Haut-Brion’s grand vin is the embodiment of five centuries of tradition and plays a pivotal role in the worldwide history of wine. It is the oldest of the Bordeaux classed growths, the inventor of a new style of wine fashioned in the seventeenth century, and considered the world’s first luxury brand.

Typically more Merlot dominant than other Left Bank wines, the terroir of Haut-Brion is expressed through its empyreumatic bouquet (Havana cigars, chocolate, roasting, cedar wood, and so on). The attack is restrained, with precise yet exceedingly soft tannins. But the power of this wine is revealed in the surprising long mid-palate and even longer finish.

The 2010 Haut-Brion Bordeaux Blend is a notable red wine from the Pessac Leognan sub-region of Bordeaux, France. This vintage is composed of 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, and 20% Cabernet Franc, with a substantial alcohol content of 15.0%. The wine is sealed with a cork and produced by the esteemed Haut-Brion winery, known for its traditional, sloping bottle design.

With only around 8,000 cases produced, the 2010 vintage reflects a 30% decrease from the previous year, marking its exclusivity. Cory Gowan from JJ Buckley praises the wine's "very tight and elegant nose of black cherry, strawberry, and black tea" and describes it as a "stacked, deep wine" that promises excellent cellaring potential for over 50 years.

Neal Martin's Wine Journal awarded this vintage a perfect score of 100, commending its "stunning" quality and "compelling bouquet" with "superb precision and focus." Martin noted the wine's "immense clarity and terroir expression," emphasizing its "multi-dimensional" character and "bewilderingly complex finish." Similarly, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate gave it a near-perfect score of 99, highlighting its "deep garnet color" and "exuberant notes of crème de cassis, blueberry pie, and baked plums," along with "lots of subtle earth and mineral accents."

Wine Spectator also rated it 99, describing it as a "riveting display of brawny power, unbridled energy, and high-level terroir." The review mentions a "parade of licorice snap, violet, tar, black tea, roasted alder, and steeped black cherry fruit notes," suggesting it will be best enjoyed between 2020 and 2040. Vinous’s Neal Martin echoed these sentiments, calling it a "bit of a monster" with "black fruit, melted tar, and Earl Grey" on the nose and a "muscular finish."

Wine Enthusiast and Decanter both rated the 2010 Haut-Brion highly at 98, with Decanter noting its "profuse, youthful aromas of ripe plum, fig, and blackberry fruit" and a texture that is "rich and substantial." James Suckling also gave it a 97, describing it as "very spicy with dried mushroom aromas" and remarking on its "chewy and firm" tannins.

Jeff Leve from The Wine Cellar Insider and Jeb Dunnuck both awarded it a perfect score of 100, with Leve emphasizing its "intense, deep aromas" and "incredible sense of purity in the fruit," while Dunnuck highlighted its "incredible array of blackcurrants, chocolate, truffly earth, graphite, and hints of tobacco." Dunnuck further noted its "flawless balance" and predicted its longevity to extend up to 75-100 years.

In summary, the 2010 Haut-Brion Bordeaux Blend is a powerful, complex, and highly lauded wine with significant aging potential, making it a valuable addition to any cellar.