2003 Chateau Haut-Brion 750ml

Minor label damange

Overview

A distinctive expression of the exceptionally hot 2003 Bordeaux vintage, blending 58% Merlot, 31% Cabernet Sauvignon and 11% Cabernet Franc. Château Haut-Brion 2003 combines remarkable ripeness and tannic richness with the freshness and balance that allowed the wine to transcend the extreme conditions of the year. Now fully mature, it remains structured and composed, with published drinking guidance extending to 2033.

Vintage

2003 was an extraordinary year for heat in Bordeaux. From April to September, average daily temperatures at Haut-Brion reached exceptional levels, with 49 days above 30°C. Despite these conditions, the fruit retained notable freshness alongside unusually high sugar levels and exceptionally ripe tannins.

Winemaking

Harvested grapes were placed in vats, where fermentation was conducted under precise temperature control. After approximately two weeks, once colour, tannin and aromatic extraction had reached the desired level, the wine was run off the vats.

The finest lots were selected for Château Haut-Brion and matured in French oak barrels for approximately 18 to 20 months.

Producer Tasting Notes

“The harvest had shown high sugar levels. Tannic richness is vast reaching record levels in the Merlots and above all the Cabernets. The lush tannins are also extremely ripe. They are copious, silky and smooth filling the mouth and coating the palate with delight. Strangely, the crispness of the fruit usually fades in such conditions. Nothing could be further from the truth in 2003. The wine has retained a highly discernible, smooth and ripe fruitiness, while staying very crisp.”

Critic Reviews

95 / 100 — Decanter
Tasted June 2024

95 / 100 — Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate
Tasted August 2014

95 / 100 — Jean-Marc Quarin
Tasted March 2023

94 / 100 — Christer Byklum
“Ruby. Blackberries, blueberries, spices, detailed, layered, nuanced … Fresh acidity, ripe tannins … nuanced and long.”
Tasted April 2023

Awards

2 Stars — Le Guide Hachette des Vins, awarded 2007.

Producer

Château Haut-Brion is a 1er Grand Cru Classé in Pessac-Léognan and the only First Growth from the 1855 classification located outside the Médoc. Its gravel-rich terroir and distinctive proportion of Merlot contribute to a style noted for aromatic complexity, texture and longevity.

Specifications

• Vintage: 2003
• Producer: Château Haut-Brion
• Country: France
• Region: Bordeaux
• Appellation: Pessac-Léognan
• Classification: 1er Grand Cru Classé
• Blend: 58% Merlot, 31% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Cabernet Franc
• Alcohol: 13%
• Fermentation: Temperature-controlled vat fermentation
• Maturation: 18 to 20 months in French oak barrels
• Winemaker: Jean-Bernard Delmas
• Ownership: Domaines Clarence Dillon
• Drinking Window: 2010–2033