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A Century of Bordeaux: The Twos (Sep 2022)

The 1982 La Mission Haut-Brion is very similar to the one tasted in Hong Kong. Quite exotic on the nose, much more than Haut-Brion. There is that signature eucalyptus touch on the nose mixed with plenty of black fruit, though it lacks the pedigree of the First Growth. The palate is powerful with pliant tannins,…

Mission Complete: La Mission Haut-Brion 1928–2011 (Sep 2021)

The 1982 La Mission Haut-Brion is a vintage that I have tasted several times. This bottle has a gorgeous, eucalyptus-tinged bouquet of black fruit plus hints of clove and bay leaf; a light marine scent emerges with aeration. The palate has a ripe pastille-like quality, dark cherries commingling with blackberry and cranberry. A lovely saline…

1982 Bordeaux, 20 Years On (Jul 2002)

Good full medium red. Exotic yet lively aromas of roasted plum, marzipan and grilled nuts. Wonderfully dense but sappy, with grip of steel. Finishes powerfully tannic and extremely long, still with a touch of youthful austerity. A very impressive showing. Drink 2005 to 2025. (My second bottle was equally impressive but came across as even…

2015 Bordeaux: Every Bottle Tells a Story… (Feb 2018)

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…

Finally: Bordeaux 2015 In Bottle (Jul 2019)

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…

2015 Bordeaux: Every Bottle Tells a Story… (Feb 2018)

The 2015 Meyney is terrific. There is lovely depth to the black cherry, graphite, smoke and earthy flavors. This is an especially supple, fruity style for Saint Estèphe, and yet there is more than enough underlying structure to give the wine backbone, persistence and a good deal of explosive energy as well.