Haut Brion 1990

Pessac-Leognan, First Growth

Units	Size	Case size	GBP Price:	Quantities	Buy
12	75cl Bottle	Case 12	£9,600 per Case	Case	[Add to shopping basket]

Tasting Notes
The 1990 Haut-Brion is exotic, flamboyant and super-expressive. Dark fruit, leather, licorice and grilled herbs are all amped up. Although the 1990 doesn’t quite have the aromatic depth and intensity of the very finest years, it is nevertheless a stunning, gorgeous wine of the highest level. Score: 96 Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com Maturity: 2019-2039 01 February 2020
Light crimson. Minerally nose. Very classic Haut-Brion. No sign of age on the rim. Fragrant. Light and lifted and not as concentrated as the 1989 but very valiant. A good expression of both Haut-Brion's delicacy and 1990's richness. Attractively sweet and long but easy to overlook as it is fairly transparent in every way. Just lightly dusty tannins on the end. Score: 18 Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2000-2020 25 November 2010
1990: In terms of the brilliant complexity and nobility of the aromatics, scorched earth, black currants, plums, charcoal, cedar, and spices, the 1990 offers an aromatic explosion that is unparalleled. It is always fascinating to taste this wine next to the 1989, which is a monumental effort, but much more backward and denser, without the aromatic complexity of the 1990. The 1990 put on weight after bottling, and is currently rich, full-bodied, opulent, even flamboyant by Haut Brion’s standards. It is an incredible expression of a noble terroir in a top vintage. While it has been fully mature for a number of years, it does not reveal any bricking at the edge, and I suspect it will stay at this level for another 10-15 years ... but why wait? It is irresistible now. Release price: ($1200.00/case) Score: 98 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2009-2024 30 June 2009
In terms of the brilliant complexity and nobility of the aromatics, scorched earth, black currants, plums, charcoal, cedar, and spices, the 1990 offers an aromatic explosion that is unparalleled. It is always fascinating to taste this wine next to the 1989, which is a monumental effort, but much more backward and denser, without the aromatic complexity of the 1990. The 1990 put on weight after bottling, and is currently rich, full-bodied, opulent, even flamboyant by Haut Brion’s standards. It is an incredible expression of a noble terroir in a top vintage. While it has been fully mature for a number of years, it does not reveal any bricking at the edge, and I suspect it will stay at this level for another 10-15 years ... but why wait? It is irresistible now. Score: 98 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2009-2024 30 June 2009
Bright pale greenish gold. Reticent on the nose. Strong barley-sugar flavours but fine freshness to balance the sugar. Pure and zesty and very long. Score: 98 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2009-2024 01 June 2009
I have had a tendency to forget just how exceptional the 1990 Haut-Brion is because of the huge shadow cast by the 1989. However, in this blind tasting, the 1990 proved itself to be a great wine. Its price has not risen nearly as much as one might expect given its quality. The 1990 is a decadently ripe wine with much more evolution to its fragrant cassis, mineral, smoked-herb, hot rocks, tobacco, sweet, toasty nose. Fat, rich, and medium to full-bodied, this superbly-concentrated, forward, awesomely-endowed wine requires 4-6 years of cellaring; it is capable of lasting for 20-25+ years. It is an unheralded, underrated 1990 that deserves more attention. Score: 96 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2001-2022 28 February 1997
Haut-Brion has been the most consistent first-growth over the last decade, producing top-notch wines, even in such tough years as 1987, 1993, and 1994. I have had a tendency to forget just how exceptional the 1990 Haut-Brion is because of the huge shadow cast by the 1989. However, in this blind tasting, the 1990 proved itself to be a great wine. Its price has not risen nearly as much as one might expect given its quality. The 1990 is a decadently ripe wine with much more evolution to its fragrant cassis, mineral, smoked-herb, hot rocks, tobacco, sweet, toasty nose. Fat, rich, and medium to full-bodied, this superbly-concentrated, forward, awesomely-endowed wine requires 4-6 years of cellaring; it is capable of lasting for 20-25+ years. It is an unheralded, underrated 1990 that deserves more attention. Score: 96 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2001-2022 01 February 1997
The 1990 is an outstanding effort. While it does not have the sheer weight or awesome richness of the 1989, it is filled with wonderfully sweet, roasted, spicy fruit, as well as enticing fatness and glycerin, all packaged in a medium to full-bodied format. The superb, fragrant bouquet of cassis, tobacco, new oak, and minerals already reveals great complexity. Despite the fact that the wine does not make as powerful an impact on the palate as the 1989, it is an exceptionally fine, archetypical Haut-Brion. More forward than the 1988, it most closely resembles a hypothetical blend of the 1985 and 1983. I have noticed that it improves and expands considerably with 60-70 minutes of airing. Score: 94 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 1996-2010 01 August 1993
Racy and refined, with firm, silky tannins and a long finish. Full-bodied. Mushrooms and ripe fruit on the palate. Needs some bottle age to open. '89/'90 Bordeaux non-blind horizontal. Best after 2006. Score: 94 James Suckling, Wine Spectator Maturity: 2006+ 28 February 2005
Good medium color. Fabulous aromas of spicy cherries, minerals, tobacco and smoky oak. Saline entry, then intense, spicy fruit and excellent extract. Very firm and subtle, with outstanding clarity of flavor. Lovely ripe acids and a long, subtle aftertaste. Will no doubt live in the shadows of the larger-scaled, more dramatic '89, but this very impressive wine should age beautifully. The Graves of the vintage in 1990! Score: 93 Stephen Tanzer, Vinous.com 01 November 1993

Tasting Notes

The 1990 Haut-Brion is exotic, flamboyant and super-expressive. Dark fruit, leather, licorice and grilled herbs are all amped up. Although the 1990 doesn’t quite have the aromatic depth and intensity of the very finest years, it is nevertheless a stunning, gorgeous wine of the highest level.

