Adam Gäfvert

9.3

Very approachable and seamless. Dark fruits, iron, terracotta, citrus. Chapoutier always delivers serious wines. — 19 days ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.2

Medium ruby , terracotta /garnet rim. Quite round and ripe , red plum , cigar and ripe blackberry, touch of soy . Touch of cocoa , blackberry and ripe dark cherry , black tea . Quite sweet , rich on the palate, generous for Las Cases , slightly dried fruit , fig and red plum . Pretty decent length , balanced but quite discreet acidity , rounded tannins . This is at peak now and I don’t see much up side from here , so best to drink over the next 5 years or so, though it did hold up in the glass quite well . Atypical for Las Cases with its ripe fruit, quite low acidity , sweet tannin: also this only has 42% Cabernet Sauvignon. Overall probably the least successful of the wines in this tasting , but the level overall was very high. — 8 days ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.1

Medium ruby , garnet rim, touch of terracotta rim . Slightly dusty , animal touch , with leather , spicy and herbal , soy , iodine . On the palate quite strict , grafite , slightly more red fruit , cranberry , then blackcurrant and grafite . Slightly dusty dry tannins , balanced acidity . Slightly spicy , mineral , grafite tinged finish . This needs a bit of time to open but shows quite well , slightly herbal , and perhaps lacks a little charm , but is quite classic in style if not a great 1985. From now and over the next 10 years . On the night this was probably only ahead of the 1977 , and my least favourite of the 1980s vintages . — 2 months ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.2

Medium ruby , terracotta , garnet rim . Quite aromatic , with cedar , tobacco , leafy redcurrant , blackcurrant , wet earth. Slightly rounded and red fruit focused sous bois on the palate , quite high acidity , but refined and red fruit focused. Slightly green tannins , but overall reasonable mineral tinged length . This is at peak , leafy but charming — 4 days ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.1

Medium ruby garnet , quite narrow terracotta rim . Quite aromatic , sous bois , dried rose , some spice , truffle . On the palate this is lean in style , with some dried rose , red fruits , liquorice and mint . Quite dry , gritty tannin , balanced acidity . Medium length , liquorice, dried rose finish . Drinking well now and over the next 5-8 years . — a month ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.0

Brief , informal notes . Medium deep ruby garnet , quite narrow terracotta garnet rim . This was quite exuberant and fruit driven at first, with blackberry jam , cassis , touch of spice and wood smoke . After a while becomes a bit more serious , with mineral and a touch of coffee , seaweed notes . On the palate quite rich and dense , with dark fruits , chocolate , coffee and granite hints . Medium currant and coffee tinged finish, slightly warming alcohol . Balanced acidity and pretty gritty tannins . This is drinking well now last well a further 7- 10 years or so . — 2 months ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.1

Medium ruby , quite wide garnet , terracotta rim . Quite spiced tobacco , red focused sous bois , warm spice , coffee and cacao , a little foursquare , rustic perhaps . On the palate better , quite juicy and rounded , spiced red plum , dark cherry , dry spice . This becomes more saline with time in the glass, balanced acidity and some slightly gritty tannins. This is probably in the middle of its drinking window , and will remain here over the next 5-10 years perhaps. Within the context of Haut Brion , this perhaps is just a little below par . — 3 months ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.1

Pretty deep ruby garnet with garnet , terracotta . Quite sweet , spiced , dried fruit nose , slightly volatile nose . On the palate this is better , meaty and rich spiced dried dark fruits, plum , fig. Quite grippy tannins and balanced acidity . Good density and rich meaty finish , a little porty, pretty good length . Dense and rich , much more than expected . Still dense and really quite young, held up well in the glass , this would probably continue at this level for a further 5-10 years . — 4 days ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.0

Medium ruby garnet , with quite a orange tinged terracotta rim . Spice tinged , red fruits , dried herbs, with touch of liquorice , tar . Quite sweet and rounded on the palate , with ripe red fruits , quite noticeable rounded sweet tannins , balanced acidity , medium plus alcohol . Slightly lifted , balsamic note . Medium length liquorice and spice tinged finish . This is fully mature and still very enjoyable . Drink now and over the next 5 years or so — a month ago

Andrew Cullimore

8.9

Medium garnet ,medium terracotta rim . Quite spiced , dried fruits, tobacco , touch of caramel , warm earth . Smoky . On the palate quite sweet mix of red and dark fruits, red plum , dark cherry , spiced tobacco, hickory . Quite sweet on the finish , menthol hint, with a touch of caramel on the finish, slightly grippy tannin. This improved quite a lot in the glass , with more fruit noticeable , fills out quite well , better balance. Drink now and over the next couple of years. — 2 months ago