La Mission Haut Brion 1955 (3.0L)

100 RP / 100 VM / 100 WCI / 98 AG / 19 JR / 96 JA

Even allowing for the greatness of Haut-Brion and Mouton-Rothschild, the 1955 La Mission is the "wine of the vintage." It possesses a sweet, cedary, clove, smoke, and black-raspberry-scented nose, and rich, full-bodied, remarkably harmonious flavors that ooze with ripe fruit, glycerin, and heady alcohol. The tannin has totally melted away, and the wine reveals considerable rust at the edge, so it is unlikely that the 1955 will improve with further cellaring. There is no indication of any fragility or decline, so this wine can be safely drunk for 10-15 more years. It is an amazing, complex, superbly well-balanced La Mission-Haut-Brion! - Robert Parker, Wine Advocate

The 1955 La Mission Haut-Brion is not only one of the best vintages ever made at the estate, but also represents one of the top five Bordeaux wines of the 20th century. This was my fourth bottle and to give it a perfect score was easy. Clear in color, it sports a bouquet that is unbelievably intense and yet refined, delivering a kaleidoscope of aromas: black fruit, crushed rock, freshly rolled tobacco and shaved black truffles (but not the aniseed note I noticed in previous examples). The palate is exquisitely poised, brimming over with tension and energy undimmed by the passing years, and symmetrical on the finish. Hints of blood orange linger tantalizingly on the aftertaste. You almost laugh at the unequivocal perfection. Tasted at the La Mission Haut-Brion dinner at Amuse Bouche in Hong Kong. - Neal Martin, Vinous Media

The 1955 La Mission Haut-Brion, served from double magnum, presented quite a contrast to what had been a set of mostly delicate wines up until this point. The 1955 La Mission offered up a compelling array of cigar box, ash, smoke, earthiness and dark fruit in a deep, powerful style. There were elements of a wild, almost animalistic quality to the wine that added to its personality. This was a magnificent bottle of an iconic wine. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media

Deep crimson. Rich and mineral with real lift and some balsam notes. Very lively even though it is clearly extremely mature and well-integrated and nuanced. Dense with an attractively sandy texture. After a while in the glass it gently started to lose its beautiful fruit but it's a marvel for its age (like the 1950 Mission). - Jancis Robinson

This is a wine that has in its lifetime received a few perfect scores, and it is still delivering, if slightly more quietly than in may have done in the past. Think tobacco leaf, white truffle, embers, cold ash, redcurrant, saffran, rust... you get the picture - extremely special, fragrant and full of joy. The bottle was brought by Mark Pardoe, served in one of the Berry Bros wonderful hidden dining rooms in St James, and was originally in his father's cellar. Just a thoroughly special wine.- Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux