En Primeur Bordeaux 2011

Unfortunately, there are only 500-600 cases of Branon produced from a blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon grown in a vineyard situated near Malartic-Lagraviere and Haut-Bailly. Much better than its stablemate Haut-Bergey, the 2011 Branon exhibits notes of camphor, barbecue smoke, black currants and blueberries. This intensely rich effort tastes of old vines, ink and graphite. This medium to full-bodied, rich Pessac-Leognan should drink well for 15 or more years.

Score: 91 - 93 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate Maturity: 2012-2027

This has a nice sappy core, showing lots of linzer torte and kirsch notes, with fresh, mouthwatering toasted spice hints chiming in on the finish. Offers solid flesh and drive. An excellent effort.

Score: 91 - 94 James Molesworth, Wine Spectator

Lifted cassis fruit, good clarity and depth but a shows a little greenness.

Score: 15 - 16 Decanter, Decanter.com Maturity: 2015-2020

Fruity and elegant with notes of strawberry and black cherry jam intermixed with a cedary, herbaceous component as well as hints of damp earth, new oak and spice box, this is a straightforward, medium-bodied, pleasant, but unexciting Pessac-Leognan to drink over the next 10-12 years.

Score: 86 - 88 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate Maturity: 2012-2024

Rich dark crimson. Ripe and lightly floral dark fruit. Violets appear. Firmly and finely structured, lots of dry graphite flavour and texture and there's just enough fruit to hold it in balance. Refined tannins that seem a little dry now but I think it will fill out a little. (JH)

Score: 16 - 17 Jancis Robinson MW, Jancisrobinson.com Maturity: 2017-2026

A tangy mix of damson plum, loganberry and cherry pit notes, with lightly taut structure framing the finish.

Score: 87 - 90 James Molesworth, Wine Spectator

The Carbonnieux ’11 is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc picked from around 5th September. It has a pleasant, chalky bouquet with fresh blackberry, raspberry leaf, a touch of iodine and oaky notes that will be absorbed throughout its maturation. The palate is medium-bodied with tough tannins on the entry. It is masculine and rather foursquare, although I appreciate the harmony and balance towards the finish that shows fine persistency. Tasted April 2012.

Score: 88 - 90 Neal Martin, erobertparker.com

Good crushed berry fruit, lifted and fragrant and has suppleness and charm for the medium term. (16+ points)

Score: 16 Decanter, Decanter.com Maturity: 2015-2020

The second wine is also a great success, revealing much of the character of its bigger brother, although not the weight or richness. The open-knit, plush, opulent, fresh, lively 2011 La Chapelle de la Mission is ideal for drinking in its first 10-15 years of life. I can-t say enough good things about the job Jean-Philippe Delmas has done after taking over for his well-known father at La Mission-Haut-Brion and Haut-Brion. As long-time readers know, I am an addict for both of these wines.

Score: 90 - 92 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate Maturity: 2012-2027

68.7% Merlot, 11.7% Cabernet Franc, 19.6% Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep, bright glowing crimson. Fragrant cherry fruit. White pepper and a touch dusty. Generous cherry fruit and marked freshness. Tender, melted tannins. Lovely scent on the mid palate and fragrant lingering fresh finish. Great freshness and the is there fruit to balance. (JH) 13.7%

Score: 17 Jancis Robinson MW, Jancisrobinson.com Maturity: 2018-2026

Tight, with hints of mesquite and tar, showing good racy tobacco leaf and cassis notes. Tasted non-blind

Score: 90 - 93 James Molesworth, Wine Spectator

The La Chapelle de la Mission is a blend of 68.7% Merlot, 11.7% Cabernet Franc and 19.6% Cabernet Sauvignon, representing 47% of the crop. It has a light talcum nose, the Merlot expressive as one would expect given the blend, nicely defined but a little pinched. The palate is medium-bodied with angular tannins on the entry. It is a little disjointed at the moment, but there is a decent weight of earthy fruit and a terse citric finish. Fine. Tasted April 2012.

Score: 87 - 89 Neal Martin, erobertparker.com

Floral summer fruits, clarity and purity. Quite vigourous, it needs time to soften.

Score: 16 - 17 Decanter, Decanter.com Maturity: 2016-2025

The 2011 Le Clarence de Haut-Brion is more mineral-based than La Mission’s second wine, La Chapelle. The Clarence de Haut-Brion possesses a deep ruby/purple color along with copious notes of black cherries and black currants intermixed with hints of crushed rocks and wet gravel. It’s easy to tell it is from the Haut-Brion vineyard. Drink it over the next 10-15 years.

Score: 89 - 91 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate Maturity: 2012-2027

71.5% Merlot, 4.5% Cabernet Franc, 22.8% Cabernet Sauvignon, 1.2% Petit Verdot. Deep glowing crimson again. Less aromatic than La Chapelle and darker fruited. Very soft tannins but thicker in texture than La Chapelle, more chocolate textured. Gentler all round though the acidity is still very fresh. Gentle softness on the finish without falling away. Denser in the middle and richer all round, though that may be the lower acidity. (JH) 13.4%

Score: 16 - 17 Jancis Robinson MW, Jancisrobinson.com Maturity: 2020-2030

Offers the racy, taut edge of the vintage, but shows slightly better flesh than its La Chapelle counterpart. In the end, this offers a nice briary edge to its range of red and blue fruits, with a lively iron note on the finish. Tasted non-blind.

Score: 90 - 93 James Molesworth, Wine Spectator

The 2011 Le Clarence de Haut Brion is a blend of 71.5% Merlot, 4.5% Cabernet Franc 22.8% Cabernet Sauvignon and 1.2% Petit Verdot representing around 46% of the crop (11% of the crop was declassified compared to 20% in 2010.) The nose shows a little more cohesion and fruit intensity than the La Chapelle de la Mission with ripe blackberry and a touch of Hoi Sin. The palate is medium-bodied with a gentle grip on the entry, fine acidity, the tannins a little 'fatter' and 'juicier' than the tensile La Chapelle. Good length on the finish. Very fine. Tasted April 2012.

Score: 90 - 92 Neal Martin, erobertparker.com

Rich, spicy, slightly exotic nose, lovely smooth palate, rich yet restrained.

Score: 17 Decanter, Decanter.com Maturity: 2016-2028

Lovely second wine of Haut Brion with tobacco, chocolate and dark fruits. Earth too. Full body with fine tannins and pretty finish. Very balanced. Nicely done.

Score: 91 - 92 James Suckling, Jamessuckling.com

This second wine is a blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot with 2% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot cropped at 27hl/ha. There is a touch of greenness on the nose although it simply lends freshness and does not distract from the earthy black, tertiary fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with a slightly chewy, but weighty entry. This is very nicely composed, not complex, but demonstrates fine tannins and an elegant finish. This is a worthy second vin. Tasted April 2012.

Score: 89 - 91 Neal Martin, erobertparker.com

The tannins are a little austere and the fruit a little thin but it's good legs. Second wine of Pape Clement.

Score: 85 - 86 James Suckling, Jamessuckling.com