Chateau Haut-Brisson (1.5 Liter Magnum) 2016
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James
Suckling -
Robert
Parker -
Jeb
Dunnuck
Product Details
Winemaker Notes
Blend: 90% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
This has great clarity of ripe red plums and mulberries, as well as attractive, floral nuances, leading to a very focused feel on the palate that offers a succulent and fluid array of ripe red fruit that holds fresh and even. Ever so fine tannins. Try from 2022.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Blended of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, the deep garnet-purple colored 2016 Haut-Brisson is quite oaky on the nose with underlying plum preserves, baked cherries and dried mulberries plus wafts of bay leaves, damp soil and cigars. Medium to full-bodied, it has firm, rounded tannins, seamless freshness and plenty of muscular fruit going long in the finish. 5,000 cases produced.
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2016 Château Haut Brisson was outstanding on both occasions I was able to taste it. A blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc brought up in 35% new oak, this medium to full-bodied, plump, sexy Saint-Emilion offers loads of spiced black fruits, truffle, tobacco, and incense. It has rock solid ripeness, a rounded texture, and delivers pleasure. Drink it any time over the coming 15-20 years.
Other Vintages
2022-
James
Suckling -
Jeb
Dunnuck -
Robert
Parker - Decanter
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James
Suckling -
Robert
Parker -
Jeb
Dunnuck
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James
Suckling - Vinous
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Jeb
Dunnuck -
Robert
Parker - Decanter
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Jeb
Dunnuck -
James
Suckling - Decanter
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Robert
Parker
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James
Suckling -
Jeb
Dunnuck -
Robert
Parker -
Wine
Spectator - Decanter
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James
Suckling -
Jeb
Dunnuck -
Robert
Parker
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James
Suckling -
Wine
Enthusiast -
Jeb
Dunnuck -
Robert
Parker
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James
Suckling -
Robert
Parker
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Robert
Parker -
James
Suckling
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James
Suckling
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Robert
Parker
With generous fruit and supple tannins, Merlot is made in a range of styles from everyday-drinking to world-renowned and age-worthy. Merlot is the dominant variety in the wines from Bordeaux’s Right Bank regions of St. Emilion and Pomerol, where it is often blended with Cabernet Franc to spectacular result. Merlot also frequently shines on its own, particularly in California’s Napa Valley. Somm Secret—As much as Miles derided the variety in the 2004 film, Sideways, his prized 1961 Château Cheval Blanc is actually a blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc.
Marked by its historic fortified village—perhaps the prettiest in all of Bordeaux, the St-Émilion appellation, along with its neighboring village of Pomerol, are leaders in quality on the Right Bank of Bordeaux. These Merlot-dominant red wines (complemented by various amounts of Cabernet Franc and/or Cabernet Sauvignon) remain some of the most admired and collected wines of the world.
St-Émilion has the longest history in wine production in Bordeaux—longer than the Left Bank—dating back to an 8th century monk named Saint Émilion who became a hermit in one of the many limestone caves scattered throughout the area.
Today St-Émilion is made up of hundreds of independent farmers dedicated to the same thing: growing Merlot and Cabernet Franc (and tiny amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon). While always roughly the same blend, the wines of St-Émilion vary considerably depending on the soil upon which they are grown—and the soils do vary considerably throughout the region.
The chateaux with the highest classification (Premier Grand Cru Classés) are on gravel-rich soils or steep, clay-limestone hillsides. There are only four given the highest rank, called Premier Grand Cru Classés A (Chateau Cheval Blanc, Ausone, Angélus, Pavie) and 14 are Premier Grand Cru Classés B. Much of the rest of the vineyards in the appellation are on flatter land where the soils are a mix of gravel, sand and alluvial matter.
Great wines from St-Émilion will be deep in color, and might have characteristics of blackberry liqueur, black raspberry, licorice, chocolate, grilled meat, earth or truffles. They will be bold, layered and lush.