Professional reviews
Robert Parker (96)
Tasted blind at the Southwold 2012 tasting, the 2012 La Mission Haut-Brion showed brilliantly. It has an intense, floral bouquet with rose petals and strawberry preserve, hints of sous-bois and tobacco gently unfolding in the glass, gaining more earthiness as it aerates in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, broad and spicy with hints of bell pepper suggesting high quality Cabernet Franc. It fans out gloriously with a sustained tertiary finish that completes what is a wondrous La Mission Haut-Brion from Jean-Philippe Delmas and his team. Tasted January 2012.
James Suckling (94)
Gorgeous aromas of stones, currants and blueberries. Very aromatic. Mesmerizing. Full body, silky tannins and a long finish. Dense and rich. Layered. Earth and bark character. Lots of structure for the vintage.
Jancis Robinson (18)
Classic La Mission with Cabernet plus warm bricks and a really distinctive appeal with some liquorice notes. Long and really rather glorious! (JR)
Vinous (94)
The 2012 La Mission Haut-Brion has a very classy bouquet with cedar and graphite infused black fruit. It is not dissimilar to the 2012 Latour in many ways (in fact, nosing between my two glasses they are almost indistinguishable!) The palate is quite different though - quite precocious and fleshy on the entry, silky smooth with a caressing, irresistible finish, there is a sense of completeness here. Wonderful. Tasted twice at Bordeaux Index's Ten Year-On tasting and blind at the Southwold Ten-Year On tasting.
Jeb Dunnuck (97)
Continuing to show brilliantly, the 2012 Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion is a quintessential Graves, boasting a deep purple color as well as heavenly aromatics of blackcurrants, tobacco, scorched earth, graphite, and licorice. It’s a big, full-bodied beauty yet has a weightless, elegant style, building tannins, and a great finish. It needs a solid hour in a decanter if drinking today and promises to evolve beautifully for another 3-4 decades.
Rene Gabriel (18)
Rene Gabriel rates this wine 18/20 points.
