Château Haut-Brion 2020

This is a superb Haut-Brion with incredible tannins that are wonderfully fine-grained. It’s really powerful. This is very primary with so much grape-generated tannin structure. Very, very long, going on for minutes. Seductive and friendly at the start and then takes you on at the finish with so much structure. Wine of the vintage?

The 2020 Haut-Brion is a blend of 42.8% Merlot, 39.7% Cabernet Sauvignon and 17.5% Cabernet Franc, harvested from 7th to 29th September, with an estimated alcohol of 15% and a pH of 3.8. Opaque purple-black colored, it leaps from the glass with a first wave of vibrant black raspberries, ripe blackberries and mulberries scents, followed by a powerful core of warm cassis, dark chocolate and violets, before bursting into an array of crushed rocks, iron ore, tree bark and black truffles notes. The concentrated, densely packed, full-bodied palate is not in the least bit heavy, delivering a refreshing backbone of red berry and dried herbs suggestions, framed by seamless acidity and very finely grained tannins, finishing on an epically long, fragrant earth note. Simply stunning. Drinking window 2029 – 2064. Lisa Perrotti-Brown.

Dark purple colour with violet hue and black core. Very elegant, powerful and expressive nose, ripe berries, juicy cherries and plums, mulberries and hints of sloe in the background. Backed by hints of graphite, elegant spiciness, vanilla and hints of oriental spices, noble toasting aroma, very complex with aromatic depth. On the palate powerful yet elegant with juicy fruit, tightly structured with ripe tannins, fine acidity, great freshness, elegant fruit, mild spices and subtle oak. A great wine with excellent depth and length.

Concentrated, powerful and precise; this takes a grip and holds on, layers of liquorice, grilled coffee bean, chocolate, blackcurrant pastille, cassis bud and a more steely wet stone edge that gives a much needed balance to the richness of the overall feel of this wine. Gunsmoke curls out of the glass after half an hour - this is going to need serious ageing, impressive and powerful stuff. Harvest from 7th to 29th September. Drinking Window 2030 - 2050. Jane Anson.