Château Haut-Brion has continuously shaped the history of fine wine, maintaining its legacy as one of Bordeaux’s most iconic estates. The Grand Vin is meticulously crafted from a blend of 45% Merlot, 44% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 9% Cabernet Franc, with a touch of Petit Verdot. Harvesting is carried out entirely by hand, with rigorous grape selection at multiple stages to ensure only the finest fruit is used.

A spectacular wine that only goes from strength to strength, and which ranks among the pinnacles of my birth year vintage, the 1989 Haut-Brion wafts from the glass with a rich bouquet of blackberries, blackcurrants, cigar wrapper, loamy soil, black truffle, burning embers and vine smoke. Medium to full-bodied, deep and concentrated, it’s sumptuous and dramatic, with huge reserves of fruit that are complemented by carnal, savory nuances and framed by melting tannins and ripe acids. Concluding with a long, resonant finish, the only criticism one can make is that a 750-milliliter bottle simply isn’t enough.

by William Kelley, February 2022, for Wine Advocate