Château La Mission Haut Brion - Pessac-Léognan 2005

Wine Advocate

100 / 100

par Robert Parker le 30/06/2015

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.

Jancis Robinson

18 / 20

par Jancis Robinson le 09/02/2015

Deep classic shaded crimson. High-toned mineral nose that should really satisfy traditionalists. A savoury yeast-extract/Marmite edge. Very directed and focused and Cabernet on the palate – almost essence of Cabernet. Marked acidity and tannin. Utterly classic – not an ounce of spare flesh. Everything there for a fine, long future.

La Revue du Vin de France

17,5 / 20

le 20/10/2014

Grande concentration, matière puissante aux arômes un peu sudistes. La bouche est ample présentant un léger confit en finale. On peut encore le garder pour gagner en fondu de tanins.

Wine Advocate

98 / 100

par Robert Parker le 31/08/2012

Another massive effort, the inky/purple-colored 2005 La Mission-Haut-Brion is broodingly backward and foreboding. The aromatic profile offers hints of charcoal, freshly laid hot tar, truffles, graphite and black fruits. Full-bodied, powerful, tannic and almost painfully extracted and concentrated with tremendous structure, good acidity and a massive finish, this infant wine is largely unchanged since I first tasted it from bottle. If everything comes together in 10-15 years, this brilliant 2005 should merit a triple digit score. Anticipated maturity: 2020-2050+.(98+ points)

Wein Wisser

19 / 20

par René Gabriel le 28/06/2010

Königlich, Minze, Schoko, Portnuancen. Klassisch.

Wine Advocate

99 / 100

par Neal Martin le 15/06/2009

Tasted single blind at Southwold. A deep limpid garnet core. This has a very deep, concentrated nose with blackberry, plum, black olive, smoke with a touch of graphite. Brilliant definition and with aeration: a faint touch of damson. The palate is full-bodied with immense concentration, layers and layers of black fruits, cedar, graphite, a touch of spice. Incredible precision and the tannic, muscular finish goes on and on. Close to perfection. Drink 2012-2040. Tasted January 2009.

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

94 / 100

par Stephen Tanzer le 30/06/2008

Deep ruby-red. Black raspberry and licorice on the nose. Dense and sweet but youthfully tight; a serious young wine with terrific verve and the acid/tannin backbone to support a long and glorious evolution in bottle. Very long on the back end, with mouth-saturating fruit and tannins. Like La Chapelle-and in direct contrast to Bahans and Haut-Brion-this is quite backward today, and almost certain to merit a higher rating in the future. 94(?+) 94(?+)

Wine Advocate

97 / 100

par Robert Parker le 07/05/2008

There are slightly more than 5,000 cases of the 2005 La Mission-Haut-Brion, a blend of 69% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, and a touch of Cabernet Franc. While there is little difference between La Mission and Haut-Brion’s terroirs (their vineyards are only separated by a two-lane road), La Mission possesses more fat, texture, and intensity. An enormously endowed wine with huge tannin and structure, the 2005 offers a quintessential Graves bouquet of burning embers, charcoal, blackberries, truffles, black currants, and a meaty character. Reminiscent of the 1989, with more structure as well as a longer window of drinkability, the 2005 may be a modern day, improved version of a vintage such as 1955, which was well-endowed, very tannic, and took a long time to come around. While fabulously full-bodied and unctuous, the 2005 will not provide much charm in its youth. It needs 8-10 years of cellaring, and should age effortlessly for 30-40 years.

Wine Spectator

97 / 100

par James Suckling le 22/02/2008

Wine Advocate

96-100 / 100

par Robert Parker le 04/05/2007

The 2005 La Mission-Haut-Brion is even more impressive this year than it was in 2006. There are approximately 5,500 cases of this blend of 69% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 1% Cabernet Franc. Jean-Philippe Delmas told me that for the first time in this vineyard’s history, the entire vineyard was seriously crop-thinned. The result is a wine that is reminiscent of the 1989, but with more structure, muscle, and tannin. However, the tannin is sweet – a good sign in a wine with such extraordinary power and richness. Scorched earth, blueberries, blackberries, and a hint of truffles appear in the staggering aromatics. The wine is massive in the mouth, with incredible fat and richness as well as mouth-searing levels of velvety tannin in the finish. Even though the fruit is wonderfully ripe and the texture is unctuous, this stunning offering will not be drinkable for 6-7 years, and should keep for 25 years thereafter.

Wine Advocate

95-97 / 100

par Robert Parker le 01/05/2006

The deep ruby/purple-hued 2005 La Mission-Haut-Brion is the finest offering from this estate since the 2000, a vintage it resembles in power, muscle, and structure. A gorgeous perfume of creosote, blueberries, and black fruits is followed by powerful, full-bodied flavors with great purity as well as remarkable freshness. Already revealing a certain unctuosity and thickness, it should continue to put on weight and develop magnificently for 25-30+ years. La Mission’s staff believes it is more similar to the 1990 than 2000, but it is too early for me to agree or disagree. Nevertheless, this is a profound La Mission-Haut-Brion. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2030+.

Wine Spectator

95-100 / 100

par James Suckling le 30/03/2006

Loads of crushed berries and flowers on the nose. Very sweet dark fruits. Full-bodied, with amazing concentration of fruit. Big, silky tannins. The depth of fruit is there. Dig down and find it. The richest La Mission ever. —J.S.