1999 Chateau Haut-Brion Premier Cru Classe
Pessac Léognan, Bordeaux, France
The 1999 Château Haut-Brion is intensely aromatic, rich and concentrated. A higher than usual Merlot content (60%) has resulted in a luscious, perfectly honed Haut-Brion with elegant mineral aromas and a unique complexity. Its strength lies in the finish, which is surprisingly long.
We recently (May 22) opened a bottle and were bowled over. This is a monumental 1st growth from a supposedly unfashionable year, we tasted it over 2 hours and watched it evolve slowly with cascading notes of blackcurrant, blueberry, black cherry, caramel and forest floor. Fresh and pure on the palate, with a richness overlaying silky tannins. The finish is extraordinary – lengthy, seductive interwoven with subtle minerality and flavours of cedar and spice. Beautifully pure and generous.
Whats in the bottle
Merlot: 60 %, Cabernet Sauvignon: 28%, Cabernet Franc: 12 %
Notable Awards
92 points Vinous "The 1999 Haut-Brion is a very fine vintage from the estate, although it is probably overshadowed by the overachieving 1998. This bottle has the sensuality on the nose that I have observed before but is a little more opulent than I recall, yet very delineated with black truffle, cedar and cigar humidor infusing the black fruit. The palate is well balanced with soft, almost velvety tannin. There is a sweet candied core of fruit in situ, laced with orange peel and black cherries. It fans out nicely toward the finish, which is generous rather than complex." (Neil Martin) (9/2019)