South African & International Fine Wine
Live Auction, 14 September 2019
Session One
About this Item
Château Haut-Brion is the only First Growth situated in the Pessac-Léognan appellation, and its unique terroir has produced prized wines for close to 600 years. After a visit on May 25, 1787, Thomas Jefferson wrote in his diary; “The soil of Haut-Brion, which I examined in great detail, is made up of sand, in which there is near as much round gravel or small stones and very little loam like the soils of the Médoc.”. Typical of the Left Bank of Bordeaux, the 50-hectare property is planted to all the allowed red and white grape varieties, with the Haut-Brion Blanc often demanding higher prices than that of the red.
The 1989 Haut-Brion is widely regarded as one of the greatest Bordeaux wines ever produced.
Provenance
Private Client
Critics Ratings
The 1989 Haut-Brion commenced one of the most spectacular dinners that I ever attended, this representing one of the best bottles of a dozen tasted over the years. Deep in color with thin bricking on the rim, the haunting bouquet has heart-rending delineation – as profound as it has ever been. Scents of black olives intermingle with graphite, clove and cherry liqueur, underneath subtle gravel scents becoming more vocal with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied and maybe not as powerful as it was a few years ago. Yet it is ineffably complex with layers of pure dark berry fruit, black olive, cloves and crushed violets. This particular example was one of the most youthful that I have encountered. The finish is so effortless and yet it changes constantly in the glass, revealing new facets, some attendees noticing a touch of greenness after 30 minutes although I could not detect that myself. It is an awe-inspiring Haut-Brion that is only just beginning to demonstrate the ethereal heights it can achieve. – Neal Martin Vinous.com 100/100 (2018)
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