Chateau La Mission Haut Brion   La Mission Haut Brion

2016 La Mission Haut Brion

By Chateau La Mission Haut Brion

2016 La Mission Haut Brion from Château La Mission Haut Brion, Pessac-Léognan, Bordeaux

In the pantheon of Bordeaux estates, Château La Mission Haut Brion occupies an exalted position. 2016 as a vintage was immediately lauded as something out-of-the-ordinary, with Pessac-Léognan claiming its share of acclaim. As the world turns its gaze to investment-savvy wines, it is the 2016 La Mission Haut Brion from this esteemed house that captures the imagination of collectors and connoisseurs alike.

 

A Vintage To Remember: 2016 La Mission Haut Brion

The year 2016 will be chronicled in Bordeaux for producing wines with a structure to last decades and a balance that entices early drinking—a dichotomy that presents a fascinating case study for enthusiasts. The 2016 La Mission Haut Brion deftly demonstrates these characteristics, with a composition that is both powerful and elegant, a juxtaposition that this estate has mastered over centuries.

The vintage's climatic conditions were complex, beginning with a damp start and transitioning to an almost perfect warm and dry summer. It is these conditions that have imbued the 2016 La Mission Haut Brion with its extraordinary concentration wrapped in a velvet cloak. This wine delivers a profound nose of smoky red fruits, suggestive of the earthy purity of its terroir coupled with sparing oak nuances — all held together by taut tannins and impeccable acidity that promise longevity and reward patience.

On the palate, there is a symphony of ripe blackberry and cassis notes, harmonized with essences of graphite and herbs — quintessential markers for this emblematic label. This exceptional blend solicits fascination with its seamless integration of flavors and tannins, alongside an unwavering freshness piercing through the opulence, bearing testimony to the mastery of Château La Mission Haut Brion's winemaking.

 

A Concluding Thought

Embedded within each bottle of the fledgling yet stately 2016 La Mission Haut Brion lies an investment worth nurturing. Here is a creation marked by nature's flourish and human artisanship; one where intricate layers unfurl with time. It glimmers as a beacon for those seeking to embellish their collection with a vintage that will stand out for years to come.

Market price (GBP)

£2,710.00

12x75cl

Highest score

97

POP score

159.41

Scores and tasting notes

96-97

The texture to this is very beautiful with chewy yet very polished tannins. Full-bodied, tight and mouth-filling. Starts very slowly and then takes off. Love the energy in this.

James Suckling - jamessuckling.com, April 4th 2017

18.5++

Glowing deep crimson. Very intense and ripe. Snazzy and spicy. Polished and racy. Very firm and lots of ripe tannins – very much à La Mission. Super-sophisticated. Inky and fresh and so ripe and confident. A dry style but great. Racy but tannic.

Jancis Robinson - jancisrobinson.com

Vintage performance