Score: 96

Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com Maturity: 2019-2039 01 February 2020

Light crimson. Minerally nose. Very classic Haut-Brion. No sign of age on the rim. Fragrant. Light and lifted and not as concentrated as the 1989 but very valiant. A good expression of both Haut-Brion's delicacy and 1990's richness. Attractively sweet and long but easy to overlook as it is fairly transparent in every way. Just lightly dusty tannins on the end.

Score: 18

Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2000-2020 25 November 2010

1990: In terms of the brilliant complexity and nobility of the aromatics, scorched earth, black currants, plums, charcoal, cedar, and spices, the 1990 offers an aromatic explosion that is unparalleled. It is always fascinating to taste this wine next to the 1989, which is a monumental effort, but much more backward and denser, without the aromatic complexity of the 1990. The 1990 put on weight after bottling, and is currently rich, full-bodied, opulent, even flamboyant by Haut Brion’s standards. It is an incredible expression of a noble terroir in a top vintage. While it has been fully mature for a number of years, it does not reveal any bricking at the edge, and I suspect it will stay at this level for another 10-15 years ... but why wait? It is irresistible now. Release price: ($1200.00/case)

Score: 98

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2009-2024 30 June 2009

In terms of the brilliant complexity and nobility of the aromatics, scorched earth, black currants, plums, charcoal, cedar, and spices, the 1990 offers an aromatic explosion that is unparalleled. It is always fascinating to taste this wine next to the 1989, which is a monumental effort, but much more backward and denser, without the aromatic complexity of the 1990. The 1990 put on weight after bottling, and is currently rich, full-bodied, opulent, even flamboyant by Haut Brion’s standards. It is an incredible expression of a noble terroir in a top vintage. While it has been fully mature for a number of years, it does not reveal any bricking at the edge, and I suspect it will stay at this level for another 10-15 years ... but why wait? It is irresistible now.

Score: 98

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2009-2024 30 June 2009

Bright pale greenish gold. Reticent on the nose. Strong barley-sugar flavours but fine freshness to balance the sugar. Pure and zesty and very long.

Score: 98

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2009-2024 01 June 2009

I have had a tendency to forget just how exceptional the 1990 Haut-Brion is because of the huge shadow cast by the 1989. However, in this blind tasting, the 1990 proved itself to be a great wine. Its price has not risen nearly as much as one might expect given its quality. The 1990 is a decadently ripe wine with much more evolution to its fragrant cassis, mineral, smoked-herb, hot rocks, tobacco, sweet, toasty nose. Fat, rich, and medium to full-bodied, this superbly-concentrated, forward, awesomely-endowed wine requires 4-6 years of cellaring; it is capable of lasting for 20-25+ years. It is an unheralded, underrated 1990 that deserves more attention.

Score: 96

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2001-2022 28 February 1997

Haut-Brion has been the most consistent first-growth over the last decade, producing top-notch wines, even in such tough years as 1987, 1993, and 1994. I have had a tendency to forget just how exceptional the 1990 Haut-Brion is because of the huge shadow cast by the 1989. However, in this blind tasting, the 1990 proved itself to be a great wine. Its price has not risen nearly as much as one might expect given its quality. The 1990 is a decadently ripe wine with much more evolution to its fragrant cassis, mineral, smoked-herb, hot rocks, tobacco, sweet, toasty nose. Fat, rich, and medium to full-bodied, this superbly-concentrated, forward, awesomely-endowed wine requires 4-6 years of cellaring; it is capable of lasting for 20-25+ years. It is an unheralded, underrated 1990 that deserves more attention.

Score: 96

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2001-2022 01 February 1997

The 1990 is an outstanding effort. While it does not have the sheer weight or awesome richness of the 1989, it is filled with wonderfully sweet, roasted, spicy fruit, as well as enticing fatness and glycerin, all packaged in a medium to full-bodied format. The superb, fragrant bouquet of cassis, tobacco, new oak, and minerals already reveals great complexity. Despite the fact that the wine does not make as powerful an impact on the palate as the 1989, it is an exceptionally fine, archetypical Haut-Brion. More forward than the 1988, it most closely resembles a hypothetical blend of the 1985 and 1983. I have noticed that it improves and expands considerably with 60-70 minutes of airing.

Score: 94

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 1996-2010 01 August 1993

Racy and refined, with firm, silky tannins and a long finish. Full-bodied. Mushrooms and ripe fruit on the palate. Needs some bottle age to open. '89/'90 Bordeaux non-blind horizontal. Best after 2006.

Score: 94

James Suckling, Wine Spectator Maturity: 2006+ 28 February 2005

Good medium color. Fabulous aromas of spicy cherries, minerals, tobacco and smoky oak. Saline entry, then intense, spicy fruit and excellent extract. Very firm and subtle, with outstanding clarity of flavor. Lovely ripe acids and a long, subtle aftertaste. Will no doubt live in the shadows of the larger-scaled, more dramatic '89, but this very impressive wine should age beautifully. The Graves of the vintage in 1990!

Score: 93

Stephen Tanzer, Vinous.com 01 November 1993

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