Château Haut-Brion - Pessac-Léognan (Premier Grand Cru Classé) 2017 (750ml) Wachau

Château Haut-Brion - Pessac-Léognan (Premier Grand Cru Classé) 2017 (750ml) WachauCritical Acclaim 98 points James Suckling This is extremely aromatic and perfumed with crushed berry, flower, currant and orange peel character. Full bodied, very tight and focused with fabulous depth and density that brings you down through the wine. Deep and serious. Very classic wine that reminds me of top Haut Brions of the mid 1980s. (01 2020) 98 points Wine Enthusiast This will be a magnificent wine. Its structure, acidity and richness all show

There is structure of course from the firm tannins that stay in the background

This is a full-bodied wine with juicy layers of dark fruit

but Sauvignon Blanc

dried rose petals and toasty oak lingering on its velvety long finish

44% cabernet sauvignon

Lemon and cardamom too

Vinification made by grape variety following manual and mechanical harvesting

I sense a bit of post-bottling awkwardness here

Alsace Grand Cru wines are known for their quality and the unique expression of their grape varieties

licorice and black truffle undertones

and framed with hints of mineral/herbal characters

After a 7 day “cold soak” to extract maximum fruit character