1985 Château Haut-Brion Pessac-Léognan Bordeaux France Wine Tasting Note

69770 Views

1985
96
Just gorgeous from start to finish. The wine, with its core of smoke, tobacco leaf, tar, leafy herbs, cedar and spicy red fruits is elegant, balanced, fresh and probably at its peak. Drink this gem over the following 12-15 years.

Just gorgeous from start to finish. The wine, with its core of smoke, tobacco leaf, tar, leafy herbs, cedar and spicy red fruits is elegant, balanced, fresh and probably at its peak. Drink this gem over the following 12-15 years.

3,965 Views   Tasted
Fully mature, this elegant, refined, medium-bodied wine is gorgeous to drink. incredibly silky on the palate, the nose and palate deliver Cuban cigar wrapper, smoke, ash, spice, herbs, forest leaf and pure red fruits. The finish sings its aria for ages. If you have been waiting to pull a cork, wait no longer.

Fully mature, this elegant, refined, medium-bodied wine is gorgeous to drink. incredibly silky on the palate, the nose and palate deliver Cuban cigar wrapper, smoke, ash, spice, herbs, forest leaf and pure red fruits. The finish sings its aria for ages. If you have been waiting to pull a cork, wait no longer.

5,439 Views   Tasted
What a beauty! This is probably drinking at close to perfection. This is all about the blend of ripe, sweet, cassis and red fruits with smokey, tobacco and cigar wrappers. Elegant, easy to drink, fresh and with silky fruits and tobacco in the endnote.

What a beauty! This is probably drinking at close to perfection. This is all about the blend of ripe, sweet, cassis and red fruits with smokey, tobacco and cigar wrappers. Elegant, easy to drink, fresh and with silky fruits and tobacco in the endnote.

4,195 Views   Tasted
There is no better vintage of mature, Haut Brion in the marketplace that competes with the 1985. And for good reason. The fruit is ripe, smoky, earthy and rich. The tannins are soft, elegant and refined. There is a touch of peppery, greenery in the finish, but who cares? All the cedar, cigar wrapper, dark red fruits and plush textures are what you are going to pay attention to. Popped and poured, this was great from the get go!

There is no better vintage of mature, Haut Brion in the marketplace that competes with the 1985. And for good reason. The fruit is ripe, smoky, earthy and rich. The tannins are soft, elegant and refined. There is a touch of peppery, greenery in the finish, but who cares? All the cedar, cigar wrapper, dark red fruits and plush textures are what you are going to pay attention to. Popped and poured, this was great from the get go!

4,281 Views   Tasted
Light up a nice Cuban Cigar, some it outside near a forest, giving you all these great, leafy, smoky, earthy scents and make sure you have a basket of fresh berries to make the bouquet complete. Polish the tannins to a silky texture and spend time with the wine, so you get feel each lingering sensation. This is ready now, and it could be even better with another 3-5 or more years of aging.

Light up a nice Cuban Cigar, some it outside near a forest, giving you all these great, leafy, smoky, earthy scents and make sure you have a basket of fresh berries to make the bouquet complete. Polish the tannins to a silky texture and spend time with the wine, so you get feel each lingering sensation. This is ready now, and it could be even better with another 3-5 or more years of aging.

4,236 Views   Tasted
From a perfect bottle, this could be the wine of the vintage. Soft, silky, smooth, fresh, sweet, ripe, complex and delicious, the tannins caress your palate, the fruit lingers and the smoky, tobacco drenched character of Haut Brion really shines through. At 30 years of age, this wine is drinking perfectly. And frankly, for an Haut Brion of this quality, it sells for a song in the auction marketplace today.

From a perfect bottle, this could be the wine of the vintage. Soft, silky, smooth, fresh, sweet, ripe, complex and delicious, the tannins caress your palate, the fruit lingers and the smoky, tobacco drenched character of Haut Brion really shines through. At 30 years of age, this wine is drinking perfectly. And frankly, for an Haut Brion of this quality, it sells for a song in the auction marketplace today.

4,807 Views   Tasted
If you are looking for power and concentration, you came to the wrong place. If silky, refined, elegant textures, a nose of smoke, tobacco, dark cherry, wet earth, cigar box and spice, and a character that can be best defined as regal is what you are after, you're going to love this wine. Decanted about an hour, this was singing! It is hard to find a better Bordeaux from 1985.

If you are looking for power and concentration, you came to the wrong place. If silky, refined, elegant textures, a nose of smoke, tobacco, dark cherry, wet earth, cigar box and spice, and a character that can be best defined as regal is what you are after, you're going to love this wine. Decanted about an hour, this was singing! It is hard to find a better Bordeaux from 1985.

5,380 Views   Tasted
Crème de cassis, cedar wood, tobacco, smoke, forest floor and truffle are found with little effort. This is probably close to fully mature. Drink it over the next 10 years to get the most from this soft textured, elegant, smoky, blackberry, earth and cassis filled wine.

