"The most recent bottle of ’83 Haut-Brion Blanc that I crossed paths with was oddly forward and tropical in profile, but I am sure that this was an off bottle, as every previous example has been absolutely stellar and classic in style. Rather than print a note on a bottle that was so atypical, I have reached back a couple of years for the last pristine bottle of ’83 HBB that I tasted. With this previous bottle, the wine was absolutely singing, offering up a deep, pure and à point nose of fig, apple, fresh-culled herbs, petrol, chalky soil tones and vanillin oak. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, crisp and seamless, with a lovely core, impeccable focus and balance and outstanding length and grip on the complex and very classy finish. I note that the ’83 Haut-Brion Blanc tips the scales at a cool 12.5 percent alcohol, which is a far cry from the mid-fourteens this wine has been sporting in the last several, less than stellar vintages. This is a classic vintage of this magical wine."
JG94