1990 Haut Brion
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Tasting notes
The 1990 Haut-Brion can give the '89 a run for its money on the right day. This is intense on the nose, with blackberry, tobacco, gravel and just a light touch of camphor. It has stunning delineation and is perhaps the most mercurial '90 First Growth at the moment. The palate is medium-bodied and powerful, although this bottle was missing the finesse that I have discerned in previous bottles. It fans out beautifully on the finish and is surfeited with personality, yet I know full well that there are better examples out there. Tasted single-blind at the 1990 Bordeaux dinner at Medlar.
Critic scores
Average Score
Wine Spectator
Robert Parker
More reviews and scores
The 1990 Haut-Brion is exotic, flamboyant and super-expressive. Dark fruit, leather, licorice and grilled herbs are all amped up. Although the 1990 doesn't quite have the aromatic depth and intensity of the very finest years, it is nevertheless a stunning, gorgeous wine of the highest level.
Gorgeous, lifted, nervy – just right for current drinking, though I'm sure it will last beautifully too. Absolutely unmistakably Haut-Brion with warm bricks in abundance. Not heavy. Tannins well melded. Quite a contrast to the youthful Latour 1990 served alongside. (JR)
About the producer
Ch. Haut-Brion is the only classified growth in Pessac-Léognan. One of the five First Growths, it is renowned for producing both exceptional reds and whites. Along with its sister estate, Ch. la Mission Haut-Brion, it is part of the Clarence Dillon stable.