Crème de cassis, cedar wood, tobacco, smoke, forest floor and truffle are found with little effort. This is probably close to fully mature. Drink it over the next 10 years to get the most from this soft textured, elegant, smoky, blackberry, earth and cassis filled wine.

6,939 Views   Tasted
1985 Haut Brion opens with a complex bouquet of floral, smoke,cassis, truffle, earth, tar and mineral aromas. With soft, elegant, supple textures and a long, ripe,round, sweet finish that's filled with chocolate, blackberry and dark cherries, this wonderful Bordeaux wine is drinking perfectly today. It's probably the top vintage of any First Growth in the market today for the money. 95 Pts

1985 Haut Brion opens with a complex bouquet of floral, smoke,cassis, truffle, earth, tar and mineral aromas. With soft, elegant, supple textures and a long, ripe,round, sweet finish that's filled with chocolate, blackberry and dark cherries, this wonderful Bordeaux wine is drinking perfectly today. It's probably the top vintage of any First Growth in the market today for the money. 95 Pts

9,060 Views   Tasted
1985 Haut Brion gets better each time I taste it. It is in competition for the wine of the vintage. Smoke, ash, leather, tar, tobacco, forest, BBQ and hot brick aromatics are all over the place. In the mouth, the wine offers soft, elegant, juicy, plums with round, plush textures. The wine ends with layers of silky, dark chocolate, black cherry and spice flavors. 96 Pts

1985 Haut Brion gets better each time I taste it. It is in competition for the wine of the vintage. Smoke, ash, leather, tar, tobacco, forest, BBQ and hot brick aromatics are all over the place. In the mouth, the wine offers soft, elegant, juicy, plums with round, plush textures. The wine ends with layers of silky, dark chocolate, black cherry and spice flavors. 96 Pts

9,156 Views   Tasted
1985 Haut Brion is drinking perfectly today. Great nose, concentration of flavors and balance. This is not the best Haut Brion produced in the 80's. 82 and 89 are much better wines. But who cares? With its elegant, suave, round, opulent It's drinking at the perfect place today. This is what great Claret is all about. 94 Pts

1985 Haut Brion is drinking perfectly today. Great nose, concentration of flavors and balance. This is not the best Haut Brion produced in the 80's. 82 and 89 are much better wines. But who cares? With its elegant, suave, round, opulent It's drinking at the perfect place today. This is what great Claret is all about. 94 Pts

4,156 Views   Tasted
Smoky, cassis, earth and tobacco notes start off the perfume. This elegant,complex, suave and very sophisticated wine is drinking perfectly today. This is truly a pleasure a drink. The finsh is close to 40 seconds. My father is not a wine buff, but I get immense pleasure sharing special wines with him.

Smoky, cassis, earth and tobacco notes start off the perfume. This elegant,complex, suave and very sophisticated wine is drinking perfectly today. This is truly a pleasure a drink. The finsh is close to 40 seconds. My father is not a wine buff, but I get immense pleasure sharing special wines with him.

4,064 Views   Tasted
This mature Haut Brion offers a cornucopia of aromas. Smoke, earth, iron, spices and mushrooms jump out of the glass. The palate is bathed in a complex array of ripe, mature black fruits. This is a beautiful example of Haut Brion and the value of aging wines

This mature Haut Brion offers a cornucopia of aromas. Smoke, earth, iron, spices and mushrooms jump out of the glass. The palate is bathed in a complex array of ripe, mature black fruits. This is a beautiful example of Haut Brion and the value of aging wines

4,092 Views   Tasted

When to Drink Chateau Haut Brion, Anticipated Maturity, Decanting Time

Chateau Haut Brion needs several years, and in the best vintages up to 2 decades time before the wine displays its true character. Haut Brion needs at least 12-20 years of aging, or longer, in good vintages until it is ready to be enjoyed. Young vintages can be decanted for 2-4 hours or more.

This allows the wine to soften and open its perfume. Older vintages might need very little decanting, just enough to remove the sediment. Chateau Haut Brion offers its best drinking and should reach peak maturity between 15-50 years of age after the vintage.

Serving Chateau Haut Brion with Wine, Food, Pairing Tips

Chateau Haut Brion is best served at 15.5 degrees Celsius, 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The cool, almost cellar temperature gives the wine more freshness and lift.

Chateau Haut Brion is best served with all types of classic meat dishes, veal, pork, beef, lamb, duck, game, roast chicken, roasted, braised, and grilled dishes. Chateau Haut Brion is also good with Asian dishes, hearty fish courses like tuna, salmon, mushrooms, and pasta.

The white wine of Chateau Haut Brion is best served with a myriad of different seafood dishes, shellfish, crab, lobster, sushi, sashimi, chicken, pork and veal, as well as Asian cuisine.

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