Chateau La Mission Haut Brion   La Mission Haut Brion

1982 La Mission Haut Brion

By Chateau La Mission Haut Brion

1982 La Mission Haut Brion from Chateau La Mission Haut Brion, Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux

The storied 1982 vintage from Bordeaux has long been etched in the annals of vinous history as one of remarkable prowess and enchantment, a year in which Chateau La Mission Haut Brion triumphed with a release that elicited unanimous applause from collectors and connoisseurs alike. The 1982 La Mission Haut Brion is not merely a testament to its esteemed pedigree, but a vivid portrayal of an extraordinary year for Bordeaux.

 

A Vintage of Divine Proportion

While each vintage tells its tale, the 1982 La Mission Haut Brion narrates an epic; it was crafted in an age graced by nature's bequest of climatic fortune, permitting the bunches to achieve optimum ripeness under the beneficent Bordelaise sun. The prowess of Pessac-Leognan’s terroir shines through in a harmonious blend that encapsulates the mastery attainable within this storied landscape.

This wine is a tapestry of complexity, weaving together layers of dark fruit with an intricate lattice of tannins—a testament to both its impeccable lineage and the fastidious care in viniculture. Its aroma is a rich tableau featuring hints of tobacco and smouldering ember clung amongst cassis and ripe plum—a scent that becomes synonymous with refined opulence.

In the glass, the 1982 chateau bottling greets one with the promise of balance and depth—an expansive structure matched only by its grace. With each passing year in bottle, it transcends further, coalescing into a symphony of taste that beckons the aficionado towards a sublime experience.

 

Maturation into Magnificence

Considering La Mission Haut Brion's illustrious reputation among investors and collectors, it is no coincidence that the 1982 vintage occupies a special seat at the high table. Its collectability and propensity for maturation have firmly established it as a lynchpin holding together many an esteemed portfolio. Moreover, its performance on both the palate and market continues to endorse its inclusion as a cornerstone investment.

In valorising this remarkable harvest, it is evident that the 1982 La Mission Haut Brion emerges not simply as one of the estate’s crowning achievements but stands as an icon within Pessac-Leognan. As this storied year continues to mature and evolve within the bottle, its role as an asset within any serious collection remains unquestioned—a bastion of value and pleasure.

Current market price

£9,190.00

12x75cl

Highest score

100

POP score

459.5

Scores and tasting notes

100

A monumental wine, this historic La Mission-Haut-Brion was the last vintage made by the descendants of the Woltner family, who had owned this estate for decades prior to selling it to their neighbors, the Dillon family (the American owners of cross-street rival, Chateau Haut-Brion). The 1982 admirably demonstrates the magnificence of La Mission as well as the singularity of this amazing terroir. I had the good fortune of tasting it from barrel (where it was an enormous Graves fruit bomb) and watching it develop more nuances in bottle. At age 30, it remains a majestic, multidimensional, profound Bordeaux with another 20-30+ years of life ahead of it. It's no secret that the great vintages of Bordeaux have levels of fruit extract and depth that go beyond other years. It is this fruit, often referred to as “fat” or “concentration,” that takes decades to dissipate and fade. As it does so, the extraordinary aromatic expression of the terroir asserts itself. Remarkably, the 1982 is still in late adolescence and has not yet reached its peak. Early in my career, much of my reputation was established on calling this vintage correctly, but I never in my wildest dreams thought the 1982s would mature as slowly and last as long as some seem capable of doing. One of the handful of perfect wines of the vintage, the La Mission still possesses a remarkably dense ruby/purple color with only a slight garnet and lightening at the edge. The fruit-dominated aromatics reveal lots of cassis, blueberry, scorched earth, black truffle, incense, graphite and high-class, unsmoked cigar tobacco-like notes. Still exhibiting remarkable concentration, enormous body, silky sweet tannin, and no perceptible acidity, the 1982 remains fresh, delineated and super-compelling. A massive La Mission made by the Dewravin family and their winemakers, all of whom were dismissed the following year when the estate was acquired by Haut-Brion, this modern day legend shows no signs of decline. In fact, it may not have yet reached its peak. Anticipated maturity: now-2060+.

Robert Parker Jr - Wine Advocate #102

97

La Mission really does have its own character. Full body with velvety tannins with hints of berry, gravel and iodine. Some may not like the later but it tells you it's La Mission. What a wine. Drink now.

James Suckling - jamessuckling.com, December 31st 2012

97

Tasted at Pebbles/Zachy's 1982 dinner in Hong Kong. This is easily the finest bottle of La Mission '82 that I have encountered. Here it has a delirious nose with tertiary black fruit, dried flowers, a slight balsam note and wild heather. It is tight at first and does not possess the nuance of Haut Brion '82, but it gathers steam with aeration and blossoms after 20 minutes in the glass, offering more tobacco and cigar box scents. The palate is medium-bodied with extremely fine tannins and perfectly pitched acidity. It has a sense of vibrancy that is compelling and there is a convincing sense of place, that is to say, a wine such as this could only be born from the finest Graves terroirs. This is an outstanding wine that will continue to drink with style for a number of years

Neal Martin - Wine Journal Jan 2013

Vintage performance