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 2018 Haut Brion Bordeaux Blend is a standout wine from the Pessac Leognan sub-region in Bordeaux, France. Produced by Haut Brion, this red wine is a blend of 49.4% Merlot, 38.7% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 11.9% Cabernet Franc. It features an alcohol content of 14.5% and is sealed with a cork.

James Suckling awarded this wine a near-perfect score of 99 points, noting its "aromas of currants, leaves, fresh mushrooms, oyster shell, tobacco, and dried flowers" and praising its "full body, yet ever so refined and polished." He recommended it for drinking from 2026 onwards.

Wine Enthusiast provided a barrel sample review, scoring it between 96 and 98 points. The review highlighted the wine's "immense structure powered by tannins, yet backed by a dry core and bright acidity." The black currant flavor was described as "very fine and concentrated" with "a juicy freshness."

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate gave this vintage a perfect score of 100 points. Lisa Perrotti-Brown described the wine as "deep garnet-purple in color," with a complex array of notes such as "tilled earth, pronounced licorice, crushed rocks, preserved plums, and intense crème de cassis." She emphasized its "solid, wonderfully plush frame and seamless freshness," predicting it would age well for at least 40 years.

Jeff Leve from The Wine Cellar Insider also awarded it a perfect score, describing it as "opulent, powerful, full-bodied, dense and intense." He praised its "mouth-coating layers of ripe, lush, smoke and tobacco-infused dark red and black fruits" and noted its "expansive finish" that lasts over 60 seconds.

Decanter gave the wine a score of 98, noting its "elegance, intense purity and a juicy, vibrant freshness." The wine was described as "generous, velvety and wonderfully complex," with aromas of "tobacco, black truffle, and rich red and black fruit flavors."

Jeb Dunnuck also rated it 98 points, calling it a "quintessential expression of this terroir." He highlighted its "subtle aromas and flavors of blackcurrants, smoked earth, tobacco leaf, truffle, lead pencil, and minerals."

Overall, the 2018 Haut Brion is a critically acclaimed wine, praised for its complexity, structure, and aging potential.