2015 Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion - Pessac-Leognan AC

Decanter.com - 96 pts: *Taut and tense from the off: coffee, smoky almond and pulsing with vibrancy and energy. Reservations over the high alcohol at 15.1%abv but 3.74pH means you barely feel it. Such beautiful tannic grip and sense of forward motion, showing great ageing potential. Beautiful length of damson and loganberry fruits and fragrant heather and garden herbs. Lovely texture, structured and tannic hold. 78% new oak*

Falstaff Magazin – 96 pts - PM: *Dunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Feine Edelholzwürze, zart nach Nougat und Kirschen, Brombeerkonfit unterlegt, einladendes Bukett. Saftig, angenehme Fruchtsüße, eingebundene Tannine, wirkt kraftvoll und schokoladig, reife Pflaumen im Abgang, bereits zugänglich, extraktsüßer Nachhall.* - 03/2019

Vinum Magazin – 18/20pts: *Hat nichts von seiner Superbe eingebüsst, fleischig, feurig, dicht, ellenlang: für Winterabende* - 06/2018

WeinWisser – 19/20pts – RG: *58 % Merlot, 35 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 7 % Cabernet Franc. Sattes Purpur-Granat, dicht in der Mitte, lila Schimmer aussen. Berauschendes Bouquet mit viel Maulbeeren und Cassis, zeigt dabei eine enorm tiefgründige Würze, Lakritze, dunkle Edelhölzer, Havanna-Tabak, Teer und schwarze Trüffelanklänge. Massiver, konzentrierter Gaumen mit schwarzbeeriger Dominanz, die Tannine sind genau auf dem Punkt und auch die Früchte sind weder unter- noch überreif. Also ein sehr präziser, langer La Mission mit Neigung zur Klassik. Kein Frühcharmeur. Erste Genussreife in etwa 15 Jahren.*

JancisRobinson.com – 19/20pts – JR: *Tasted blind. Mid crimson. Fresh and juicy and fragrant. Real savour and beginning, middle and end. Gloriously appetising. The first of these 250 wines I have been tempted not to spit. Very long and subtle.* - 01/2019

04/16: *The purity in this wine is really mindblowing. So perfect. Licorice. Stone. Blackberry, blueberry. Full
body. The power is amazing. But then it finishes etheral and so agile and beautiful. I am lost for words. This
will rank with the best ever from here including 1975 and 1929. 58% merlot, 35% cabernet sauvignon, and
cabernet franc.* (100/100)
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JamesSuckling.com - 100/100pts - JS: *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.*

Vinous.com – 96+ pts – AG: *The 2015 La Mission Haut-Brion is every bit the wine I had hoped it would be. Rich, dramatic and powerful, it exudes intensity in all of its many dimensions. Naturally, the aromatics that make La Mission so compelling have not even begun to develop. Readers should plan on cellaring the 2015 for at least a decade, although I suspect the wine won't be ready to drink before age 20, as it clearly needs to shed some baby fat. A heady mélange of black cherry, plum, smoke, licorice and tobacco builds into the dramatic, deeply expressive finish.* - 02/2018

04/16: *While the wine is solid and firm, there is the sense that it also has a more opulent side. That comes
from the powerful black fruits that are lying under the dry, solid tannic structure. It is a concentrated,
impressive wine with a long future.* (96-98/100)

Vinous.com – 98 pts – NM: *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.* - 07/2019

Thewinecellarinsider.com – 99 pts – JL: *With a depth of color from the rim to the center of the glass, this is all about the incredibly ripe, dark red fruits, soft, but strong tannins and the layers of fruit that seem to start and have a hard time stopping. The finish hangs in there for over 40 seconds! The wine is rich, full bodied and concentrated, yet it's elegant, powerful and graceful. Everything is in balance and harmony here. This will easily age for 3, 4, 5 or 6 decades.* - 05/2018