Chateau Haut-Brion Premier Cru Classe, Pessac-Leognan 2016

The 2016 Haut-Brion has a precise, focused bouquet of blackberry, briar, pressed flowers and supremely well-integrated oak; there is real panache here. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grained tannins, pinpoint acidity and a little grittiness to the texture. Quite spicy, revealing white pepper and cedar toward a finish that just tapers in slightly, probably because this is beginning to close down. I have had better bottles in the past. Tasted blind at the Southwold tasting.

• Drinking Window: 2026 - 2080
• Reviewer Name: Neal Martin
• Review Date: August 2020