Château Haut Brion, 1er Cru Classé, Pessac Léognan, 2013

The 2013 Haut Brion is uncharacteristically open and showy. Usually this is restrained and closed while La Mission is flashy at this early stage, but there is a case of role reversal in 2013. Very suave bouquet of cut flowers, crème de mûre, fine herbs and morello cherry. The palate is broad and voluptuous with globs of bitter sweet fruit liqueur compote, blood orange, crème de cassis and chalky minerals. The tannins are wonderfully textured, granite and smooth stone textured. A very smart wine. Produced from 50% Merlot, 45.5% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4.5% Cabernet Franc and for the first time in the estate's history, they have produced higher yields for the white Haut Brion than the red (just 28hl/ha).