Château Haut Brion, 1er Cru Classé, Pessac Léognan, 1983
Exotic nose of coffee and tobacco, dark and sumptuous on the palate. Medium weight on the palate and svelte in structure, with a savoury finish that lasts very well. Tannins are particularly smooth in this wine and the ensemble is balanced, focused and very stylish.
critic reviews
A somewhat controversial Haut-Brion, this wine reached full maturity at a shockingly fast pace and seems now to be giving signs of cracking up. A very earthy, melted asphalt, creosote-like nose intermixed with compost, decaying autumnal vegetation, and herb-tinged fruit is actually more appealing than it might sound. In the mouth the wine is fleshy, medium-bodied, relatively lush, but the garnet color is showing considerable amber, and the finish starts to dry out after the wine sits in the glass for just a mere five minutes. And of course, I have tasted this wine from pristinely stored bottles, so I suspect those that have been less than perfectly stored are probably already in serious decline. Anticipated maturity: Now. Drink up. Last tasted, 11/02.