Tasting Notes and Scores
A serious Haut-Brion, still very much closed. Concentrated with firm tannins, this has real depth to it, showing walls and structure. Beautiful juice starts to seep through the walls after a few moments and this has great potential. It has a tannic frame that softens as it opens, and lets the light in, showing its more elegant side. Cleverly constructed, this is great winemaking, a clear success. 72% new oak. Harvest August 31 to September 27. Drinking Window 2021 - 2045
Blind tasted by Jane Anson(at Bordeaux, 19 Feb 2021)
Part of Bordeaux 2011: The top-rated wines tasted 10 years on
Decanter
The unbelievably superb 2011 Haut-Brion (a tiny production of 7,600 cases from a blend of 46% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, and 19% Cabernet Franc) exhibits a classic nose of subtle smoldering embers, warm rocks, black currants, new saddle leather, spice box and high quality, unsmoked cigar tobacco. The color is a dense ruby/purple to the edge, and the wine cuts a serious as well as broad swath across the palate. The most amazing aspect of this terroir is that the wine, despite all its power and richness, literally dances on the palate, as if it were a 90 pound ballerina. This brilliant 2011 should evolve quickly, hitting its prime in 7-8 years, and drink beautifully for 20-25 years. 95 points – Robert Parker (Wine Advocate #212, April 2014)
Wine Advocate
This packs some serious density for the vintage, with layers of braised fig, blackberry pâte de fruit and dark currant paste, all inlaid with lively briar, tobacco leaf and roasted apple wood notes. Shows lots of energy through the finish, with the grip generating a mouthwatering feel. One of the stars of the vintage. Best from 2018 through 2035.– James Molesworth (WineSpectator.com, March 2014)
Wine Spectator
Quality 915 | Brand 998 | Economics 925 |
buzz brand, investment staple
Quality: Predicted life of 17 years, one of the longest drinking windows in its peer group for the 2011 vintage, which averages 9 years
Brand: Strong restaurant presence, featuring on 50 of the world's top wine lists, including Chez Bruce
Economics: More traded at auction than its peers, its top 5 vintages having seen 3,255 75cl equivalent bottles traded in the past year
Production: Higher production than its peer group average of 92,455 bottles
- www.wine-lister.com June 2017
Wine Lister
Darker toasty oak and dark fruits with red hues too. Very smoothly executed meaty barrel fermented aromas here with ripe cassis and cherry fruit flavors. The tannins are nicely articulated, layered and smooth, rising nicely through the finish with a velvety fine texture – jamessuckling.com, Jan 2015
James Suckling
Tasted blind as a vintage comparison at the Valandraud vertical, the 2011 Haut Brion has always been an excellent Pessac-Léognan, though recent encounters suggest it does not have the potential of the 2012. It has a gentle and caressing bouquet full of copious dark cherry and raspberry fruit, a touch of saddle leather and a seam of dark chocolate emanating from the oak regime, which needs more time to integrate (though it is not an Haut-Brion that is going to demand years and years in bottle). The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin and feels gentle in the mouth. It is very well balanced, although perhaps the oak comes through too strongly on the finish, when frankly there is no need. Nevertheless, this is a classic Pessac-Léognan - maybe "mild mannered" and a little conservative compared to more ambitious recent vintages, yet there is no doubting its class and pedigree. Tasted December 2016. – eRobertParker.com, Feb 2017
Neal Martin
The Haut Brion 2011 actually boasts a step up in quality from many of its regional peers, showing the vintage’s hallmark freshness and vitality with a noticeable core of mid-palate intensity that distinguishes it from its sibling La Mission. An attractive herbaceous and red fruit character and sweet, chewy tannins on the finish display the nobility of this great vineyard.
Bordeaux Index
Elegant, cedary dark-fruit aroma. Tight and lively with just enough flesh in the middle. Quite chewy and again has a sort of smudgy palate. Drink: 2018-2036 – jancisrobinson.com, Jan 2015
Jancis Robinson
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