2016 Château La Mission Haut-Brion
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Tasting notes
The 2016 La Mission Haut-Brion showed better here at Bordeaux Index's tasting than a couple of weeks later at the Southwold tasting. It has a more extrovert bouquet compared to the Haut-Brion: a mixture of red and black fruit, sage and black truffle, a light marine influence that emerges with time. The palate is medium-bodied with slightly grainy tannins. There is slightly more backbone and grip than the First Growth, wonderful sapidity on the harmonious finish that lingers in the mouth. Brilliant. Tasted at the 10-Year-On tasting at Bordeaux Index.
Critic scores
Average Score
James Suckling
Wine Enthusiast
More reviews and scores
Make no mistake, 2016 La Mission Haut Brion is a strong and impressive wine. It has loads of strong, powerful and smoky fruit and a big and powerful backbone of tannins, acidity and loads of crunchy and peppery layers. That is the good news. The bad news is that the wine is almost completely closed refusing to provide a more thorough look into its interesting personality. This is a classic La Mission that would potentially need another 15 years of cellaring before the fun really starts.
Love the balance and elegance, this is a superb La Mission, with length, fine but plentiful tannins, with baking spices, leather, rose bud, white truffle, lace-like tannins. Has lift and grace but also a ton of depth, heading into its drinking window and ready to wow anyone lucky enough to own it. 100% new French oak for ageing.
The nose shows dark fruit, subtle dark chocolate and an earthy undertone. The palate is medium- to full-bodied with delineated, ethereal fruit, yet it gains definition from linear, polished, silky tannins. Long and penetrating. Wonderful balance between power and elegance. Drink now or hold. 10 Years On retrospective.
About the producer
Ch. la Mission Haut-Brion – sister estate of Ch. Haut-Brion and part of the Clarence Dillon stable – is one of the greatest estates in all of Bordeaux. Based in Pessac-Léognan but not officially classified, it produces outstanding red and white wines.