Chateau Haut Brion 1970

robert_parker85

Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.

Although surprisingly light-bodied, consistently pleasant and enjoyable, this is an undistinguished effort. The 1970 Haut-Brion has always come across as angular, and lacking the exceptional perfume and complexity this estate can achieve. In this tasting, the wine displayed vegetal, tobacco scents, good spice, some fruit, and a medium ruby color with significant amber. The tannin and acidity were too high for the amount of fruit, glycerin, and extract. Drink it up.

robert_parker92

Reviewed by: Neal Martin

First tasted in March 2002 at an Off-line. Brown rim. Brown sugar, olives and leather nose. Quite rich for 1970. Balanced and very smooth palate. Coffee & sweet red fruits. Fully mature, a highly enjoyable wine (and far cheaper than Latour.) Somewhat under-rated by others. Then again chez Alex Hunt in November 2005. Although a little musty at first, this wine grows and grows on you. A cool, blackberry leaf, cranberry nose with lots of cedar and pine is followed by a tannic, almost rustic, broad-shouldered palate with cedary, tobacco-infused fruit. Very classic in style but suited the venison perfectly.

robert_parker92

Reviewed by: Neal Martin

The 1970 Château Haut-Brion is a First Growth that has probably been over-shadowed by the Latour 1970 during its lifetime. However, this bottle proves that it is not to be underestimated; it highlights the glaring gap that exists between itself and another First Growth, the 1970 Château Margaux that I tasted alongside. There is plenty of vigor on the nose with dashing red berry fruit, cedar and black olive - just very Haut-Brion.The palate is medium-bodied, well balanced and fresh, nothing over-ambitious, just a Claret in the traditional sense of the word that gently builds towards a sous-bois dominated finish. This is an excellent showing, stout and a little austere, and you could argue an Haut-Brion with its peak in its wing-mirrors. Yet good bottles such as this will continue to offer pleasure for another decade. Tasted June 2015.