Château La Mission Haut Brion 2018

Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider

The Wine Independent

VertdeVin

The nose is elegant, fine, precise, harmonious and offers a controlled power, intensity as well as a beautiful finesse. It reveals notes of fleshy blackberry, fleshy raspberry, small notes of bright cassis associated with touches of small bright black fruits, graphite, violet/cornflower as well as very fine hints of sugared mild tobacco, zan, toasted almond, sweet spices, a very discreet hint of gravels/iodine minerality and an imperceptible hint of pepper. The palate is fruity, elegant, beautifully precise, gourmand, acidulous, stretched and offers delicacy, a beautiful fleshy/juicy/pulpy/fresh fruit, suppleness, fat and a certain well-built richness. On the palate this wine expresses notes of crushed cassis, fleshy/crushed blackberry, small notes of violet associated with touches of pepper, a racy minerality/graphite, small red fruits as well as small hints of sugared mild tobacco, chocolate, very fine hints of vanilla and a subtle hint of caramelization (in the background). Good length. Tannins are elegant and supple. Sapidity and a very fine chew on the finish. A beautiful persistence on notes of minerality, flowers/varietal and caramelization.

James Suckling

Enticing aromas of currant, crushed stone, blueberry, lead pencil, iodine and graphite follow through to a full body with round, chewy tannins that are polished and powerful, yet balanced and beautiful. In the end, the tannins are compact and tight at the finish. But you want to drink it. Try after 2027, when it will open.

Robert Parker Wine Advocate

The 2018 La Mission Haut-Brion is a blend of 53.5% Merlot, 42.9% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3.6% Cabernet Franc. Deep garnet-purple colored, it emerges from the glass with a first wave of stewed black and red plums, mulberries and black raspberries scents, followed by pronounced notions of warm cassis, clove oil, violets and chocolate box, with hints of cast-iron pan, pencil lead and forest floor coming through after a few minutes. The medium to full-bodied palate shimmers with energy, delivering layers of red and black fruits with earthy and mineral sparks and a texture so satiny you need to remember to look for it, finishing with amazing vibrancy. This is so wonderfully evocative and singular, and yet it feels like its holding something back. It makes for an impressive glass right now, but give it a good 5 years in bottle to allow further nuances to emerge and expect it to seriously reward those who can wait a good 12-15 years, when it should really hit its stride.