90-94 / 100
Noncontractual photograph
Vintage | Wine 1983 |
Classification | Médoc - 1er Cru Classé |
Region | Bordeaux |
Appellation | Pessac Leognan |
Colour | Red |
Volume | 0.75 l |
Country | France |
Château | Château Haut Brion |
Country | France |
It was in 1855 that Château Haut Brion was honored with the highest distinction of Médoc wines: Premier Cru Classé (First Growth). Château Haut Brion is the only non-Médoc domain to be included in the Médoc wine list, as well as the Graves wine classification as a Classified Growth!
Its soil is similar to elsewhere as a brother of Latour. Without being the most concentrated, Haut Brion is the most noble of wines from Pessac-Leognan and its longevity is unparalleled in the industry. The silky tannins are always exceptional. Chateau Haut-Brion is the oldest and yet the smallest of vineyards classified as Premiers Grands Crus in 1855 (Château Lafite-Rothschild, Château Latour, Château Margaux, Château Mouton Rothschild, Château Haut-Brion)
Although the vineyard has been active in the region since at least Roman times, the first mention of vineyards of Haut-Brion dates back only to 1423. In the early days, the wines were known by the name of the parishes where they came from. In the case of Haut-Brion, under the leadership of Pontac, the wine first bore the name of this noble and respectable family. Haut Brion was founded in 1525 by Jean de Pontac and since famous people have succeeded. The last of them, Clarence Douglas Dillon, was Minister of Finance of the United States under the Kennedy administration. As its reputation grew, the name of the estate came to replace that of its owners. The concept of Grand Cru is born! We find the first mention in the diary of Samuel Pepys, who wrote April 10, 1663: "I just tasted a French wine called Ho-Bryan (sic) which has the best and most special taste I've ever enountered."
Among the many great vintages of Château Haut Brion, the exceptional vintages are 1926, 1945, 1953, 1959, 1961, 1982, 1990, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2000.
Haut Medoc
Margaux
Pomerol
Saint Emilion
Sauternes
RAPET Les Vergelesses Tête de cuvée 1983
Pernand Vergelesses
Saint Julien
Médoc
Pauillac
Saint Emilion
(07-2010) I have always had a soft spot for the Haut-Brion 1983 as one of the “friendliest” of the First Growths. Though not a top-tier Haut-Brion, the 1983 has developed a fine earthy, leathery bouquet that is similar to the ’86 but without the same vigour or complexity. The palate is very harmonious with a citrus-tinged entry, its lack of depth and length compensated by poise and tension. Sandalwood, cedar and a touch of truffle and smoke towards the finish. Lovely. A point.
(11-2017) Medium intensity and very evolved color. Intense nose, where the fruitiness has disappeared to give way to truffle and smoke. Smooth on the entry, suave on the development, particularly aromatic, truffled, the wine develops on a smoky note and finishes long, tasty, with a tannic presence a bit grainy for the first time in this tasting.
(05-2013) Slightly past fully mature, this elegant, medium bodied, finesse styled wine delivers sweet cherries, smoke, tar, tobacco and forest floor scents. Soft and refined, this lighter vintage requires drinking, as there is not enough stuffing to allow for further development. It was nice seeing this wine after so many years as it was the first vintage of Haut Brion I ever tasted.
(01-2010)
(01-2000) A quintet of notes : first at the chateau in september 1984. Good wine, texture and length. Curiously, its youthful nose reminded me of thoroughbred stables. I described it as sweet, rather caramel-like and 'brown sugar' respectively. The usual earthy-tobacco flavour, fairly tannic. At 17 years of age the'83 had an open, mature, orange-brown rim; a fully developed, slightly smelly and stalky nose, showing its age.
(01-2003) The colour is a rich, browning ruby. The nose displays a lovely hint of horsey, sweaty saddle, old leather and a definite touch of Brettanomyces, which is absolutely not a problem here, but adds to a complex character with some bay leaf notes and deep, sweet, berried fruit. The palate is beautifully balanced with a terrifically polished character of svelte tannins adding grip, and good fruit that still has life about it. Fine length here, and this is drinking better than a bottle I had a couple of years ago. Absolutely a point on this evidence.