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Graves

Graves is on the left bank of the Garonne River south of the city of Bordeaux. The appellation takes its name from its soil, which is intensely gravelly thanks to glaciers that melted in the area a few million years ago. Graves is generally thought of as the birthplace of Bordeaux wines, since “claret,” as the English historically called Bordeaux reds, were being produced for export in Graves and shipped to England as early as the 12th century. Some Graves châteaux, including Haut-Brion, trace their history to the late 16th century and Thomas Jefferson was one of several notable wine connoisseurs who wrote admiringly about the wines of Château Haut-Brion. Haut-Brion’s popularity with international celebrities is perhaps why it was the only non-Médoc château to be included in the 1855 Bordeaux classification. Graves makes red and white wines. The reds are predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon, blended with Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Malbec. The whites are made of Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and Muscadelle. The Graves AOC includes nearly 8,000 acres of vineyards. In 1953 a Graves classification was created for red wines, and in 1959 white wines were added.

1959 Château Haut-Brion

Capsule condition issue; lightly elevated cork; 4.5 cm ullage; label condition issue

JR  20   
MB  *****   
WS  98   
RP  93   
ST  93   
CC  17.5   

1964 Château Haut-Brion

Light capsule condition issue; signs of past seepage; 4.5 cm ullage; light label condition issue

RP  90   
MB  ****   

1964 Château Haut-Brion

Light capsule condition issue; lightly depressed cork; signs of past seepage; 5 cm ullage; light label condition issue

RP  90   
MB  ****   

1987 Château Haut-Brion

Light label condition issue

MB  ***   

1997 Château Haut-Brion

Light label condition issue

ST  91   
WS  90   
JR  17.5   

1997 Château Haut-Brion

Light label condition issue

ST  91   
WS  90   
JR  17.5   

2000 Château Haut-Brion

Light label condition issue

RP  99   
ST  96   
WE  96   
WS  94   
JR  18   

2000 Château Haut-Brion

Light label condition issue

RP  99   
ST  96   
WE  96   
WS  94   
JR  18   

2000 Château Haut-Brion

Light label condition issue

RP  99   
ST  96   
WE  96   
WS  94   
JR  18   

2002 Château Haut-Brion

Light label condition issue

WS  93   
ST  92+    
JR  17.5+    

2019 Château Haut-Brion

JS  100   
VN  99+    
WA  98   
WE  98   
JD  98+    
WS  96   
JR  18.5   

2001 Château Haut-Brion Blanc

Light label condition issue

RP  93   
ST  93   
WS  92   
JR  18   

1916 Château La Mission Haut Brion

Capsule condition issue; lightly depressed cork; heavy label condition issue; previously refurbished

1947 Château La Mission Haut Brion

Heavy capsule condition issue; heavy signs of past seepage; mid shoulder fill; label condition issue

RP  95   
WS  95   

1966 Château La Mission Haut Brion

Lightly elevated cork; light signs of past seepage; base neck fill; light label condition issue

WA  94   
WS  93   
JR  17   

1990 Château La Mission Haut Brion

Light capsule condition issue; label condition issue

RP  99   
WS  95   
JR  18   

2020 Château La Mission Haut Brion

Light label condition issue

VN  98   
JD  93   

1998 La Chapelle de La Mission Haut-Brion

Light label condition issue

WS  91   
JR  17   

1998 Château Smith-Haut-Lafitte

WS  94   
RP  90   
ST  90   

1998 Château Smith-Haut-Lafitte

Light label condition issue

WS  94   
RP  90   
ST  90   

2000 Château Smith-Haut-Lafitte

RP  94   
WE  93   
WS  90   
ST  90+    
JR  17.5   

2009 Château Smith-Haut-Lafitte

RP  100   
WS  96   
JS  96   
VN  94+    
JR  18   

2010 Château Smith-Haut-Lafitte

Light label condition issue

RP  98+    
WS  96   
JS  95   
ST  94+    
JR  18   

2016 Château Smith-Haut-Lafitte

WA  98   
VN  98   
WS  97   
JS  97   
WE  97   
JD  97   
JR  17   

1970 Château Pape-Clement

Light capsule condition issue; top shoulder fill; light label condition issue