2006 Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion Cru Classe, Pessac-Leognan

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

Colour: Red

Vintage: 2006

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

97 DR

Colour still tight and inky at 10 years old. Smooth, silky, very expressive; this is so powerful it almost lulls you into a false sense of security with the tannin integration on the first attack. Deceptively concentrated, this has persistency and freshness, plus layers of crushed black fruits, tar, cigar smoke and saffron. Right up there with the best wines of the tasting. Drinking Window: 2017 - 2036
Tasted by: Jane Anson Part of Bordeaux 2006: Which wines have aged well?

Decanter

961 WL

Quality 959 | Brand 989 | Economics 917 | buzz brand, investment staple
Quality: Predicted life of 16 years, one of the longest drinking windows in its peer group for the 2006 vintage, 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 £52 for the 2006 vintage Production: Lower production than its peer group average of 92,455 bottles

- www.wine-lister.com June 2017

Wine Lister

95 RP

The 2006 La Mission Haut-Brion is showing very well at age 15, and even though it's still five or six years away from the beginning of its plateau of maturity, it is already quite expressive, wafting from the glass with aromas of blackberries and blackcurrants mingled with notions of smoke, cigar wrapper, black truffle and loamy soil. Full-bodied, fleshy and muscular, with a richly layered core of fruit framed by an abundance of ripe, powdery tannin, in a blind tasting I suspect many would confuse it with a 2005. WK
A somewhat under-the-radar La Mission, the 2006 was generally overlooked following the brilliance of the 2005. A young, dense purple-hued wine that is developing beautifully, it exhibits notes of Asian plum sauce, charcoal, barbecue smoke, roasted meats, graphite and background oak. Full-bodied with good acidity, moderate tannin and a vigorous, powerful youthfulness, the 2006 will age more quickly than the 2005, but it still requires another 5-8 years of cellaring. Anticipated Maturity: 2014-2035.

94 points Robert Parker (Wine Advocate #202, Aug 2012)

Wine Advocate

95 WS

Almost jammy, with vanilla bean and coffee undertones. Full-bodied and very powerful, with big, juicy tannins and a long finish. Very big and generous for the vintage, showing exceptional quality. Best after 2015. James Suckling

Wine Spectator

94 NM

Tasted at Bordeaux Index's annual 10-Year On tasting in London. The 2006 Château La Mission Haut-Brion has a very attractive, captivating bouquet: red berry fruit, warm gravel, Hoisin and a pinch of truffle all beautifully conveyed. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin that lend this La Mission such symmetry and detail. It is not a powerful wine, never pressing its foot down hard on the accelerator, but that is one of it strengths, and those black truffle and mineral notes surfacing towards the poised finish are entrancing. Classic from start to finish, the only facet that is missing is that peacock's tail on the finish. Tasted January 2016.
– eRobertParker.com, May 2016

Neal Martin

94 JL

Full bodied, still youthful, tannic and fresh, the wine has smoke, tobacco, cassis, ripe black fruits and tannins to spare. However, the tannins are firm and there is a strictness to the wines classic character that will appeal to some more than others. You will need to wait at least a decade before this opens and is fun to drink. Tasted May 2016

Jeff Leve

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