Château Haut-Brion Pessac-Léognan rouge 2020 - 1er Grand Cru Classé

Guide Hachette des vins

About wine:

The 2020 Haut-Brion (43% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, and 17% Cabernet Franc) fully lives up to its high ranking, and then some. Draped in a dark but brilliant color, it reveals a nose of rare complexity: cappuccino, wilted rose, pepper, menthol notes, perfectly ripe black fruits, a touch of smoke... From the very first sip, it displays its solid presence, without reserve, with strength and aplomb, but without any aggressiveness, carried by tannins that are firm, precise, and refined, with the added bonus of an immense finish full of mineral freshness and stony tones. A true lord. 2030-2050

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About wine:

Haut-Brion 2020 is more demonstrative aromatically than La Mission Haut-Brion, bursting with blackberry and raspberry aromas mixed with notes of licorice, cigar cap, pencil shavings, and beautifully integrated new oak. Full-bodied, ample, and fleshy, it is rich and layered, with an enveloping fruit core, encircled by numerous soft, powdery tannins. Despite a similar alcohol level to the 2019, its more granular tannic profile tempers the sweetness of the vintage's fruit and gives the wine more classic proportions and structure. 2030-2065

About the estate:

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the estate:

The only property outside the Médoc to have been included in the 1855 classification, Château Haut-Brion has a second distinctive feature: it is completely enclosed within the town. Its terroir is certainly the earliest ripening in the appellation and the grapes mature perfectly here, producing a full-bodied, rich wine which, as it ages, develops inimitable smoky notes. After a brief period that seemed less impressive (2000-2005), the estate has just produced three outstanding vintages, including a 2009 that promises to be legendary and an even more aristocratic 2010."

Jeb Dunnuck

About wine:

I ended my trip to Bordeaux with Château Haut-Brion 2020, and it was certainly a fitting finale. Revealing a deep ruby/plum color, the 2020 offers extraordinary aromas of ripe black fruit, burnt earth, cold chimney, and acacia flowers. On the palate, this structured, full-bodied and massively concentrated Pessac builds gradually, with ultra-fine tannins, a deep and layered mid-palate, and a very long finish. Richer and more concentrated than the 2018 and 2019 (there are some similarities with the 2010), this wine is a legend in the making. The blend comprises 42.8% Merlot, 39.7% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the remainder Cabernet Franc. All of these wines will spend 15 to 18 months in 77% new French oak barrels. Hide the bottles for a decade, and it should evolve for 50 to 75 years. 2033-2093

Yves Beck

About wine:

In the neck-and-neck race between Mission and Haut-Brion, which are part of the same family and therefore more like brothers than enemies, the match is often close. The question is no longer really which is better, but which expresses itself most appropriately, with its nature and personality. In this exercise, Haut-Brion seems closer to what we know of it. Its keen sense of detail is apparent from the very first aromas, while the palate displays remarkable fullness from the outset, surrounded by its tannic structure and a fine bitterness that supports the aromatic expression of the finish. An imposing wine that shows great aging potential. This is a Haut-Brion that is more linear than spherical, with impressive aromatic persistence. It is very grand and all signs point to a score that will sooner or later reach triple digits! 2027-2050

The Wine Cellar Insider - Jeff Leve

About wine:

Concentrated, deep, creamy, supple, long and intense, this wine is bursting with notes of flowers, spices, chocolate, black cherries, plums, porcini mushrooms, tobacco leaves and white pepper. On the palate, there is a slight warmth, but it is the many layers of perfectly ripe, sweet, and rich fruit that stand out as they roll over the tongue and coat the palate. The wine has great depth of flavor, length, and endless waves of black and dark red fruit, ending with a touch of crushed limestone on the finish. The wine is composed of 42.8% Merlot, 39.7% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 17.5% Cabernet Franc, with an alcohol content of 15%. 2030-2060

Falstaff

About wine:

Dark ruby garnet, violet highlights, deep core, delicately lightened rim. Dark wild berries, a touch of noble wood, ripe cherries, delicate floral and candied purple fruit nuances, sweet tobacco, very inviting bouquet. Complex, juicy, red berry texture, well-integrated, ripe tannins, fine sweetness on the finish, already seems very at peace with itself, great length, an excellent table companion, assured future. 2025-2065