Lot 553
CHÂTEAU LA MISSION HAUT-BRION 1999 (1)
CHÂTEAU LA MISSION HAUT-BRION 2000 (1) WA 100
CHÂTEAU LA MISSION HAUT-BRION 2001 (1) WA 96
CHÂTEAU LA MISSION HAUT-BRION 2002 (1)
CHÂTEAU LA MISSION HAUT-BRION 2003 (1) WA 93
Lot 553 Details
CHÂTEAU LA MISSION HAUT-BRION 1999 (1)
Pessac-Léognan. Cru Classé
CHÂTEAU LA MISSION HAUT-BRION 2000 (1)
Pessac-Léognan. Cru Classé
One of the wines of the vintage, the 2000 has barely budged in its evolution since it was bottled and released in 2002. After ten years in bottle, it still reveals a dense opaque purple color along with a potentially sensational bouquet of blueberries, black currants, graphite, asphalt and background oak. Extremely powerful, full-bodied and superbly concentrated with good acidity and high but round tannins, this massive La Mission-Haut-Brion should take its place among this estate’s most hallowed vintages when it hits full maturity in another one to two decades. I was surprised by just how youthful this wine tasted at age 12. If tasted blind, I would have guessed it to be around 4 to 5 years old. Anticipated maturity: 2020-2050 August 2012 WA 100
CHÂTEAU LA MISSION HAUT-BRION 2001 (1)
Pessac-Léognan. Cru Classé
Perhaps one of the more overlooked vintages in recent years, the Château La Mission Haut-Brion 2001 is one of the finest wines of the vintage. Here, one is immediately taken aback by the precision exuded by the nose: small dark cherries and orange blossom still there, perhaps the mineralité more heightened than ever. The palate displays exquisite balance with nigh on perfect acidity, demonstrating more tension, if not the dimension of the 1990 tasted alongside. This is a serious La Mission for long-term aging. Tasted June 2014. WA 96
CHÂTEAU LA MISSION HAUT-BRION 2002 (1)
Pessac-Léognan. Cru Classé
CHÂTEAU LA MISSION HAUT-BRION 2003 (1)
Pessac-Léognan. Cru Classé
The 2003 La Mission Haut-Brion shows more creme de cassis, plenty of cedar wood, melted licorice and charcoal in a medium to full-bodied wine. It is a blend of 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc. Rustic tannins in the back knock down the ultimate pleasure, and the point score, ever so slightly, but there’s no doubting the complex, perfumey, noble aromatics this wine has managed to attain despite the staggering heat and drought in June, July and August. This has reached full maturity, but should hold nicely for another 7-10 years. WA 93