Bordeaux, Bottle Notes

An Incredible Value from Saint-Émilion

Chateau Haut-Brisson is located in Saint Emilion, not far from Chateau Monbousquet. The estate was bought in 1997 by Peter Kwok. The 18 hectare vineyard of Haut-Brisson are planted to 65% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. The vines are close to 30 years of age.

The winery recently sent me samples of two of their more acclaimed vintages.

2005 Chateau Haut-Brisson – Purple in color. 13.5% ABV. 85% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Gorgeous nose of black fruits, leather, licorice and tobacco. Full bodied, plush and concentrated. Exceptional balance. Black raspberry, cassis, currants and espresso on the palate. Tremendous length on the finish with silky tannins. Another 2005 St. Emilion that is aging brilliantly. Best over the next 2-4 years. My rating: 92 points.

2010 Chateau Haut-Brisson – Dark crimson in color. 13.5% ABV. 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. Stunning nose of black fruits, graphite, cedar and licorice. Big, lush and full bodied. Drinking well with mostly resolved tannins. Black cherry, plums, cassis and earth on the palate. Nice length on the finish. A perfect reflection of an exceptional vintage. Best over the next 2-3 years. My rating: 91 points.

I am not sure what the bottles above cost on release but I would guess they were in the $25-$30 range. Wines that cost this amount and have the capacity to age for 10-20 years are few and far between.

Look for the 2016 Haut-Brisson for about $30. You can’t go wrong here.

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