Chateau Haut Brion 2009 Pessac-Leognan, Premier Grand Cru Classe

Château Haut-Brion's history dates back to when the first vines appeared on the gravel hillsides in 1521. Considered the first luxury wine brand in the world, Haut-Brion obtained the rare distinction of Premier Grand Cru Classé (Classified First Growth) in the 1855 classification, the only wine not in the Médoc to receive this prestigious title.

Clarence Dillon purchased the estate in 1935, and maintained it's status in the elite circle of the most legendary wines in the world. Now the fourth generation of the family, represented by Prince Robert of Luxembourg, Chairman and CEO since 2008 continues the tradition with state-of-the-art modernization to what is the oldest winegrowing property in the region of Pessac-Leognan.

The purplish-red color is the first sign of this wine's concentration. When swirled in the glass, it displays a deep, warm, very ripe bouquet. 2009 Chateau Haut-Brion is full of flavor from the beginning to end. It is so rich and concentrated that we are tempted to use the word "thick." However, this thickness is in no way synonymous with heaviness thanks to a counterbalancing freshness. 2009 Chateau Haut-Brion is reminiscent of 2005 in terms of power, but is even more concentrated.

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate scored this 100 points saying "What a blockbuster effort! Atypically powerful, one day, the 2009 Haut-Brion may be considered to be the 21st century version of the 1959. It is an extraordinarily complex, concentrated effort made from a blend of 46% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon and 14% Cabernet Franc with the highest alcohol ever achieved at this estate, 14.3%. Even richer than the perfect 1989, with similar technical numbers although slightly higher extract and alcohol, it offers up a sensational perfume of subtle burning embers, unsmoked cigar tobacco, charcoal, black raspberries, wet gravel, plums, figs and blueberries. There is so much going on in the aromatics that one almost hesitates to stop smelling it. However, when it hits the palate, it is hardly a letdown. This unctuously textured, full-bodied 2009 possesses low acidity along with stunning extract and remarkable clarity for a wine with a pH close to 4.0. The good news is that there are 10,500 cases of the 2009, one of the most compelling examples of Haut-Brion ever made. It requires a decade of cellaring and should last a half century or more. Readers who have loved the complexity of Haut-Brion should be prepared for a bigger, richer, more massive wine, but one that does not lose any of its prodigious aromatic attractions."

James Suckling scored this 100 points saying "Extravagant and exotic, but still lively, this is a super-concentrated and elegant wine that's already breathtaking, yet has enormous aging potential. Plenty of wet earth and mushroom character alongside the cassis and blackberry aromas. Super-long, perfectly balanced finish. Drink or hold."

Wine Spectator scored this 98 points saying "This enormous young wine is among the most backward of the vintage at this early stage, with iron-clad grip holding the broad, deep core of blackberry, cassis and roasted fig notes in check for now. The finish is a torrent of dense, almost compressed layers of tobacco leaf, hot paving stone, singed bay leaf and tar that will take at least a decade to come together. This one is for the kids born in 2009. Best from 2020 through 2040."

Decanter scored this 98 points saying "Inky purple in colour, this has a rich, intense nose of damson, blackberry and olive paste. The palate is generous in texture and weight, more broad-shouldered than Château Margaux - which is already beginning to show its florality. This is balanced but well built in every inch. The warmth of the vintage coming through as fruit ripeness, liquorice, spice and punch, with the beginnings of truffle notes. There's no question of its excellence and its bonhomie."

Wine Enthusiast scored this 96 points saying "Solid, very structured, packed with dense and dry tannins. There is a core of acidity and darkness that gives the wine a brooding, powerful character. At this stage, it seems austere although it does have the weight of fruit typical of the year."