Château Haut Brion, Ch. Haut Brion 1983

88 / 100 Robert Parker
A somewhat controversial Haut-Brion, this wine reached full maturity at a shockingly fast pace and seems now to be giving signs of cracking up. A very earthy, melted asphalt, creosote-like nose intermixed with compost, decaying autumnal vegetation, and herb-tinged fruit is actually more appealing than it might sound. In the mouth the wine is fleshy, medium-bodied, relatively lush, but the garnet color is showing considerable amber, and the finish starts to dry out after the wine sits in the glass for just a mere five minutes. And of course, I have tasted this wine from pristinely stored bottles, so I suspect those that have been less than perfectly stored are probably already in serious decline.
Bordeaux Book, 4th Edition Jan 2003

88 / 100 Wine Spectator
Lean, austere and a bit chewy, this is an angular wine with spicy black cherry notes hiding beneath layers of mineral and tannin. Finishes with a touch of gaminess.
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