Haut Brion 奧比昂／候伯王 2008 (OWC)

Description

By Decanter in 2017 (JA97)
For me, Haut-Brion stands a few notches above La Mission in this vintage. It’s a wine which is almost impossible to spit forwards rather than backwards! The entire palate climbs upwards, with a mineral kick and slatey walls. This is the most complex wine that I have tasted so far, showing layers of cassis, rosemary and freshly picked mint – utterly gorgeous, and another wine of the vintage contender. Drinking Window 2020- 2038

By Robert Parker in 2011 (RP96)
This is profound! 2008 Haut-Brion: The extraordinary 2008 Haut-Brion is a candidate for wine of the vintage. Composed of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 41% Merlot and 9% Cabernet Franc, it reveals more evolution and complexity in its large-scaled perfume. The dense purple color is followed by a sweet nose of creosote, asphalt, blueberries, black currants and jammy raspberries, sweet tannins, a savory, fleshy mouthfeel and a stunning finish. This incredibly pure, noble wine was produced from one of the estate’s smallest crops. It should drink well for three decades or more.

By Wine Enthusiast in 2011 (WE96)
Dark, dusty, hugely structured, Haut-Brion is a complex, serious wine with grandeur. The wine has considerable weight, its tannins striated through the black plum and damson skin fruits. For long-term aging.

By Neal Martin of Vinous in 2018 (NM95+)
The 2008 Haut Brion has a very perfumed and floral bouquet: ebullient raspberry coulis and crushed strawberry fruit, sage and a hint of black olive. It just builds momentum in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin. It feels a little grainy in texture, centered upon gravelly black fruit laced with black olive and smoke. It felt more austere than I expected, the finish reserved and somehow “contained” and yet the aftertaste is extraordinarily long. Avoid opening bottles for now because this was always one of the standout wines of the vintage, but at 10 years old it might be going through a dumb phase.