2005 Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion Cru Classe, Pessac-Leognan

Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion Cru Classe, Pessac-Leognan

Colour: Red

Vintage: 2005

Region: Bordeaux, Pessac-Leognan

Lying across the road from the 1st Growth Chateau Haut Brion, La Mission has been producing wines that equal, and sometimes surpass, the 1st Growths. It is unquestionably one of the finest estates in Graves, producing full bodied wines of intense richness, extract and tannin, with comparable consistency to Latour in creating decent wines in mediocre vintages. This is due in no small measure to the winemaking brilliance of Jean Delmas who was brought into the team in 1983 when the Dillon family (owners of Chateau Haut Brion) bought the estate from the descendents of the Woltner family. Credit must be given to the Woltners who, during their 65 year reign, helped establish La Mission as a wine of 1st Growth quality. However it was Jean, and now his son Jean-Philippe, who have taken that inherent quality and turned it into one of the most sought-after wines in the world. Indeed it boasts more perfect scores than almost any other Bordeaux property.

Tasting Notes and Scores

99 JS

This is very rich and layered for La Mission with ultra-polished tannins yet velvety and beautiful in texture. It's fully-bodied and full of character that shows plums, berries, wet earth and oyster shell flavors that are so unique to reds from this estate. Superb quality. Better to drink this in 2020 but try now to feel the greatness.

James Suckling

98 JL

Perhaps more decanting would have helped. While still a beauty this was not quite as expressive or complex as other bottles. Still, it would be impossible not to find this wine seamless. It is concentrated, deep, long, luscious, rich and fresh. Primary, but obviously complex, if you can wait, and you should, give this until at least 2025, and you will be rewarded with a stellar drinking experience. Tasted Sept 2018

Jeff Leve

979 WL

Quality 968 | Brand 989 | Economics 986 | buzz brand
Quality: Predicted life of 14 years, one of the longest drinking windows in its peer group, which averages 9 years Brand: Strong restaurant presence, featuring on 33 of the world's top wine lists, including The River Café at Brooklyn Economics: Above its peer group average price of £87 for the 2005 vintage Production: Lower production than its peer group average of 92,455 bottles

- www.wine-lister.com June 2017

Wine Lister

97 NM

The 2005 La Mission Haut-Brion is a wine that I have had the pleasure of tasting on several occasions. The most recent bottle, included in a 2005 horizontal, puts it in a very favorable light even against strong competition. The bouquet bursts from the glass with intense blackberry, cedar and tobacco scents, plus background aromas of fig and damson, as you would expect from a warm summer. The palate is structured, yet the Merlot content (at 69%, the highest in many years) renders this Pessac-Léognan much more pliant than others from this vintage. A mélange of red and black fruits vie for attention, followed by warm gravel and black olives. Quite rich and yet not grippy; with decanting, you could broach this now, though personally I would prefer to leave it for several more years. Outstanding.

Neal Martin

97 WS

The Indian spices and blackberry on the nose are so enticing and inspiring, leading to a full-bodied palate, with very polished tannins that caress. Goes on and on as this builds on the palate, with a mineral and berry aftertaste. For long-term aging. Best after 2015.

Wine Spectator

95 MS

Dark, youthful red; still relatively closed, but with a dense blackcurrant fruit clear; full, concentrated fresh, firmly but finely tannic; rich yet restrained, such a seductive abundance of ripe red and blackcurrant flavour, crisply defined, clearly mineral tinged, long to taste, subtly mouthcoating, with terrific fruit and scent, and
just a touch of alcoholic warmth on the finish. A full, very fine and most complete LMHB. 2022-45+.

Michael Schuster

100 RP

The 2005 La Mission Haut-Brion is pure perfection. It has an absolutely extraordinary nose of sweet blackberries, cassis and spring flowers with some underlying minerality, a full-bodied mouthfeel, gorgeously velvety tannins (which is unusual in this vintage) and a long, textured, multi-layered finish that must last 50+ seconds. This is a fabulous wine and a great effort from this hallowed terroir. Drink this modern-day legend over the next 30+ years. Only 5,500 cases were produced of this blend of 69% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and 1% Cabernet Franc.

Robert Parker (Wine Advocate #219, Jun 2015)

Wine Advocate

100 AG

The 2005 La Mission Haut-Brion is unquestionably one of the wines of the vintage. Effusive aromatics and bright, red-toned fruit make a strong first impression. A wine of vertical intensity and explosive energy, the 2005 is a towering masterpiece. Today it is just at the beginning of a long drinking window that will last another few decades. Red cherry, plum, leather, spice, gravel, smoke, blood orange and pomegranate infuse the palate staining finish. In 2005, La Mission is a wine that satisfies all the senses, from the intellectual to the hedonistic. Magnificent. Tasted two times.

Antonio Galloni

Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion Cru Classe, Pessac-Leognan