| Region | |
|---|---|
| Subregion | France > Bordeaux > Left Bank > Pessac-Léognan |
| Colour | Red |
| Type | Still |
The 1959 Haut-Brion is deep in color. It is blessed with a truly fabulous nose of mulberry, desiccated orange peel, star anis and here, a faint touch of hickory. It is ebullient and decadent, much more than the 1961 for example. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins and lower acidity than other coeval vintages. Stylistically, this particular bottle entertains a bit of Côte-Rôtie in the mix. Sage and clove enhance the precocious black fruit towards the potent yet ineffably harmonious finish. This is a fabulous Haut-Brion that might just be in the final stages of its drinking plateau. Superb. Tasted at a private dinner in Beaune.
Very dark – darker than the 1961 – with the colour still right out to the rim. More concentrated and even sweeter than the 1961, with which it is inevitably compared. Very powerful and dense. Luscious, long and tense. Sweet, very rich, rather medicinal. Wonderful stuff.Drink 1975-2020
The 1959 Haut-Brion can be a variable wine, flirting with perfection on one day and performing below its best another. This was certainly a great bottle. Comparing directly against the 1961 Haut-Brion, this feels more open and floral in nature. Whereas black fruit underpins that vintage, the 1959 is a mixture of red and black: raspberry coulis, black olive, wild strawberry, and hints of Provençal herbs that I discerned on previous bottles. At the epicenter lies a core of sweet, almost candied blue fruit, crème de cassis infused with blood oranges that dovetail into a satin-like, quasi-Musigny finish that keeps you coming back for more. Whilst it does not possess the majestic persona of the 1961, it remains a formidable wine. Tasted at the International Business & Wine First Growth Dinner at the Four Seasons. 2018 - 2035
