Wine Critic
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Château La Mission Haut Brion, Pessac-Leognan, Grand Cru Classe de Graves Rouge 2018
Classified Red Wine. Cru Classe de Graves in 1959.
Critic tasting note: (2018 vintage)
"Black, red fruit and hints of blue fruit, cigar box, tobacco leaf, tar, smoke, espresso and campfire notes create the enticing aromatic profile. The wine is powerful, full-bodied and concentrated, taking up a lot of room on your palate. Luxurious, palate staining, polished, and energetic in your mouth, the finish lingers with layers of smoked red, blue and black fruits, stone, tobacco leaf, oyster shell and smoke. I really like the length and purity in the finish. The end note kept going long after the wine left my glass. The wine blends 57.5% Merlot with 42.5%, 14.4% ABV." - Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider
Robert Parker The Wine Advocate
The 2018 La Mission Haut-Brion is a blend of 53.5% Merlot, 42.9% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3.6% Cabernet Franc. Deep garnet-purple colored, it emerges from the glass with a first wave of stewed black and red plums, mulberries and black raspberries scents, followed by pronounced notions of warm cassis, clove oil, violets and chocolate box, with hints of cast-iron pan, pencil lead and forest floor coming through after a few minutes. The medium to full-bodied palate shimmers with energy, delivering layers of red and black fruits with earthy and mineral sparks and a texture so satiny you need to remember to look for it, finishing with amazing vibrancy. This is so wonderfully evocative and singular, and yet it feels like its holding something back. It makes for an impressive glass right now, but give it a good 5 years in bottle to allow further nuances to emerge and expect it to seriously reward those who can wait a good 12-15 years, when it should really hit its stride. - Reviewed by: Lisa Perrotti-Brown
