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La Mission Haut Brion 2005 (6.0L)
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Critic Scores, Reviews & Descriptions
100 WA /100 VM / 100 WI / 100 JD / 100 WCI / 99 JS / 98 DE / 98 JA / 97 WS / 97 WE / 19++ JR
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.- Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate
The 2005 La Mission Haut-Brion is unquestionably one of the wines of the vintage. Effusive aromatics and bright, red-toned fruit make a strong first impression. A wine of vertical intensity and explosive energy, the 2005 is a towering masterpiece. Today it is just at the beginning of a long drinking window that will last another few decades. Red cherry, plum, leather, spice, gravel, smoke, blood orange and pomegranate infuse the palate staining finish. In 2005, La Mission is a wine that satisfies all the senses, from the intellectual to the hedonistic. Magnificent. Tasted two times.-Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media
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. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Independent
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.--Jeb Dunnuck
This is very rich and layered for La Mission with ultra-polished tannins yet velvety and beautiful in texture. Its fully-bodied and full of character that shows plums, berries, wet earth and oyster shell flavors that are so unique to reds from this estate. Superb quality. Better to drink this in 2020 but try now to feel the greatness.-James Suckling
A little more approachable than the Haut-Brion at this moment in time, but still at the very beginning of its drinking life, with decades ahead of it. Expect your senses to be drenched in pulses of electricity running through the palate, studding the waves of loganberry, blackberry and red cherry fruits. Feels carefully delineated and in balance, luscious and sculpted, with peony floral notes as it opens up. A classic Mission Haut-Brion, exceptionally impressive. 100% new oak.-Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux
The Indian spices and blackberry on the nose are so enticing and inspiring, leading to a full-bodied palate, with very polished tannins that caress. Goes on and on as this builds on the palate, with a mineral and berry aftertaste. For long-term aging. Best after 2015. 5,665 cases made.-Wine Spectator
Dark and dense, but with such opulent fruit, this is a year when La Mission shows its softer, richer side by comparison with neighbor Haut-Brion. There is spice and exotic and generous red fruits to give with the concentration. It has great power, but it also has a velvet structure. — Roger Voss, Wine Enthusiast
Bright, deep crimson. Super-healthy looking. Briary autumn leaf like nose. Strongly aromatic. Very dry start but with wonderful spread of ripe, leafy fruit, plus a hint of ripe red berries, over the palate. Only medium body – it’s not alcohol but concentration that distinguishes this wine. Very dry finish and then an aftertaste that spreads out like a peacock’s tail. Great potential but it would be a shame to drink this for at least 8, preferably 10, years.- Jancis Robinson
