Chateau La Mission Haut Brion   La Mission Haut Brion

2015 La Mission Haut Brion

By Chateau La Mission Haut Brion

2015 La Mission Haut Brion from Chateau La Mission Haut Brion, Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux

The prodigious 2015 La Mission Haut Brion from Chateau La Mission Haut Brion displays an extraordinary character that bespeaks the finesse of the Pessac-Leognan terroir under a masterful vintage. As an experienced British wine critic, I am often in search of wines that tell a story not just of their origin, but of the year they were crafted. The 2015 La Mission Haut Brion tells such a tale, as it exemplifies what meticulous viticulture and astute winemaking can achieve in an exceptional year.

 

A Vintage That Speaks Volumes

The growing season leading to the harvest of 2015 in Bordeaux was one blessed with ideal conditions; ample sunshine and just the right amount of rainfall contributed to vine balance and fruit maturation, culminating in grapes that bore the potential for greatness. The 2015 La Mission Haut Brion is a reflection of this benevolence—expressed through its rich, layered complexity and the impeccable structure that is already hinting at its astonishing longevity.

 

Investment Potential in Every Sip

On approach, the wine greets one's olfactory senses with a bouquet flourishing with dark fruits entwined with subtle hints of smoked earth and lingering mineral undertones. On the palate, each sip offers a harmonious blend suave tannins and vibrant acidity, underscored by flavours of cassis, plums, and a whisper of graphite – a distinguished hallmark of Chateau La Mission Haut Brion 's deft hand in blending. It's this combination of rich history and contemporary excellence that makes investing in such a bottle not just a pleasure for the palate but also a savvy decision for connoisseurs and investors alike.

In summary, the 2015 vintage from Chateau La Mission Haut Brion stands as a testament to a particularly favourable Bordeaux year, encapsulating both present delectability and future promise for discerning investors. As it continues to evolve gracefully within the sanctity of the bottle, those who secure positions in this wine now will no doubt delight in watching its narrative unfold over time.

Current market price

£3,024.00

12x75cl

Highest score

100

POP score

151.2

Scores and tasting notes

100

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.

James Suckling - jamessuckling.com

97-99

The 2015 La Mission Haut Brion is a blend of 58% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon and 7% Cabernet Franc that was picked between 9 September and 1 October. Matured in 78% new oak, it has an incredibly pure bouquet with intense blueberry, blackberry, iodine and cold stone aromas that soar from the glass. There is nothing holding back here - a La Mission with real exuberance. The palate is medium-bodied with incredible intensity in the mouth, but without any leaden weight. It is a startling La Mission Haut-Brion to behold at this early stage. It is one of those wines where as a professional critic, I had to adopt a poker face to hide the untrammeled joy this nascent wine imparts. Complete and profound, the 2015 will rank as one of the great modern-day classics from this grand estate, another to add to that long list of magical La Missions.

Neal Martin - eRobertParker.com, #224, April 2016

95

Marking a huge contrast with the cooler, more graceful 2014 (which I prefer), this is a muscular, even monumental red: tannic, concentrated and a little pruney. It teeters on the edge of excess, but it is pulled back by its acidity. I will watch how it ages with interest. Drink: 2025-35

Tim Atkin - timatkin.com

18.5

58% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon. Picked from 9 September to 1 October. Very dark and glamorous-looking. Fairly dumb nose but obviously great weight and intensity. A big brooding monster! Massive charge of tannins. Big and pretty alcoholic on the end. Not very communicative at the moment. Lots of palate-tanning tannins. After a while in the glass, a whiff of cordite emerged. Sorcery?!

Jancis Robinson - jancisrobinson.com

Vintage performance