Chateau Haut-Brion 2025

The 2025 Château Haut-Brion stands among the great successes of the Bordeaux vintage, offering an exceptionally profound and precise expression of its unique Pessac-Léognan terroir. Despite the warm and dry growing season, the wine retains remarkable freshness, combining power, mineral depth and aristocratic elegance with impressive harmony.

The unusually Merlot-dominant blend of 62% Merlot, 26.2% Cabernet Sauvignon and 11.8% Cabernet Franc gives the wine richness and suppleness while preserving the classical structure and distinctive character of Haut-Brion. The wine is matured with 59% new oak and has an alcohol level of approximately 13.05%. The result is a concentrated yet beautifully proportioned First Growth with exceptional balance and tremendous ageing potential.

The nose reveals a complex bouquet of dark forest berries, cassis and ripe red fruits, complemented by floral nuances, graphite, crushed stone and fine spices. Hints of liquorice, pencil shavings, potpourri and subtle smoky notes add further depth, evoking the unmistakable aromatic signature for which Haut-Brion is renowned.

On the palate, the wine is medium- to full-bodied, dense and layered, yet defined by extraordinary precision. Very fine, beautifully integrated tannins frame a concentrated core of fruit, while vibrant freshness and pronounced minerality provide tension and energy. Despite its impressive power, the wine never feels heavy. The finish is exceptionally long, mineral and aromatic, displaying remarkable persistence and the effortless elegance that defines great Haut-Brion.

Wine Advocate: 98–100/100
A profound and initially reserved Haut-Brion displaying dark forest berries, spices, pencil notes and liquorice. Medium- to full-bodied, dense and layered, with a complex core of fruit and structured, beautifully integrated tannins. Controlled power and a long, perfumed finish underline its extraordinary potential.

Neal Martin, Vinous: 98–100/100
An exceptionally pure and elegant Haut-Brion with vibrant red fruit, crushed stone, potpourri and subtle Earl Grey nuances. Very fine tannins, impressive depth and pronounced minerality lead into a fresh, persistent finish with a distinctive maritime character.

James Suckling: 98–99/100
A Haut-Brion of impressive structure, length and intensity. Powerful and profound yet polished and agile, with tremendous concentration and a juicy, seemingly endless finish.

Jeb Dunnuck: 97–100/100
One of the highly rated wines of the vintage, displaying the depth, structure and tremendous potential expected from this legendary First Growth.

Decanter: 98/100
An outstanding Haut-Brion with impressive precision, concentration and balance, beautifully expressing the estate’s characteristic combination of power, finesse and mineral depth.

Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux: 97/100
Powerful and structured, with cassis, pomegranate and cocoa bean alongside complex spice notes. A profound and age-worthy Haut-Brion with impressive structure and considerable long-term potential.

*En Primeur: Delivery in fall 2028*