100 James Suckling
Rose petals, sandalwood and currants with some plums and fruit tea. Full-bodied, tight and focused. Incredibly straight and minerally. Toned muscles here. Tannic. Traditional and unwavering. Try in 2024.
98 Robert Parker
The deep garnet-purple colored 2015 La Mission Haut-Brion is a blend of 58% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 35% Cabernet Sauvignon. Youthfully mute with bright, youthful red currants, black raspberries, cassis and freshly crushed blackberries notions, it slowly unfurls to reveal an earthy/minerally undercurrent of damp soil, charcoal, iron ore and truffles plus a waft of violets. Medium to full-bodied, decadently fruited and yet wonderfully elegant with very ripe, very silky tannins, freshness that sits well in the background and an almost electric intensity of vibrant red and black fruit flavors, it finishes long and minerally. Just. Beautiful. Consider giving it 6-7 years in bottle before broaching and drink it over the next 30+.
98 Vinous
The 2015 La Mission Haut-Brion is blessed with an outstanding bouquet of brilliantly focused and delineated black fruit laced with graphite and cedar - pure class. The medium-bodied, harmonious palate delivers fine-grained tannin and impressive depth. There is a slight savory element (just like the Haut-Brion) that infuses the middle, and brown spices and sage linger on the finish. This is a profound La Mission Haut-Brion that dares surpass Haut-Brion on this showing. Tasted blind at the Southwold 2015 Bordeaux tasting.
98 Robert Parker
The deep garnet-purple colored 2015 La Mission Haut-Brion is a blend of 58% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 35% Cabernet Sauvignon. Youthfully mute with bright, youthful red currants, black raspberries, cassis and freshly crushed blackberries notions, it slowly unfurls to reveal an earthy/minerally undercurrent of damp soil, charcoal, iron ore and truffles plus a waft of violets. Medium to full-bodied, decadently fruited and yet wonderfully elegant with very ripe, very silky tannins, freshness that sits well in the background and an almost electric intensity of vibrant red and black fruit flavors, it finishes long and minerally. Just. Beautiful. Consider giving it 6-7 years in bottle before broaching and drink it over the next 30+.
98 Vinous
The 2015 La Mission Haut-Brion is blessed with an outstanding bouquet of brilliantly focused and delineated black fruit laced with graphite and cedar - pure class. The medium-bodied, harmonious palate delivers fine-grained tannin and impressive depth. There is a slight savory element (just like the Haut-Brion) that infuses the middle, and brown spices and sage linger on the finish. This is a profound La Mission Haut-Brion that dares surpass Haut-Brion on this showing. Tasted blind at the Southwold 2015 Bordeaux tasting.
19 Rene Gabriel
58 % Merlot, 35 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 7 % Cabernet Franc. Sattes Purpur-Granat, dicht in der Mitte, lila Schimmer aussen. Berauschendes Bouquet, viel Maulbeeren und Cassis, zeigt dabei viel tiefgründige Würze, Lakritze, dunkle Edelhölzer, Havanna-Tabak, Teer und schwarze Trüffelanklänge. Massiver, konzentrierter Gaumen, alles liegt im schwarzbeerigen Bereich, die Tannine sind genau auf dem Punkt und auch die Früchte sind weder- unter- noch überreif. Also ein sehr präziser, langer Mission mit Neigung zur Klassik. Was denn auch sein Potential unterstreicht und den Effekt, dass es kein Frühcharmeur wird. Erste Genussreife ist da wohl erst in etwa 15 Jahren. 19/20 2026 – 2054
19 Rene Gabriel
58 % Merlot, 35 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 7 % Cabernet Franc. Sattes Purpur-Granat, dicht in der Mitte, lila Schimmer aussen. Berauschendes Bouquet, viel Maulbeeren und Cassis, zeigt dabei viel tiefgründige Würze, Lakritze, dunkle Edelhölzer, Havanna-Tabak, Teer und schwarze Trüffelanklänge. Massiver, konzentrierter Gaumen, alles liegt im schwarzbeerigen Bereich, die Tannine sind genau auf dem Punkt und auch die Früchte sind weder- unter- noch überreif. Also ein sehr präziser, langer Mission mit Neigung zur Klassik. Was denn auch sein Potential unterstreicht und den Effekt, dass es kein Frühcharmeur wird. Erste Genussreife ist da wohl erst in etwa 15 Jahren. 19/20 2026 – 2054