Wine Advisor
La Tour Haut Brion 2001
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
This is rather overdone on the nose with overripe red-berried fruit, spice and a touch of nougat. It lacks some definition and refinement. Medium-bodied palate, lacking a little acidity and definition with quite a dense, solid but monotonous, imposing finish that would benefit from greater finesse. Tasted October 2007.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
This vibrant, dense ruby/purple-colored effort offers up aromas of creosote, herbs, mocha, and vanilla. Made in an elegant, medium-bodied style, it exhibits more flesh and texture as some of the vineyard's young vine Merlot is making it into the blend. This forward 2001 will be at its best in 4-5 years, and should age well for 15+. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2015.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
A deep garnet hue. The nose is quite closed at first, but eventually there emerges and captivating bouquet of blackberry, a touch of rusty nails and cooked meats (from the Cabernet Franc I presume.) The palate is full-bodied and tannic, a vigorous, bustling wine although rather aggressive on the finish. Drinking 2012-2020. Tasted January 2007.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
This vibrant, dense ruby/purple-colored effort offers up pure black fruits in an elegant, medium-bodied, understated style. It is a blend of 54% Merlot, 33% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 13% Cabernet Franc, possessing excellent definition, a sweet attack, and ripe tannin. Anticipated maturity: 2006-2014.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Dark ruby/purple-colored with a tight nose of smoke, dried herbs, asphalt, and red as well as black currants, medium body, and a firm finish, it requires 2-5 years of cellaring, and should last an additional 5-7 years.
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.
