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Château Haut-Brion Pessac-Léognan Red Bordeaux Blend 1998
As reported over the last two years, this is a prodigious Haut-Brion. It exhibits a dense ruby/purple color in addition to a tight, but incredibly promising nose of smoke, earth, minerals, lead pencil, black currants, cherries, and spice. This full-bodied wine unfolds slowly, but convincingly on the palate, revealing a rich, multi-tiered, stunningly pure, symmetrical style with wonderful sweetness, ripe tannin, and a finish that lasts for nearly 45 seconds. It tastes like liquid nobility. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2035. Robert Parker
Ratings on Delectable
Lee Pitofsky 
Finale
Finale
9.7
Shay A
An absolutely stunning lunch from @joe leatherwood today. 1 sparkler, 2 whites, 5 reds and 1 dessert wine. All served blind. Out of the lineup of the five reds, this had the aromatics that kept me going back for more. Initially, it reminded me of an older Ridge Monte Bello as I thought I got the slight hint of American oak, but it dissipated, allowing the bright black cherry, sandalwood, and herbs to shine. Gained some power as the lunch went on. Pipe tobacco, bay leaf, dusty blackberries and leather. The fruit was still tart (in a good way), showing how impressive this can age. I guessed this was early ‘00s Bordeaux.
An absolutely stunning lunch from @joe leatherwood today. 1 sparkler, 2 whites, 5 reds and 1 dessert wine. All served blind. Out of the lineup of the five reds, this had the aromatics that kept me going back for more. Initially, it reminded me of an older Ridge Monte Bello as I thought I got the slight hint of American oak, but it dissipated, allowing the bright black cherry, sandalwood, and herbs to shine. Gained some power as the lunch went on. Pipe tobacco, bay leaf, dusty blackberries and leather. The fruit was still tart (in a good way), showing how impressive this can age. I guessed this was early ‘00s Bordeaux.
9.6
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The 1998 Haut Brion has long been a favourite vintage of mine and consumed with pleasure several times. Now at 20-years of age I feel it is one step ahead of the 1998 La Mission: there is great fruit intensity with almost precocious blackberry, raspberry coulis, pastilles, tobacco and hints of olive. It has exquisite delineation and focus. The palate is medium-bodied with fuller in the mouth than the La Mission: deeper fruit (blackberry, mulberry and a touch of strawberry) intermingling with sage, cedar and a touch of hung game. It is not quite as precocious or as glossy on the finish as I remember previous bottles, but it is certainly turning into one of the finest wines of this vintage. Tasted at the château. (Neal Martin, Vinous, May 2018)
The 1998 Haut Brion has long been a favourite vintage of mine and consumed with pleasure several times. Now at 20-years of age I feel it is one step ahead of the 1998 La Mission: there is great fruit intensity with almost precocious blackberry, raspberry coulis, pastilles, tobacco and hints of olive. It has exquisite delineation and focus. The palate is medium-bodied with fuller in the mouth than the La Mission: deeper fruit (blackberry, mulberry and a touch of strawberry) intermingling with sage, cedar and a touch of hung game. It is not quite as precocious or as glossy on the finish as I remember previous bottles, but it is certainly turning into one of the finest wines of this vintage. Tasted at the château. (Neal Martin, Vinous, May 2018)
9.6Marty Winters
This vintage is a sleeeeeeper watch out!
This vintage is a sleeeeeeper watch out!
9.4
Nico J. Snyman
Classic '98, still a little juvenile, but giving back in every way it should.
Classic '98, still a little juvenile, but giving back in every way it should.
9.1Mick Eddy
Need some time to open up. Classic old world
Need some time to open up. Classic old world
9.5
Charles Antin
Senior Wine Specialist/Auctioneer Zachys
Less structure than I was hoping for. Dumb? What's up with this wine?
Less structure than I was hoping for. Dumb? What's up with this wine?
9.3
George Chen
Took an hour to open up...still a baby. Tannins starting to evolve.
Took an hour to open up...still a baby. Tannins starting to evolve.
8.9
Linda Hinton
C'est jolie. She is pretty.
C'est jolie. She is pretty.
8.9
Steve Bachmann
First bottle was corked but second was killer good.
First bottle was corked but second was killer good.
9.5
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