Chateau Haut-Brion, Blanc, Pessac-Leognan 2005

Intense aromas of apple, lime and mineral follow through to a full-bodied palate, with incredible power. Electrifying. It touches all of your tastes buds. Dense yet refined and elegant. This may be the best ever.

While not as concentrated or monumental as this estate’s 1989, the 2005 is a fleshy, racy, hypothetical blend of the 1994 and 1998 Haut-Brion, only better. It boasts a gorgeous perfume of citrus oil, lime, honeyed grapefruit, flowers, spicy smoke, and earth, followed by terrific definition, purity, and full-bodied power, but it is not as masculine as its closest competitor, Laville Haut-Brion. The 2005 Haut-Brion will be approachable early, but it should age well for 30-40 years.