Chateau Haut-Brion 2018
-
Parker
Robert -
Suckling
James - Decanter
-
Enthusiast
Wine -
Dunnuck
Jeb -
Spectator
Wine
Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Blend: 49.4% Merlot, 38.7% Cabernet Sauvignon and 11.9% Cabernet Franc
Professional Ratings
-
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2018 Haut-Brion is composed of 49.4% Merlot, 38.7% Cabernet Sauvignon and 11.9% Cabernet Franc. Deep garnet-purple in color, the wine needs a lot of swirling before it begins to release a whole complex melody of notes, one at a time to begin: tilled earth, followed by pronounced licorice, then crushed rocks, then the preserved plums. Eventually, it all comes together into a fascinating crescendo of intense crème de cassis, rose oil, wild blueberries and kirsch notes, giving way to quiet, persistent leitmotif scents of cinnamon stick, truffles and redcurrant jelly. The medium to full-bodied palate delivers all this and more, revealing tightly wound black fruit, red berry and exotic spice layers within a solid, wonderfully plush frame and seamless freshness, finishing with epic length and loads of earth and mineral sparks.
-
James Suckling
Aromas of currants, leaves, fresh mushrooms, oyster shell, tobacco, and dried flowers, following through to a full body, yet ever so refined and polished and it grows on the palate. Lovely, energetic finish. Subtle and driven at the end of the palate. Drink in 2026 and onwards.
-
Decanter
A beautiful Haut-Brion that combines generosity and elegance. It's rich, and velvety, with a vibrant ruby rim, all conveying structure and a sense of power. The flavour floods in through the mid-palate, displaying wonderfully vibrant blackberry, blueberry, slate, touches of blond tobacco, freshly cut herbs and exotic spicing. You can feel in the texture that it's a warm year, not holding back. It's powerful but elegant and unforced at the same time, with some brambled edges that give a welcome sense of acidity and a touch of bitterness.
Barrel Sample: 98 -
Wine Enthusiast
This wine has an immense structure that's powered by tannins, yet backed by a dry core and bright acidity. The black currant flavor is very fine and concentrated while also having a juicy freshness that marks the vintage. It has all the structure that should be expected from this estate.
Barrel Sample: 96-98 -
Jeb Dunnuck
A quintessential expression of this terroir, the 2018 Château Haut-Brion checks in as 49.4% Merlot, 38.7% Cabernet Sauvignon and the balance Cabernet Franc brought up in a mix of new and used barrels. Ripe and sexy, yet also offering subtle aromas and flavors of blackcurrants, smoked earth, tobacco leaf, truffle, lead pencil, and minerals, it takes its time opening up but reveals a full-bodied, concentrated, multi-layered style carrying gorgeous tannins, flawless balance, and just a wonderful symmetry and elegance paired with beautiful richness. This noble, gorgeous Haut-Brion will benefit from 7-8 years of bottle age and cruise for 40 years or so.
-
Wine Spectator
Waves of cassis, cherry puree and blackberry paste roll through in this showstopper, with notes of tea, sandalwood, iron and anise providing an entourage for the fruit. A subtle warm earth accent underscores the finish without intruding on the texture. A large-scaled yet eminently refined wine. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2025 through 2045.
Other Vintages
2022-
Suckling
James - Vinous
-
Dunnuck
Jeb -
Parker
Robert - Decanter
-
Suckling
James -
Parker
Robert - Decanter
-
Dunnuck
Jeb
-
Dunnuck
Jeb -
Parker
Robert -
Suckling
James -
Enthusiast
Wine - Decanter
-
Suckling
James -
Parker
Robert -
Dunnuck
Jeb - Decanter
-
Suckling
James -
Parker
Robert - Decanter
-
Spectator
Wine -
Enthusiast
Wine -
Dunnuck
Jeb
-
Suckling
James - Decanter
-
Enthusiast
Wine -
Parker
Robert -
Dunnuck
Jeb -
Spectator
Wine
-
Parker
Robert -
Dunnuck
Jeb -
Spectator
Wine -
Suckling
James - Decanter
-
Enthusiast
Wine
-
Enthusiast
Wine -
Suckling
James -
Dunnuck
Jeb -
Parker
Robert -
Spectator
Wine - Decanter
-
Parker
Robert -
Suckling
James -
Enthusiast
Wine -
Wong
Wilfred -
Spectator
Wine
-
Suckling
James -
Parker
Robert -
Enthusiast
Wine -
Spectator
Wine
-
Dunnuck
Jeb -
Parker
Robert -
Spectator
Wine -
Enthusiast
Wine -
Suckling
James
-
Parker
Robert -
Suckling
James - Decanter
-
Spectator
Wine -
Enthusiast
Wine
-
Enthusiast
Wine -
Parker
Robert -
Suckling
James -
Spectator
Wine
-
Enthusiast
Wine -
Parker
Robert -
Spectator
Wine
-
Parker
Robert -
Enthusiast
Wine -
Dunnuck
Jeb -
Spectator
Wine -
Spirits
Wine &
-
Spectator
Wine -
Dunnuck
Jeb -
Parker
Robert -
Suckling
James -
Enthusiast
Wine -
Spirits
Wine &
-
Spirits
Wine & -
Enthusiast
Wine -
Spectator
Wine -
Parker
Robert
-
Enthusiast
Wine -
Spectator
Wine -
Parker
Robert
-
Spectator
Wine
-
Spectator
Wine -
Spirits
Wine & -
Parker
Robert
- Decanter
-
Parker
Robert -
Dunnuck
Jeb -
Enthusiast
Wine -
Suckling
James -
Spirits
Wine & -
Spectator
Wine
-
Parker
Robert -
Spectator
Wine -
Suckling
James
-
Spectator
Wine -
Parker
Robert
-
Spectator
Wine
-
Parker
Robert -
Spectator
Wine
-
Parker
Robert -
Spectator
Wine
-
Spectator
Wine -
Parker
Robert
-
Parker
Robert -
Spectator
Wine
-
Parker
Robert -
Spectator
Wine
-
Parker
Robert -
Spectator
Wine
-
Spectator
Wine -
Parker
Robert
-
Parker
Robert
-
Parker
Robert - Decanter
-
Spectator
Wine
-
Spectator
Wine
-
Spectator
Wine -
Parker
Robert
-
Parker
Robert
-
Parker
Robert
-
Spectator
Wine
-
Parker
Robert -
Dunnuck
Jeb
Chateau Haut-Brion is the oldest and by far the smallest of the "Premiers Grands Crus" vineyards of the Gironde 1855 classification. Chateau Haut-Brion is one of the few remaining family-owned domains of the Bordeaux region with a history going back to the 16th century. It has been owned by the American Dillon family since 1935.Thanks to its long history as one of Bordeaux's most prestigious wines, the estate has left its mark on the region for centuries.
The vineyard covers an area of 51 hectares (about 126 acres). Slightly more than 48 hectares are planted with red grape varieties. The terrain at Haut-Brion, formed of two large mounds of a type of gravel known as Gunzian because it was deposited during the earliest geologic stage of the Pleistocene epoch, rises between 40 and 50 feet above the beds of the neighboring streams. This gravel consists of small stones, including various kinds of quartz, and it is these precious gems that help to give Chateau Haut-Brion's wines their distinctive character. This expansive elevated reach of gravelly terrain, bounded at the north by the Le Peugue stream and at the south by the Le Serpent stream, has been called Haut -Brion at least as far back as the early years of the fifteenth century, as evidenced by ancient maps and deeds dating from this period. The sub-soil consists of a mixture of clay and sand.