2023 Château Haut-Brion

The 2023 Haut-Brion is a wine of restraint and power. Usually a much more potent and somber wine, the 2023 Haut-Brion is a quiet aristocrat. Powerful dark-red-toned fruit, blood orange, pomegranate, spice, new leather and incense lend notable complexity and nuance to this svelte, understated Grand Vin. I expect the 2023 will gain weight and body in time. I would not dream of touching a bottle anytime soon.

With roughly 8,333 cases produced, the 2023 Château Haut-Brion has sensational aromatics of blackcurrants, scorched earth, graphite, and the classic cold fireplace-driven nuances that define this magical estate. It's medium to full-bodied and concentrated on the palate, with ultra-fine yet building tannins, a deep, layered mouthfeel, and a great finish. This brilliant Haut-Brion deserves a solid decade of bottle age and will cruise for 40+ years in cold cellars. Drink 2035-2075.

The 2023 Haut-Brion boasts exquisite purity on the nose with ebullient blackberry, clove, peony and black olive scents. Wonderful delineation, the oak seamlessly integrated, as usual. The palate is medium-bodied with slightly more backbone than the La Mission at the moment. Perhaps a tad more salinity, too. The finish is quite controlled and focused, nothing ostentatious or over-the-top here, but its precision has to be admired.