2005 Haut Brion
By Chateau Haut Brion
2005 Haut Brion from Chateau Haut Brion, Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux
An outstanding specimen from a remarkable Bordeaux vintage, the 2005 Haut Brion from Chateau Haut Brion encapsulates the brilliance of its terroir with an eloquence that speaks volumes to both connoisseurs and investors. My longstanding institutional memory of Chateau Haut Brion’s offerings affirms that this particular vintage stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the legendary harvests of the last century.
Epochal Elegance: A Collectable Vintage
The 2005 vintage, which is often lauded for its near-perfect climatic conditions in Pessac-Leognan, has enabled Chateau Haut Brion to express its quintessential virtues—balance, power, and finesse. The warm summer, followed by an Indian summer, proffered optimal ripeness to the fruit while retaining a vital spine of acidity. This duality manifests splendidly in the glass.
Upon tasting, one immediately notes that time has been generous to the 2005 Haut Brion. It has unfurled layers of complex aromatics ranging from ripe black cherries and plums to a profound earthy minerality underscored by a whiff of smokiness—a signature whisper of the estate's gravelly terroir. As it traverses the palate, structured yet silken tannins unveil a rich tapestry of dark fruits interwoven with hints of spice and tobacco, culminating in an astoundingly long finish that continues to resonate minutes later.
The Investment Profile: Graceful Aging Potential
The 2005 Haut Brion is entering its plateau of maturity with grace and assurance, promising further evolution for those patient investors who seek depth and transformation within their cellar selections. Its longevity is unquestionably fortified by the wine’s concentrated fruit core and impeccable balance, suggesting an impressive future for its climatic endurance.
For enthusiasts inclined towards vintages with historical significance and substantial aging potential, the investment merit is abundantly clear. The allure of this wine not only lies within its immediate hedonistic pleasure but equally in its prowess as a vehicle for long-term value appreciation in a discerning collector's portfolio.
In summation, the 2005 Haut Brion from Chateau Haut Brion, characterised by its opulent bouquet and majestic palate structure, represents a paragon from an illustrious Bordeaux year—an imperative addition for those seeking to embellish their collection with a wine of stature and storied provenance.
Market price (GBP)
£7,698.00
12x75cl
Highest score
100
POP score
384.9
Scores and tasting notes
This is a wine that makes you dream. The nose is packed with flowers, sweet tobacco, iodine, spices, raspberries, blackberries, and great freshness. The texture is perfection, pure silk and the fruit is wonderfully complex and subtle. Currants, fresh mushrooms, flowers, and stones fill the mouth and make way to a delightful finish. Please leave this alone until 2020.
James Suckling - jamessuckling.com, April 28th 2011
The mineral-laced 2005 Haut Brion (56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc) is exquisite. With its elegance and finesse, it is not as powerful as La Mission, but the nobility and complexity of the aromatics, incredible fragrance (subtle smoke and blue, red, and black fruits) that persists in the glass, full-bodied mouthfeel (though very light and delicate on its feet), and incredible length characterize this great Haut-Brion. It is just starting to drink well, and should continue to do so for at least another three decades. It is a tour de force in winemaking, but only 9,000 cases were produced.
Robert Parker Jr - The Wine Advocate, 28 June 2015
Another profound effort from Haut-Brion, the 2005 (a 9,000-case blend of 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc) has bulked up to the point that it is fair to compare it to the great successes of 1989, 1990, 1995, 1996, 1998, and 2000. A dark ruby/purple color is followed by a nuanced, noble bouquet of blue and red fruits interwoven with wet stones, unsmoked cigar tobacco, scorched earth, and spring flowers. The wine is full-bodied, pure, and complex as well as exceptionally elegant with laser-like precision. The tannins are still serious and substantial, and in that sense, this is a completely different style of Haut-Brion than the opulent, silky-textured 1989 and 1990. As I have written before, it comes across as an improved, more concentrated and structured version of the 1995 or 1998. Patience will be required for this stunner. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2040+
Robert Parker Jr - Wine Advocate #176 April 2008
Tasted single blind at Southwold. This is relatively subdued on the nose. Very closed: black fruits, a touch of black olives, bacon fat and game. Complex but broody and sullen. The palate has a rich, opulent entry with thick chewy tannins, again massive grip in the mouth. A lot of oak at the moment but there is more than enough fruit intensity here to balance it up. Breathtaking purity and definition, a tangible sense of minerality. I think decanting would improve the aromatics, because the palate has it all, and some. I wish I had longer with this, you can see it awakening in the glass. Do not touch this for another ten years. Drink 2018-2050+ Tasted January 2009.
Neal Martin - Wine Journal Jul 2009