Chateau Haut Brion Pessac Leognan 2013

Chateau Haut-Brion has one of the longest and most interesting histories of any Bordeaux vineyard. The property derives its name from an ancient Celtic term Briga. Loosely translated, this means a rise or mound in the land. This unique terroir was first prized for growing grapes to produce Bordeaux wine close to 600 years ago!

The 48 hectare vineyard of Chateau Haut Brion is planted to 48.7% Merlot, 39.6% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10.7% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot for the red wine grapes. This shows decrease in the Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc plantings and an increase of Merlot in the vineyard since the mid 1990s.

Critical Acclaim

97 Wine Enthusiast

The production is tiny, yet the potential of this wine is enormous, with its tight, textured structure that is still so young. It is opulent and generous while still keeping a tight rein on its emotions. A steely core is surrounded by fruit that has hints of apricots as well as citrus. This will be a very fine wine but it needs many years, so wait until 2022.

95 James Suckling

This is very, very long and intense with velvety tannins and plenty of sweet tobacco, cedar and dark berry aromas and flavors. Already open and delicious to drink. This is difficult to say its 2013. Fantastic for the vintage. Only 45% of the normal production.

94 Vinous

Smoke, tobacco, incense and game meld into a core of black stone fruits as the 2013 Haut-Brion shows off its personality. Like most of the reds in this range, the 2013 really needs time in the glass to blossom. Violets, lavender and melted road tar develop over time in a striking, vivid wine endowed with class as well as considerable potential. Haut-Brion is one of the more overtly muscular, broad-shouldered wines of the year. It will be interesting to see what time in barrel brings, but there is a lot to look forward to. The 2013 is 50% Merlot, 45.5% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4.5% Cabernet Franc.

92 Wine Advocate

The 2013 Haut Brion has perhaps a little more complexity on the nose compared to the 2013 La Mission Haut-Brion at the moment. There is more depth and plenty of attractive fruit: cranberry, wild strawberry, hickory and a scintilla of scorched earth that becomes quite peaty with time. It is well defined and shows impressive focus. The palate is very well balanced with tensile tannin, a keen thread of acidity, lively in the mouth with more weight and presence than La Mission, though perhaps without quite the same precision at the moment. It still cuts away just a little short on the finish, but this is a decent Haut-Brion that may pull ahead of its ‘sibling’ with bottle age.

91 Wine Spectator

This has a lovely core of lightly steeped plum, blackberry and black currant fruit, which has already melded with tar and sweet tobacco notes to gain a rounded feel. Presents an ample spine for structure and length, with a hint of warm paving stone at the very end. Best from 2017 through 2025.