Wine Advisor
La Tour Haut Brion 1982
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
This wine appears to be on steroids. The color is a dense opaque purple. The bouquet offers up notes of chocolate, espresso beans, smoke, iron, earth, and copious quantities of black jammy fruit. Thick, intense, succulent, full-bodied, and powerful, it remains 7-8 years away from full maturity. It should last 30+ years. An amazing accomplishment, the 1982 La Tour-Haut-Brion is the last profound wine produced at this estate. Anticipated maturity: 2006-2030. A legendary effort!
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Today, the fruit from this vineyard has been incorporated into the second wine of La Mission-Haut-Brion, so I hope readers do not forget how great many vintages of La Tour-Haut-Brion were. The superb 1982 ranks alongside their great 1949, 1955, 1959, 1961, and 1975. No wine since this 1982 ever achieved this level of quality. Its inky/purple hue is followed by classic aromas of scorched earth, plums, cassis, charcoal, and truffles, powerful, full-bodied flavors, superb concentration, and a boatload of tannin. The wine is so complex aromatically, and the attack is so impressive that I can’t resist drinking it. However, it should be even better in 5-8 years, and should last for another three decades. Release price: ($150.00/case)
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
More tannic than the 1982 La Mission-Haut-Brion, this forbiddingly dark ruby/purple-colored wine's color displays little evolution. The nose offers up copious quantities of roasted earth and sweet blackcurrant aromas intermingled with scents of herbs, leather, and spices. Full-bodied, rich, and moderately tannic, La Tour-Haut-Brion does not possess the sweet, unctuous texture, extract, or intensity of La Mission. Give it another 2-4 years of cellaring. I would rate the 1978 equal to the 1982. The 1975 is the true legend among La Tour-Haut-Brions of the last 25 years. Tasted 9 times since bottling with consistent notes.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
A few days earlier, Barry Philips had told me how fabulous this wine is. Barry was spot on: this is an awesome 1982 that deserves a place amongst your First Growths (although his is far more rare!) A noticeably deep garnet hue with deep brick rim. A vigorous, cedar-scented nose with a touch of Xmas cake, blackberry leaf and a soy. Very fresh. The palate has delectable balance, tannic but with plump, rounded fruits becoming ever more present with aeration. Very focused, graceful and svelte with a firm, quite tannic finish. This probably could do with more time. Very classic in style. Drink it if you find it. Drink now-2030. Tasted January 2007.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Tasted at Chez Bruce in London. The 1982 La Tour Haut-Brion, which I have tasted numerous times, has long been one of the lesser-known gems of the vintage. This bottle was, incidentally, served blind against the 1982 La Mission Haut Brion. The first thing that I noticed was the sheer harmony expressed by the aromatics. There remain those enticing scents of black olive and a brine-like—perhaps seaweed (kelp)—aroma that infuse that black fruit. With time, perhaps this particular bottle showed more floral aromas and a touch of bay leaf. The palate is fresh on the entry—though still more introspective than La Mission—and embroidered with fine tannin and a firm, gravelly, tobacco-infused finish that gently grips the mouth. You can still feel this long after the wine has departed. It is simply a great Graves that, at 34-years of age, shows no signs of slowing down. Tasted June 2016.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Many of the wines that should be considered for inclusion in a list of the century's greatest red Bordeaux come from the tiny property of Latour-Haut-Brion which for some time has been the second wine of La Mission-Haut-Brion. Anyone who has tasted the 1982, 1975, 1961, 1959, 1955, 1949, and the inconsistent but potentially superb 1947 recognizes that this wine, now largely forgotten by the Bordeaux cognoscenti, has produced some extraordinarily rich, beefy, full-bodied, powerhouse wines that have admirably stood the test of time. Moreover, since Latour-Haut-Brion has always been eclipsed by the justifiable prestige accorded to its neighbors, La Mission-Haut-Brion and Haut-Brion, it can be purchased for a reasonable price at auction.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Tasted at Pebbles/Zachy’s 1982 dinner in Hong Kong. Not to be outdone by its “bigger brother” – overlook this brilliant Graves at your peril. To be honest, the nose bears more similarities to La Mission ’82 that it did several years ago. There is real power and minerality to be enjoyed here, hints of brine and black olive developing with continued aeration and all the time offering startling clarity. The palate is slightly broodier than the La Mission (perhaps due to greater vin de presse as was supposed to be the modus operandi back in those days.) It has a depth and solidity that lends this a profound, saturnine personality, almost opaque. There is wonderful backbone on the finish and hints of balsamic on the long aftertaste. Tasted November 2012.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
This forbiddingly dark ruby/purple-colored wine's color displays little evolution. The nose offers up copious quantities of roasted earth and sweet black currant aromas intermingled with scents of herbs, leather, and spices. This full-bodied, rich, and moderately tannic La Tour-Haut-Brion does not possess the sweet, unctuous texture, extract, or intensity of La Mission. Give it another 2-4 years of cellaring. Last tasted 9/95
About the Producer
La Tour Haut Brion was a separate château, under the same ownership as Châteaux Haut Brion and La Mission Haut Brion. Until 1983 Ch. la Tour Haut-Brion was the second wine of La Mission Haut-Brion, but after the take-over of La Mission and La Tour by the Domaine Clarence Dillon, La Tour gained its own identity. The last vintage of this wine in its own right was 2005, it has since been incorporated into the production of La Mission. The vineyards are planted with 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Cabernet Franc, 23% Merlot, a similar mix to Haut Brion itself.
