Chateau Haut Brion 1990

robert_parker94

Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.

The 1990 is an outstanding effort. While it does not have the sheer weight or awesome richness of the 1989, it is filled with wonderfully sweet, roasted, spicy fruit, as well as enticing fatness and glycerin, all packaged in a medium to full-bodied format. The superb, fragrant bouquet of cassis, tobacco, new oak, and minerals already reveals great complexity. Despite the fact that the wine does not make as powerful an impact on the palate as the 1989, it is an exceptionally fine, archetypical Haut-Brion. More forward than the 1988, it most closely resembles a hypothetical blend of the 1985 and 1983. I have noticed that it improves and expands considerably with 60-70 minutes of airing. Anticipated maturity: 1996-2010. Last tasted, 5/93.

robert_parker95

Reviewed by: Neal Martin

Served blind by Philippe Schofield at Chez Bruce, it is probably a pity that it had to follow the behemoths that are Haut-Brion and La Mission ’89. It patently had a light, leafier bouquet compared to the ’89 with a surprising level of rusticity, but finely tuned with an attractive ferrous accent. The palate is medium-bodied with fine acidity, fleshy in texture and lacking a little power. I wonder whether the low proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon (31%) is beginning to tell? Still a lovely wine though. Drink now-2025. Tasted July 2010.

robert_parker0

Reviewed by: Neal Martin

Tasted at Bordeaux Index lunch. This is not one of the best bottles of Haut Brion 1990 that I have encountered, since here the brettanomyces is more acute and rather subdues the fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with impressive concentration and weight in the mouth, saline notes emerging with time amongst the brambly black fruit and the earthy rounded finish that has softened over the years. This is a great wine, but not the best bottle.

robert_parker98

Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.

1990: In terms of the brilliant complexity and nobility of the aromatics, scorched earth, black currants, plums, charcoal, cedar, and spices, the 1990 offers an aromatic explosion that is unparalleled. It is always fascinating to taste this wine next to the 1989, which is a monumental effort, but much more backward and denser, without the aromatic complexity of the 1990. The 1990 put on weight after bottling, and is currently rich, full-bodied, opulent, even flamboyant by Haut Brion’s standards. It is an incredible expression of a noble terroir in a top vintage. While it has been fully mature for a number of years, it does not reveal any bricking at the edge, and I suspect it will stay at this level for another 10-15 years ... but why wait? It is irresistible now. Release price: ($1200.00/case)

robert_parker94

Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.

The 1990 is an outstanding effort. While it does not have the heavy weight or awesome richness of the 1989, it is filled with wonderfully sweet, roasted, spicy fruit, as well as enticing fatness and glycerin, all packaged in a medium to full-bodied format. The superb, fragrant bouquet of cassis, tobacco, new oak, and minerals is already revealing great complexity. Despite the fact that the wine does not make as powerful an impact on the palate as the 1989, it is still an exceptionally fine, archetypical Haut-Brion. More forward than the 1988, it most closely resembles a hypothetical blend of the 1985 and 1983. I have noticed that it improves and expands considerably with 60-70 minutes of airing. Anticipated maturity: 1996-2010.

robert_parker99

Reviewed by: Neal Martin

First tasted May 2000: Beautiful cedary, redcurrant nose. Gentle and supple in the mouth. More classy the La Mission. Floral with notes of cinnamon and pain grille. Very complex and long. A superb Haut-Brion for drinking over the next 20 years. Tasted again at the vertical in London in April 2004. A moderate dark brick/garnet core. A captivating nose so typical of 1990 and Haut Brion: tobacco, singed leather and black olives. Open and inviting. The palate is very supple, expressive with notes of tobacco, herbs and pain grille. A touch of brett serves to lift this wine further. Just a wonderful wine that out-performed the 1989! Drink now but can keep. One of the real over-performers at this Farr 89 versus 90 tasting in September 2004. Surprisingly muted on the nose. Needs time. But the palate is divine. More linear than others but imbued with exquisite balance. Seamless tannins, not a turbo-charged wine but showing the same refinement as the 1989. Liquorice, black olives and earth on the finish. Only 31% Cabernet? You would never know it. A complete wine.

robert_parker96

Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.

Haut-Brion has been the most consistent first-growth over the last decade, producing top-notch wines, even in such tough years as 1987, 1993, and 1994. I have had a tendency to forget just how exceptional the 1990 Haut-Brion is because of the huge shadow cast by the 1989. However, in this blind tasting, the 1990 proved itself to be a great wine. Its price has not risen nearly as much as one might expect given its quality. The 1990 is a decadently ripe wine with much more evolution to its fragrant cassis, mineral, smoked-herb, hot rocks, tobacco, sweet, toasty nose. Fat, rich, and medium to full-bodied, this superbly-concentrated, forward, awesomely-endowed wine requires 4-6 years of cellaring; it is capable of lasting for 20-25+ years. It is an unheralded, underrated 1990 that deserves more attention.

robert_parker98

Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.

A profound Haut-Brion and one of the great Haut-Brions of the last 25 years, this wine got somewhat lost in the enormous shadow cast by the immortal 1989. It continues to go from strength to strength, and is actually more evolved than the 1989, but is showing the classic Haut-Brion scorched earth, fragrant smoked herbs, tobacco, sweet currant, fig, and black currant nose. A very opulent/voluptuously textured wine with full body, great concentration, superb purity, low acidity, and very sweet, seamlessly integrated tannin, the wine is already showing great complexity and accessibility, and is extremely difficult to resist. Anticipated maturity: Now-2020. Last tasted, 1/03.

robert_parker92

Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.

After the stunning 1989, there seems to be, understandably, less enthusiasm for Haut-Brion's 1990. Yet this is another outstanding effort. While it does not have the weight or richness of the 1989, it is filled with wonderfully sweet, roasted, spicy fruit, as well as enticing fatness and glycerin, all packaged in a medium to full-bodied format. Despite the fact that the wine does not make as powerful an impact on the palate as the 1989 does, it is still an exceptionally fine, archetypical Haut-Brion. More forward than the 1988, it most closely resembles a hypothetical blend of the 1985 and 1983. Anticipated maturity: 1996-2010.