87-90 Points | International Wine Cellar , May/June 2011

(52% merlot, 36% cabernet sauvignon, 10% cabernet franc and 2% petit verdot; 14.4% alcohol) Deep ruby. Pungent aromas of black cherry, licorice and mint. Juicy and tightly wound, showing a very austere personality today, with a medicinal black cherry flavor complicated by camphor, tobacco leaf and minerals. Finishes long but with mounting, tough tannins that will require years of patience. I wonder if the merlot is to blame for the wine's rough tannins; interestingly, Haut-Brion itself includes a very low percentage of this variety in its blend this year and is much smoother.

93 Points | Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate