Cru Classé, Bordeaux, 2016 Tasting notes
Haut Brion I tasted the Haut Brion wines in the professional tasting room in the tower of the chateau in the presence of Jean-Philippe Masclef, the the Techincal director of Haut Brion. A tasting here includes of course Haut Brion, but also La Mission Haut Brion as well as the superb white wines that are produced here.
Chateau Haut Brion 2016 (Red wines)
Chapelle de la Mission Haut Brion, second wine of La Mission Haut Brion (18+ points)
[42% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36.5% Merlot and 21.5% Cabernet Franc]
Medium deep color more towards red than purple. Like usual a bit closed on the nose in this stage but with some lovely discreet fruit. Good expression of fruit. Firm well-packed tannins and a decent length. La Mission Haut Brion (20- points) [57.5% Merlot and 42.5% Cabernet Sauvignon] Deep and intense red color with a clear edge. Superb expressive nose with a great expression of clear clean fruit. My first impression in the mouth: WOW, what a wine! Beautiful expression of the (cassis) fruit, some hints of coffee. A creamy texture with elegant and ripe silky tannins. Great length. I can still taste this wine. (Well, not really of course, but almost). Superb precision of fruit. One of my winners of the vintage.
Le Clarence de Haut Brion (Second wine of Haut Brion) (18+ points)
[51.3% Merlot, 33% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13.1% Cabernet Franc and 2.6% Petit Verdot]
Color similar to the La Chapelle. Pleasant but rather discreet nose. Loads of fresh red fruit on the palate. Pleasant elegant tannins and a more than decent length.
Haut Brion (20- points)
[56% Merlot, 37.5% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6.5% Cabernet Franc]
Color even more intense and deep than the La Mission. Rather shy on the nose with hints of ripe, mostly red fruit. Strong powerful tannins but elegant and well-integrated and without being overpowering. Haut Brion this year is a fist of iron in a velvet glove. Beautiful expression of ripe black and red fruit. It is almost like drinking velvet! Incredible length. Maybe even longer than the La Mission. Exemplary balance and acidity. Great freshness and an almost never-ending finale. More classic than the 2015. Haut Brion produced another winner here.
Chateau Haut Brion 2016 (White wines)
La Clarté de Haut Brion, serves as the second wine for both Haut Brion Blanc and La Mission Haut Brion Blanc (17,5 points)
[23.7& Sauvignon Blanc and 76.3% Semillon]
Lovely light golden yellow color with some slight green tinges. Seems to jump out of the glass with a very expressive nose. Loads of fresh citrus fruit and even some pineapple on the nose. Nice freshness and easy-drinking wine although not entirely living up the nose. Good balance and length.
La Mission Haut Brion Blanc (19,5+ points)
[62.7% Sauvignon Blanc and 37.3% Sémillon]
Clear light yellow color with some hints of green. Beautiful complex nose with some hints of citrus fruit and even some almond. Great freshness. This is really an exemplary acidity. A beautiful balance and an extraordinary length. Totally living up to its reputation of being one of the greatest white wines of Bordeaux. I wanted to drink this sample already. I will beg for it after a couple of years cellaring. This is truly a great La Mission for the long term.
Haut Brion Blanc (20- points)
[70.5% Sauvignon Blanc and 29.5% Sémillon]
For the first time ever there is more Sauvignon than Sémillion in the blend. This has never happened before. Slightly more color than the La Mission. A bit closed on the nose at first and then this wine opens up with a beautiful complex bouquet of citrus (grapefruit)fruit. Wow, this nose is super and this great wine totally lives up to this incredible nose. Buttery and complex withy a very interesting minerality. Great mid-palate. This wine lingers on and on and on. This is a super Haut Brion White. Cellar this for 5 to 10 years and you will be rewarded with a dream white wine! I can still taste this wine minutes later.
