Country: France Region: Bordeaux (Saint Emilion) Varietal: 90% Merlot/10% Cabernet Franc Vintage: 2018 Colour: Red Style: Dry Producer: Chateau Haut-Brisson Description:Until 1997, Château Haut Brisson was an 8-hectare estate in the Vignonet section of Saint Emilion. New owner Peter Kwok was keen to expand its vineyards and the range of terroir, so began to buy up vine parcels to make it up to the 22 hectares it has today. Judging by today's scores and the quality of the wine, Kwok purchased wisely and quality has soared. Today it is under the ownership of Stephane Schinazi and continues its stellar projection, with Michel Rolland as consultant. All its top grapes go into this wine (they no longer make La Réserve), ageing 30% of it in new French barriques, so as not to overwhelm the fruit with oak notes. Now certified organic, with the aim of going biodynamic too, the 2018 is a magnificent wine. Tasting Note:Deep garnet red colour, aromas of pepper, liquorice, ripe black fruits, dark chocolate and peonies, with fine notes of cocoa. On the palate, a pleasant acidity and texture, round tannins. An excellent and long finish on the palate. Pair this wine with lamb, short ribs, and grilled meat. 95-96 points James Suckling  This is a very powerful and structured Haut-Brisson, showing incredible depth and richness. Full-bodied and layered with incredible depth and purity. Layers of fruit and tannin. Best ever.  (4/2019) 92-95 points Jeb Dunnuck  The deep, saturated purple/plum-coloured 2018 Château Haut Brisson checks in as a blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc from a 22-hectare vineyard of fine gravelly and quartz-rich soils sitting on top of deep clay. Still aging in 35% new French oak, this rich, medium to full-bodied Saint-Émilion offers a nicely layered and beautifully balanced style as well as complex notes of blue and black fruits, spice box, blood orange, and violets. It has an exotic edge, ample mid-palate depth, and the sexy yet pure style of the vintage. It’s a smoking good Saint-Émilion to drink any time over the coming two decades. Tasted twice.  (5/2019) 90-93 points Vinous  The 2018 Haut Brisson is an absolutely gorgeous wine. Radiant and plush, with striking fruit density, the 2018 captures all the best the vintage has to offer. Dark cherry, plum, mocha, chocolate, dried flowers and menthol build in a creamy, sensual Saint-Émilion loaded with near and medium-term appeal. Haut Brisson is especially fine in 2018. The blend is 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, with new oak at 35%. Tasted three times. (AG)  92 points Decanter  One of the bigger St-Emilion wines this year, silky but concentrated with powerful and pure dark cassis fruit. It's juicy and intense, with good extraction giving chewy but well structured tannins. It has good ageing potential. (JA)   90-92 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate  The 2018 Haut-Brisson comes from Vignonet and Monbousquet in Saint-Étienne-de-Lisse, from the lieu-dit Laroque. It is blended of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc and has 14.6% alcohol. It is aging in 35% new, 35% one-year-old and 30% two-year-old barrels for an anticipated 18 months. It has a deep garnet-purple colour and comes charging out of the glass with baked black cherries, warm blueberries and preserved plums with touches of pencil shavings, kirsch and chargrilled meat plus a waft of Indian spices. Full-bodied, the generously fruited palate has a lovely plush texture and just enough freshness, finishing with a menthol lift. (LPB)  Food Matches: Chateau Haut Brisson is best paired with all types of classic meat dishes, veal, pork, beef, lamb, duck, game, roast chicken, roasted, braised, and grilled dishes. Haut Brisson is also good when matched with Asian dishes, rich fish courses like tuna, mushrooms, and pasta.