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 2016 Haut Brion Bordeaux Blend is a celebrated wine from the esteemed Haut Brion estate in the Pessac Leognan sub-region of Bordeaux, France. This vintage has garnered significant acclaim from numerous renowned wine reviewers, consistently receiving high praise for its complexity, structure, and aging potential. The wine is a blend of 56% Merlot, 37.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 6.5% Cabernet Franc, with an alcohol content of 14.0% and closed with a traditional cork.

James Suckling awarded this wine a perfect score of 100, describing it as having "stunning black fruit with plenty of forest berries," and highlighting its "vibrant acidity" and "very long aging potential." He notes the wine's "fine-grained" tannins and suggests it could be tried in 2023, although it promises longevity.

Similarly, Wine Enthusiast gave it a perfect score, praising its "immense tannic" nature and calling it "one of the finest for many years." This review emphasizes the wine's "dense structure" and "powerful black fruits," recommending it for consumption starting in 2026.

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate also rated it 100 points, with Lisa Perrotti-Brown appreciating its "drop-dead gorgeous Morello cherries, lilacs, and red rose scents," alongside "intense floral, mineral and cassis-laced flavors." She describes the palate as "elegantly crafted" with "very finely pixelated tannins" and "achingly stunning" finish.

Neal Martin of Vinous provided slightly varied scores, with a 96+ point review noting its "precise, focused bouquet" and a 99-point review lauding its "beguiling sense of purity" and "incredible harmony." He mentions the "filigreed tannin" and "enthralling sense of delineation" on the long finish.

Jeff Leve from The Wine Cellar Insider also rated it 100 points, highlighting the "knockout sensations of smoke, mint, cigar wrapper, tobacco and crème de cassis" on the nose. He admires its "elegance, concentration, complexity, endless length and sensuous textures."

Jeb Dunnuck scored it 98+ points, calling it "a prodigious, legendary wine in the making" with a "sensational bouquet of blackcurrants, cassis, cigar tobacco, cold fireplace, violets, and lead pencil." He advises not opening it for at least 7-8 years, recommending it for long-term aging.

Wine Spectator placed it at 98 points, describing it as "large and in charge" with a "prodigious core of steeped plum, black currant and loganberry fruit flavors." The review highlights its "sturdy frame of roasted mesquite, smoldering tobacco, and incense" and suggests it will age well through 2045.

Decanter rated it 97 points, noting its "massively dark" color, "wonderful mix of dark fruit, exoticism, violet and lilac flowers," and "supremely glossy tannins and polished oak." The review predicts it will be a great choice for drinking over the next 30+ years.

Lastly, The Wine Independent, also by Lisa Perrotti-Brown, awarded it 100 points, emphasizing its "deep garnet color" and complex aromas of "creme de cassis, plum preserves, dark chocolate, and lilacs." The palate is described as "a tightly coiled spring," promising a "long, long, long finish" and suggesting a 7-10 year wait before optimal enjoyment.

Overall, the 2016 Haut Brion Bordeaux Blend is a highly acclaimed wine, praised for its complexity, structure, and long aging potential. It is recommended for those who appreciate a robust, elegant, and nuanced Bordeaux.