The 1959, which is certainly less evolved than the 1961, gets my nod as slightly superior to the full-blown, mature 1961. The 1959 offers a spectacular, rich, garnet/plummy color, a magnificent bouquet of roasted chestnuts, sweet, jammy, black-cherry, and raspberry fruit, and an intense, mineral, chocolate, coffee aroma. Super-concentrated, with layer upon layer of fat, supple, jammy fruit, a voluptuous texture, and a sweet, long, heady finish. - Wine Advocate #95, October 1994

The 1959 Haut-Brion did not live up to expectations. I have had nearly perfect examples of the 1959, often preferring it ever so slightly to the 1961 when tasted side by side. That was not the case in Munich. Although the 1959 was outstanding, it seemed less concentrated, more disjointed, and more evolved than the 1961, displaying a more roasted aromatic profile, and less sweetness and unctuosity than previous bottles. The notes for this wine are taken from the description of Series IV - Flight D of the 1995 tasting conducted in Munich by Helga and Hardy Rodenstock. Many years after the tasting from which this note derives allegations were made concerning the authenticity of old and rare bottles of wine sold by Hardy Rodenstock to collectors around the world. The matter has been the subject of numerous articles, litigation and at least one book. Mr. Parker believes that the wines served to him at this tasting were authentic so this note and the others from that specific tasting continue to be posted on eRobertParker.com.

($1; 495) Full medium red. Grilled nuts and maple syrup on the nose, along with a whiff of old wood; slight suggestion of maderization. Vinous but on the lean side, with a slight hardness. A less-than-stellar bottle that losing its fruit. ($1,395-$1,475): Old aromas of plum, marzipan and nutty oak. Lovely sweetness and mellow fruit enlivened by superb vinosity. Complicating note of tobacco. Very much an old wine but still with considerable appeal and length, if a trace of finishing dryness. But not a great bottle of this wine, which I've scored in the recent past as high as 98 points.

Dark crimson with an aged rim. Polished, sweet, fully ripe, seductive fruit – wonderful. And it has retained freshness and vivacity too. Perfectly balanced. A long-lived marvel. (JR)