1953 Haut Brion

26 March 2011: 1953 Haut Brion, recorked in 1997.  One of those impromptu  moments to open a great wine over a hastily prepared supper! Decanted for about 40 minutes, just enough time for us to finish off the bottle of 1985 Trotanoy that Charles had brought.  (The 1985 Trotanoy, despite its less than sumptuous body for a Pomerol, had still retained an attractive bouquet of chocolate, coffee and dark cherry, mixed in with a good dose of vegetal character. Still well-balanced, just a little lacking in mid palate and probably saw better days 3 - 4 years ago?  Went well with the simple supper of coquelet and very caramelised peas and carrots, and definitely needed drinking! 16/20)

Back to the 1953 Haut Brion, a distinctly ruby core, with only the faintest suggestion of garnet at the rim.  Once in the glass, the wine immediately captivated us with this most glorious yet utterly unmistakably Haut Brion/Pessac Léognan bouquet of blueberry, violet, cedar, cigar tobacco, bergamot and sweet leather.  We were next completely flabbergasted by how fresh it tasted, as if time had stood still for it a long time ago.  The palate revealed a silky mouthfeel, elegant structure, finesse and complete harmony, without any harsh edges.  Persistent length with a caramelisé finish, punctuated with a slight sense of dryness.  Drinking magnificently now, and for next 5-6 years, after which time, its age might just catch up with it. 19/20