Although the colour of the wine is now bricking at the rim, the core still has a deep, tawny/garnet hue. The aromas here are significantly mature, including smoke, truffle, cedar and earth. Yet a lovely ripe plummy fruit lingers attractively on the balanced, elegant finish. Although this is drinking well now, fans of mature wine will likely be thrilled with its continued evolution. Top quality from a top vintage and definitely not in decline.

Although the colour of the wine is now bricking at the rim, the core still has a deep, tawny/garnet hue. The aromas here are significantly mature, including smoke, truffle, cedar and earth. Yet a lovely ripe plummy fruit lingers attractively on the balanced, elegant finish. Although this is drinking well now, fans of mature wine will likely be thrilled with its continued evolution. Top quality from a top vintage and definitely not in decline. Drinking Window: 2023 - 2045
Tasted by: Charles Curtis MW
(at Atlanta, 18 Jul 2023) Part of Charles Curtis MW: My top 10 wines of 2023

The development of this wine has been great. Clearly, this is now a top vintage of Haut Brion packed with layers of ripe, smoky, earthy fruits, tar, spice, smoke, tobacco leaf, cigar box and red fruits. The wine is all about its elegance, length and sensuous finish. This is fully developed and ready to go. Tasted April 2022

Five years since my last tasting of Haut-Brion 1982, and a pleasure to sink back into these stunning waves of sweet brambled raspberry and blackberry fruits. Tobacco, graphite, gunpowder tea, sandalwood, vanillin, grilled herbs and iodine come in waves, and this was a clear favourite around the table, balancing exuberance with finesse. Going back to the wine after an hour in the glass, it has held up excellently, but the saline tang was much more dominant. The Dillon family had been owners for five decades at this point, with Duchesse de Mouchy as president, and Jean Delmas winemaker as he had been since 1961 (2nd generation of the family to be in the role and one that he would hand over to his own son in 2004). This was also the last vintage before they bought neighbouring La Mission Haut-Brion.

Good medium amber-edge red. Flamboyant aromas of smoked meat, leather, truffle and burnished oak. Intensely flavored and penetrating, with strong acids giving the flavors terrific cut and grip. I get an impression of strong cabernet tannins. Drink now through 2020. 94. My second bottle showed even more extravagantly expressive aromas of hot stones, tobacco, minerals and marzipan; a denser, silkier palate impression, with more obvious roasted Graves character; and an uncanny combination of sheer sweetness with structure and grip. I rated this wine even higher.

Supple and enveloping, the 1982 Haut-Brion is drinking brilliantly today, wafting from the glass with aromas of red berries and plums, tobacco leaf, cedar box, scorched earth, cigar smoke and walnuts. Medium to full-bodied, broad and sensual, it's fleshy and giving, with a rich core of fruit, melting tannins and a long, resonant finish. At age 40, this is the most charming of the 1982 first growths, yet despite its outgoing personality, it seems to gain in stature with every passing year.

Supple and enveloping, the 1982 Haut-Brion is drinking brilliantly today, wafting from the glass with aromas of red berries and plums, tobacco leaf, cedar box, scorched earth, cigar smoke and walnuts. Medium to full-bodied, broad and sensual, it's fleshy and giving, with a rich core of fruit, melting tannins and a long, resonant finish. At age 40, this is the most charming of the 1982 first growths, yet despite its outgoing personality, it seems to gain in stature with every passing year. 96pts WK
I know Jean Delmas, whom I respect as one of the world's greatest wine producers, has always thought the 1982 Haut Brion was similar to the 1959, but I have yet to see that. It seems to me the 1989 is closer to the 1959, another perfect wine and one of the all-time great Haut Brions. While the 1982 is a beauty, it has never hit the highest notes this vintage or terroir can achieve. Complex aromatics of scorched earth, smoked herbs, and sweet red and black currants are followed by a full-bodied, silky-textured wine, but I have never felt this offering has possessed the concentration, texture, or multidimensional personality found in such vintages as 1989, 1990, and more recent years. Nevertheless, this is essentially splitting hairs as the 1982 remains a superb Haut Brion. Seemingly less evolved than the 1990, it is capable of another 20-30 years of longevity. Perhaps there is something in reserve that will reveal itself in the next decade. Drink now-2035.

Soft-edged garnet with a light orangey cast – barely. Remarkably perfumed – vanilla and spice and cedary dried herbs and something floral like lavender. So fragrant. Much denser and firmer on the palate than I expected, still a little grainy though fine grained. Rich but elegant, so finely balanced but surprising power and masculine energy giving fabulous length. (JH)

Enjoyed with Jay McInerney who was precluded from opening it (and the bottle of La Mission 1982 enjoyed alongside) when he took Eric Ripert of Le Bernardin to Frenchette who insisted he chose from their list of natural wines instead. In the prime of life. Mid ruby. Sweet, round, fairly soft (all tannin spent) with the signature warm bricks and tobacco aromas. Smudgy with a hint of sweet cassis. Really very gorgeous. (JR)

Wow. This hits you with oyster shells, iodine, cigar, bark, dried mushroom, pine needles, black fruit, dried rosemary, charcoal and tobacco leaves. Peaty and smoky elements. On a different level. Poised and seamless on the palate, with an endless finish. Drink or hold. Jan 2023