The 2020 Château Haut-Brion is a stunning wine, with a blend of 42.8% Merlot, 39.7% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 17.5% Cabernet Franc. It presents an expressive nose of blackberries, raspberries, licorice, tobacco, and mocha, along with hints of pencil shavings and cigar wrapper. On the palate, it is full-bodied, rich, and layered, with a finely textured structure and sweet, powdery tannins. Despite its high alcohol content, the wine has a classic balance and a more structured profile compared to the 2019 vintage. Rated 99 points by Wine Advocate and 98 points by James Suckling, this vintage is elegant, complex, and will continue to evolve beautifully, rewarding cellaring until at least 2028.

The Wine Advocate | RP 99
Published: Apr 06, 2023
Drink: 2030-2065

The 2020 Haut-Brion is more aromatically demonstrative than La Mission Haut-Brion, bursting with aromas of blackberries and raspberries mingled with licorice, cigar wrapper, pencil shavings and nicely integrated new oak. Full-bodied, ample and fleshy, it's rich and layered, with an enveloping core of fruit that's girdled by plenty of sweet, powdery tannin. Despite checking in at a similarly lofty alcoholic degree to the 2019, its more granular tannic profile tempers the vintage's sweetness of fruit and lends the wine a more classically proportioned, and more classically structured, profile.

JamesSuckling.com | JS 98
Published: May 14, 2023

Aromas of blackberry, licorice, tile, stone and mocha. Tobacco and cigar, too. They follow through to a full body with ultra-fine tannins that go on and on. Sophisticated ripe fruit in the center palate with a brightness. Tangerines in the finish. Very supple and savory at the end, in a classy way. Reminds me of the 1998. Already so attractive, but it will reward you much more after 2028.

Decanter | D 98
Published: Jun 28, 2023
Drink: 2027-2050

Another stellar vintage for this always elegant first growth. Despite a stormy spring and May hailstorm, September harvest conditions were ideal. What stands out for me is the elegance, intense purity and a juicy, vibrant freshness that seems to be the hallmark of the vintage. It's generous, velvety and wonderfully complex, with aromas of tobacco, black truffle, and rich red and black fruit flavours.

Jancisrobinson.com | JR 18.5
Published: Apr 18, 2021
Drink: 2028-2052

Full, distinctive, embossed bottle 1,305 g. Cask sample taken 12 April. 42.8% Merlot, 39.7% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17.5% Cabernet Franc. Estimated alcohol 15%. Picked from 7 to 29 September.
More obviously aromatic and lifted than the second wine, Le Clarence de Haut-Brion. Intensely seductive nose in fact. Very savoury, tobacco-leaf palate entry and then quite a tingle. Acidity is a feature of the finish. Very muscular indeed but clearly with more flesh and less obvious tannin than La Mission 2020. Almost juicy. Too early for much of the 'warm bricks' nose to have developed, I assume. Long and emphatic with a little more zest than Haut-Brion often has at this early stage.

Haut-brion.com

Elegant and complex, the red wine of Château Haut-Brion is very mineral and of a rare complexity, it is distinguished by an astonishing length, this aromatic persistence being the privilege of very great origins.

Tasting note
The color of this Château Haut-Brion is a deep, vibrant red. The nose, without agitation, is already complex with fresh and spicy notes.
The agitation confirms a just-right, yet not excessive, fruit ripeness. 
The entry in the mouth is incredibly tight and precise.
The wine immediately tells you: "I am here." The evolution in the mouth is never aggressive, but what a presence! The tactile sensations are complemented by the
taste and flavors. The tannins are full, refined, and juicy. Very beautiful persistence.
The score written by the three grape varieties, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and 
Cabernet Sauvignon, is incredibly accurate and harmonious.