Very seductive in the rich style with this cool perfume that lies over the darker berries of blackberries, clear licorice boat, pine leaves that have dried after the rain and salt. Full-bodied and playful La Mission with a powerful, yet charming mouthfeel of blackberries, plum, matches, leather, forest, herbs and dried confectionery. Structure in eternity. Long complex and fresh finish. Wonderful wine.
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Infanticide of a 375mL bottle, while I age the case of 750mL. I visited the chateau in 2018, just as the wine was going into the barrels and have been looking forward to this release.
Opened, poured into decanter. Tried a sip at opening, but waited an hour before pouring.
The wine is elegant with power. It was a bit closed after just an hour, with some cigar, leather and behaving a bit left bank. As it opened up more, the right bank asserted itself more and more.
Blueberries, early cherries, light tangyness, lasting on the tongue for 20s+. Balanced, and inviting to come back for more. Lovely. 96 today, should improve with 15-20 years in the cellar.
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Tasted double blind. This is an amazing wine with a very high aromatic complexity and a laser-sharp precision as the highlights. Very expressive and evolving from the first sniff to the last sip. It certainly would have got 97+ points but for my taste, this has a tad too much ripeness but especially it showed some alcohol heat. The older I get, the less I can cope with these high levels of alcohol. Anyway, this was amazing to taste. 93/94
TN: Extremely expressive nose full of dark cherries, dark berries, herbs, minerality, harmonious and superbly precise. Very alluring. On the palate a ripe, bold young Bordeaux with cherries, rosehip, raspberries, lots of blue fruit and some blackberries, lipstick, fresh herbs, wet stones. Very, very precise, ever-changing so slightly and intellectually appealing. The structure is superb with ultra-fine tannins and a high, integrated and balancing acidity. Overall harmonious with a fresh but creamy texture and just a touch too much alcohol. Very long and expanding finish.
Decanting: Not decanted, no decanting necessary.
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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.
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Take all the power La Mission Haut Brion is capable of harnessing, add the elegance, freshness, purity and layers of complexity that come at you in waves and you have an idea of what to expect in your glass. There is purity of the fruit with a natural smoke, tobacco leaf and burning ember profile in every sip. And the finish, it kept going long after the wine left my glass. Made from 57.5% Merlot and 42.5% and reaching 14.4% alcohol with a pH of 3.76, the harvest took place September 19-October 14. The Grand Vin represents 53% of the harvest. 97-99 Pts
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11/1/2022 - Irish_Wine wrote: 96 Points
Medium ruby.
Lovely deep and concentrated nose. Dark character with blackcurrant, blackberry, black plum, mint, cedar, sweet spices.
Incredible on the palate - amazing concentration, polished tannins, lovely acidity. Incredible long finish.
Lovely refined wine.
*** Tasted as part of a walkaround 2018 Bordeaux tasting. Not full notes ***
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2/22/2022 - beatles wrote: 94 Points
The vintage speaks here. Soft, warm rich, accent on the Merlot, velvety with plenty of chocolate, blackberry. Sexy stuff. 94+
#Marchal
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11/30/2021 - Andre Brattland wrote: 96 Points
Very seductive in the rich style with this cool perfume that lies over the darker berries of blackberries, clear licorice boat, pine leaves that have dried after the rain and salt. Full-bodied and playful La Mission with a powerful, yet charming mouthfeel of blackberries, plum, matches, leather, forest, herbs and dried confectionery. Structure in eternity. Long complex and fresh finish. Wonderful wine.
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9/5/2021 - novocane wrote: 96 Points
Infanticide of a 375mL bottle, while I age the case of 750mL. I visited the chateau in 2018, just as the wine was going into the barrels and have been looking forward to this release.
Opened, poured into decanter. Tried a sip at opening, but waited an hour before pouring.
The wine is elegant with power. It was a bit closed after just an hour, with some cigar, leather and behaving a bit left bank. As it opened up more, the right bank asserted itself more and more.
Blueberries, early cherries, light tangyness, lasting on the tongue for 20s+. Balanced, and inviting to come back for more. Lovely. 96 today, should improve with 15-20 years in the cellar.
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6/23/2021 - Cailles wrote: 94 Points
Tasted double blind. This is an amazing wine with a very high aromatic complexity and a laser-sharp precision as the highlights. Very expressive and evolving from the first sniff to the last sip. It certainly would have got 97+ points but for my taste, this has a tad too much ripeness but especially it showed some alcohol heat. The older I get, the less I can cope with these high levels of alcohol. Anyway, this was amazing to taste. 93/94
TN: Extremely expressive nose full of dark cherries, dark berries, herbs, minerality, harmonious and superbly precise. Very alluring. On the palate a ripe, bold young Bordeaux with cherries, rosehip, raspberries, lots of blue fruit and some blackberries, lipstick, fresh herbs, wet stones. Very, very precise, ever-changing so slightly and intellectually appealing. The structure is superb with ultra-fine tannins and a high, integrated and balancing acidity. Overall harmonious with a fresh but creamy texture and just a touch too much alcohol. Very long and expanding finish.
Decanting: Not decanted, no decanting necessary.
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3/9/2021 - Jeff Leve wrote: 99 Points
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.
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4/19/2019 - Jeff Leve wrote: 98 Points
Take all the power La Mission Haut Brion is capable of harnessing, add the elegance, freshness, purity and layers of complexity that come at you in waves and you have an idea of what to expect in your glass. There is purity of the fruit with a natural smoke, tobacco leaf and burning ember profile in every sip. And the finish, it kept going long after the wine left my glass. Made from 57.5% Merlot and 42.5% and reaching 14.4% alcohol with a pH of 3.76, the harvest took place September 19-October 14. The Grand Vin represents 53% of the harvest. 97-99 Pts
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