Pessac-Léognan
Haut-Brion 98–99 Deep crimson colour. Intense elderberry, praline hint marzipan roasted chestnut aromas. Richly concentrated wine with abundant dark berry, cassis fruited, fine dense slinky tannin, marzipan roasted chestnut vanilla notes and fine marked searing acidity. Finishes chocolaty and minerally with a graphite plume. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot. 70+% new oak. 14.45% alc La Mission Haut-Brion 97–98+ Deep colour. Intense inky dark berry dark chocolate, mocha notes. Richly concentrated and density packed wine with ample blackcurrant dark chocolate, inky flavours, fine grainy/chocolaty tannins, superb mid palate concentration and fresh integrated acidity. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc. Around 70+% new oak. 14.4% alc Haut-Bailly 96–97 Deep colour. Intense cassis graphite aromas with dark chocolate espresso notes. Richly concentrated blackcurrant/cassis, cedar, praline flavours, persistent fresh juicy acidity, lovely density and fresh al dente tannins. Finishes crunchy with chocolaty notes. Animated and concentrated with all the elements in balance. 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot, 2% Cabernet Franc. 14% alc Haut-Brion Blanc 96–97 Pale colour. Lemon curd, grapefruit aromas with flinty notes. Superb wine with deep sweet lemon curd, grapefruit flavours, fine loose-knit chalky textures, lovely mid palate viscosity and fresh long mineral acidity. Brilliant wine. Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc. 45% new oak. 14.2% alc La Chapelle de La Mission Haut-Brion 96–97 Medium-deep colour. Graphite, black cherry, blackcurrant briary aromas. Very concentrated black cherry, blackcurrant fruits, dense grainy, al dente tannins, some mocha chocolate notes and fine marked acidity. Still elemental but lovely fruit complexity and torque. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc. Roughly 30% new oak. 13.9% alc Les Carmes de Haut-Brion 95–96+ Deep crimson colour. Intense musky blackcurrant praline, hint graphite aromas. Beautifully concentrated dense, bittersweet textures, superb salted liquorice notes. Finishes firm with leafy notes. Astonishing energy and mineral length. This should develop very well. 40% Cabernet Franc, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot.
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The Vintage Journal – International Series
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