1996 Haut Brion Blanc
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In a vintage that produced a lot of high acid, emaciated dry whites, Haut-Brion's 1996 is the wine of the vintage. It displays exceptional concentration, tangy acidity, and gorgeously layered flavors of buttery citrus-like fruit, olives, and smoke. This medium-bodied, concentrated wine is quite backward. It will need a considerable amount of bottle age to shed some of its structure. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2025. Last tasted 11/97
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Robert Parker
Robert Parker
More reviews and scores
In a vintage that produced a lot of high acid, emaciated dry whites, Haut-Brion's 1996 is the wine of the vintage. It displays exceptional concentration, tangy acidity, and gorgeously layered flavors of buttery citrus-like fruit, olives, and smoke. This medium-bodied, concentrated wine is quite backward. It will need a considerable amount of bottle age to shed some of its structure. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2025. Last tasted 11/97
In a vintage that produced a lot of high acid, emaciated dry whites, Haut-Brion's 1996 is the wine of the vintage. It displays exceptional concentration, tangy acidity, and gorgeously layered flavors of buttery citrus-like fruit, olives, and smoke. This medium-bodied, concentrated wine is quite backward. It will need a considerable amount of bottle age to shed some of its structure. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2025. Last tasted 11/97 Jan 1998, www.robertparker.com
Smoky, leesy, coconut-scented nose, with hints of tropical fruits (apricot, papaya). Superripe, fat and sweet; conveys an impression of higher alcohol than the '97. Has plenty of acidity (part of this wine was allowed to complete its malolactic fermentation due to the high acidity of the vintage), but the acids are thoroughly buffered by the wine velvety texture. Really caresses the palate. Very long on the finish. Delmas describes the '96 Laville as very semillon, and this wine as very chardonnay.
About the producer
Ch. Haut-Brion is the only classified growth in Pessac-Léognan. One of the five First Growths, it is renowned for producing both exceptional reds and whites. Along with its sister estate, Ch. la Mission Haut-Brion, it is part of the Clarence Dillon stable.