Chateau Haut Brion - Chateau Haut Brion blanc 2005

WINE SPECTATOR: "Vibrant and exciting, with intense aromas of light toasty oak, pineapple skin, lemon, gooseberry, acacia honey and peach tart. Flowers even. Full-bodied, layered and refined, with tropical fruit, honey, vanilla, cream and light toasty oak. The length is amazing. White wine doesn't get better than this. Needs a little time, but hard to leave it alone. Best after 2014."

WEINWISSER: "Intensives Gelb mit grünlichem Schimmer. Noch zurückhaltend, burgundische Aromenanflüge mit einer gewissen Puligny-Affinität, zartes Vanille, Parisette-Brotnoten, gelbe Früchte. Im Gaumen reich, mundfüllend, auch hier, wie beim Laville, mit einer sehr gut stützenden und auch erfrischenden Säure ausgestattet, reife Agrumen im Finale, insgesamt aber feiner gewoben und sich noch harmonischer zeigend."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Fresh, bright, vivacious, and with a strong shot of honeysuckle and crushed stone, the green apple, lemon peel, grapefruit pear and lemon wax were out in full force. Rich, concentrated and lush, with lots of energy, this is drinking just great today."

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "Very tight and coiled, the freshness of this wine acts as a counterweight to its intense, smoky, ripe fruit flavors. It is so balanced, yet still so young, this is a wine that needs at least 10 years to show its true richness and power."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "While not as concentrated or monumental as this estate’s 1989, the 2005 is a fleshy, racy, hypothetical blend of the 1994 and 1998 Haut-Brion, only better. It boasts a gorgeous perfume of citrus oil, lime, honeyed grapefruit, flowers, spicy smoke, and earth, followed by terrific definition, purity, and full-bodied power, but it is not as masculine as its closest competitor, Laville Haut-Brion. The 2005 Haut-Brion will be approachable early, but it should age well for 30-40 years."