2005 Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion, Pessac-Leognan, D-Magnum (3L)

RP100 "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." RP Aug 2012

LP100 "The 2005 La Mission Haut-Brion is a blend of 69% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 1% Cabernet Franc. Deep garnet-brick in color, it slowly grows on the nose to offer earthy suggestions of damp soil, wild mushrooms, and crushed rocks, over a flamboyant core of warm cassis and fruitcake, plus a hint of Sichuan pepper. Medium to full-bodied, with an electric backbone of energy and firm, ripe tannins supporting the generous fruit, it finishes with incredibly persistent earth and mineral layers. This evocative beauty is just entering its drinking window, yet has the stamina and stuffing to give a further 40 years+ of pleasure. Purchased by Domaine Clarence Dillon in 1983, the vineyard is smaller than Haut-Brion, at 75 acres. It is very close to Haut-Brion - about a 5-minute drive - with some of the vines located near the Chateau, but there are sections of vineyard located further away in Talence, to the east of Pessac, and thus with a very different terroir / style, with sand, gravel, chalk, and clay soils. The planting density is very high at 10,000 vines per hectare. La Mission Haut-Brion tends to be more gregarious, opulent, and rich than Haut-Brion, as demonstrated by this 2005." LPB for TWI Jul 2022

JD100 "Utterly seamless and as insanely good as it gets, the 2005 Château La Mission Haut-Brion checks in as 69% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the rest Cabernet Franc raised in a mix of new and used barrels. Its deep ruby/plum hue is followed by an incredible perfume of blackcurrants, smoked tobacco, chocolate, leafy herbs, and graphite that’s to die for. Rich, full-bodied, and concentrated on the palate, with tons of structure, it nevertheless glides across the palate with no sensation of weight or heaviness and has incredible length on the finish. This is a quintessential, opulent, sexy La Mission that isn’t far off the style of the 2009. It needs air to show at its best today but is unquestionably in the early stages of its prime drinking window. It will evolve for another 30-40+ years in cold cellars." JD Apr 2024