Haut Brion 2003

An intense, opulent nose with notes of ripe fruits and meat. An exotic and decadent wine, it boasts a full body, with big velvety tannins and loads of complexity. Layers and layers of flavors. Let this sit until 2015.

The blockbuster 2003 Haut-Brion (13% alcohol) possesses extremely high tannin, but that component is well-concealed by a cascade of mulberry, blackberry, cherry, and plum-like fruit. There is even a hint of figs under the blue and red fruit spectrum. While broad and ripe with a sweet, glyceral mouthfeel as well as a long, powerful, persistent finish, it retains its elegance and nobility. A wine of both power and finesse, it will benefit from 3-4 years of cellaring, and keep for 25-30.

Tasted at Bordeaux Index’s “10-Year On” tasting in London. Served from magnum, the Haut-Brion ‘03 offers an attractive nose of briary, blackberry, sous-bois and black olive that is well defined and shows a little more gumption than the La Mission. The palate is medium-bodied with a chewy entry, plenty of fresh red berries infused with graphite and cloves. But is seems rather monotonous towards the finish and does not possess the complexity of the La Mission. Tasted March 2013.