Chateau La Mission Haut Brion 2016

LISA PERROTTI-BROWN: "A blend of 57.5% Merlot and 42.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2016 La Mission Haut-Brion is deep garnet-purple in color. It is uncharacteristically shy to begin, needing considerable coaxing to unlock notes of blackcurrant cordial, black cherries, and wild blueberries, plus opulent wafts of rose oil, Chinese five spice, dried lavender, and licorice. The full-bodied palate explodes with a whole array of cassis and blackberry preserves layers, followed by sparks of exotic spices and dried flowers, supported by very fine, exquisitely ripe tannins, leading to a firework display of spices and minerals on the finish of this atomic wine."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "This massive wall of fruit, rocks, stone, tannin and scorched earth hits you in all the right places. Dense, intense and concentrated, the fruit on the palate and in the nose comes with this fabulous campfire ember note. This is a long term hold. So be prepared to wait for as long as 2 decades for the wine to really show off its greatness. It will be worth the wait if you are either young enough, rich enough, or both!"

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "The 2016 La Mission Haut-Brion is a blend of 57.5% Merlot and 42.5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep garnet-purple in color, it is just a little muted to begin, soon unfurling to reveal slowly growing scents of crushed blackcurrants, black cherries, dark chocolate and candied violets with nuances of crushed rocks, tobacco leaf, forest floor and fragrant earth plus a hint of bergamot. Medium-bodied and exquisitely elegant, the palate offers perfectly ripe, fine-grained tannins and tons of freshness with layer upon layer of perfumed fruit and a very long, ferrous-laced finish."

DECANTER: "This is a wonderful wine, it’s absolutely precise, finely wrought and gorgeously balanced between richness and elegance, with notes of damson, black cherry, slate and rosemary. Silky soft tannins highlight the concentration of the fruit and the grilled oak notes that are La Mission’s signature, with a fresh core that stretches out the palate. A low pH gives tension through the palate, and is highly seductive. No Cabernet Franc this year. Drinking Window 2026 - 2044"

JEB DUNNUCK: "The 2016 Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion checks in as a Merlot-heavy blend, 57.5% Merlot and 42.5% Cabernet Sauvignon. About as pure and seamless (yet sexy) as they come in the vintage, it offers awesome notes of dried flowers, sweet currants, cedarwood, forest floor, and exotic spices. With a flawless texture, medium to full body, and ultra-fine tannins, this beauty builds incrementally on the palate with terrific mid-palate depth and a stunning finish. It’s sexier and more charming compared to the more backward Haut Brion, yet I suspect it will age just as long."

FALSTAFF: "Dunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, dezente Randaufhellung, zart tabakig-balsamisch unterlegtes schwarzes Waldbeerkonfit, süßes Edelholz, Gewürze, feine Exotik. Stoffig, elegant, straffe Textur, präsente, gut eingebundene Tannine, extraktsüßer Touch im Abgang, sehr gute Länge, feine Holzwürze im Nachhall, vielversprechendes Potenzial."

JAMES SUCKLING: "Regal wine, showing alluringly ripe and dark plums, that carries a wealth of complexity in its DNA - fine spices, leaves, graphite, violets and more. The palate has very precise drive and super focused style and delivers authoritative tannins that are arranged in linear fashion. Power with elegance. Try from 2024."

WEINWISSER: "Dichtes Purpur. Was für eine feminine Delikatesse! Duftige Heidelbeere und Nougatschokonoten, dahinter Schattenmorellen, Lakritze und dunkles Edelholz. Am kräftigen Gaumen mit stützendem Tannin, im Nachhall Mokka und Baumnuss, endet im langen Finale mit feiner Adstringenz."

JANCIS ROBINSON: "Tasted blind. Slightly sweaty nose and then lovely zest and interest. Thick with masses of exotic fruit over massive tannins. Most unusual. Very long. Sweet and spicy! Masses of interest."

WINE SPECTATOR: "This is super vivid, offering cassis, blackberry, raspberry and blueberry compote flavors that bristle with energy while a mouthwatering frame of anise and apple wood adds electric energy. This is borderline rambunctious but it's bridled well enough and when the fruit and wood sides mesh fully, this will be a rock star. Best from 2025 through 2040. 7,300 cases made."

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "As so often with this estate, this is a generous, opulent wine. This year a strong tannic element gives the wine a good structure. Smoky, textured and powerful, it needs many years to mature. Do not drink this wine before 2026."