CHATEAU HAUT BRION – BLANC 2005

Description

Review by: James Suckling
Wine Spectator: Issue May 31, 2008
Rating: 100 POINTS
Drink after 2014

Vibrant and exciting, with intense aromas of light toasty oak, pineapple skin, lemon, gooseberry, acacia honey and peach tart. Flowers even. Full-bodied, layered and refined, with tropical fruit, honey, vanilla, cream and light toasty oak. The length is amazing. White wine doesn’t get better than this. Needs a little time, but hard to leave it alone. Best after 2014.

Review by: Robert Parker
Wine Advocate: Issue 176, April 2008
Rating: 95+ POINTS

While not as concentrated or monumental as this estate’s 1989, the 2005 is a fleshy, racy, hypothetical blend of the 1994 and 1998 Haut-Brion, only better. It boasts a gorgeous perfume of citrus oil, lime, honeyed grapefruit, flowers, spicy smoke, and earth, followed by terrific definition, purity, and full-bodied power, but it is not as masculine as its closest competitor, Laville Haut-Brion. The 2005 Haut-Brion will be approachable early, but it should age well for 30-40 years.