The characteristics of Haut-Marbuzet are mostly defined by its wine-producing methods.
The grapes are harvested once they are very ripe, then destalked. The maceration time is very long. Owner Henri Duboscq remains committed to using traditional materials, like concrete vats. They preserve the natural yeasts of past wines. Henri Duboscq says that he likes the idea that each year, the new yeasts revive the old ones, and the old influence the new.
The Duboscq were among the first to harvest overripe grapes. The wine is then matured in new oak barrels. Here, too, Haut-Marbuzet was among the first to use this production technique. All of these practices complete the characteristics of the terroir. They influence the color of the wine, its structure, its body, and finish.
Henri Duboscq often speaks of his love of unctuous wines, feminine wines that have fine, woody scents, with soft and ripe tannins. From this point of view, the wine of Haut-Marbuzet clearly stands apart from the classical wine of Saint Estèphe which is more virile, austere and astringent.
Tasting notes
Haut-Marbuzet shows a dark and intense color and a delicous bouquet of red and black fruit aromas, violet, pepper and coconut nuances. On the palate, the wine is rich and unctuous, with fine and peppery tannins that support the solid and fresh texture.
Red grilled meat, charcuterie, soft cheeses.
"Black and blue fruit, walnuts, gravy, vanilla, praline and cigar box on the nose. Full-bodied with fine tannins. Balanced, layered and polished with a fleshy texture. Harmonious, with elegance and intensity. Beautiful finish. Wow. Drink from 2025."
- James Suckling (January 2022), 96 pts
Hervé Duboscq became the owner of a plot of seven hectares called Château HAUT-MARBUZET in 1952. He resurrected the vineyard and gave rise to a wine of its own style, ...
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"The 2019 Haut-Marbuzet has a wonderful, pure and enticing bouquet of red cherries, wild strawberry, Seville orange marmalade and crushed stone. The palate is medium-bodied, fleshy and ripe, with supple tannins and one of the most complex finishes I have encountered on this SaintEstèphe. It might even merit a higher score with bottle age. The best HautMarbuzet in years. - Neal Martin"
"The 2019 Haut-Marbuzet has turned out very nicely indeed, offering up a deep bouquet of berry fruit, loamy soil, forest floor and spices. Medium to full-bodied, velvety and layered, it's deep and concentrated, with a fleshy core of fruit that's framed by ripe, powdery tannins and succulent acids. Already persuasively seamless and integrated, and much less marked by its new oak than was the case for this château a decade ago, this is well worth seeking out. - William Kelley"
"Lovely fragranced nose, heady perfumed, full. This has a silky texture, smooth and driven with vibrant energy and a coolness to the fruit profile, blueberries and cherries with some definite liquorice spicing. The overall frame is dense and still knitted down right now. You can feel that this has underlying power but it's still well balanced and integrated at this stage with a lovely freshness. Great potential for ageing. - Georgina Hindle"
