Mission Haut Brion - Pessac-Léognan 2015

Vinous

96

par Neal Martin le 16/07/2025

The 2015 La Mission Haut-Brion has a supremely gifted bouquet with vigorous blackberry, pencil box and cedar scents that seem to have moved little since I last tasted it in 2019. The palate is medium-bodied, very ripe and actually much toastier than I remembered. This has pliant tannins and the savory element I picked up on before is now accentuated. That shaves some of the enjoyment away on the finish, hence my score. Tasted at the 2015 Ten-Year-On tasting at Bordeaux Index.

Vinous

98

par Neal Martin le 10/07/2019

The 2015 La Mission Haut-Brion is blessed with an outstanding bouquet of brilliantly focused and delineated black fruit laced with graphite and cedar - pure class. The medium-bodied, harmonious palate delivers fine-grained tannin and impressive depth. There is a slight savory element (just like the Haut-Brion) that infuses the middle, and brown spices and sage linger on the finish. This is a profound La Mission Haut-Brion that dares surpass Haut-Brion on this showing. Tasted blind at the Southwold 2015 Bordeaux tasting.

Wine Advocate

98

par Neal Martin le 02/03/2018

 The La Mission Haut Brion 2015 Blanc, a blend of 67% Sémillon and 33% Sauvignon Blanc, was surprisingly closed on the nose when I tasted it at the château. Despite encouragement it reveals nuanced wet wool, dried honey and Granny Smith apple scents, but I was expecting more vigor. The palate is very well balanced with a fine line of acidity, the oak very well integrated with a light, nutty, marzipan-tinged finish that lingers in the mouth. This is difficult to read at the moment, so I will revisit this with some bottle age. Anticipated maturity: 2022 - 2040. 

Vinous

96

par Antonio Galloni le 27/02/2018

The 2015 La Mission Haut-Brion is every bit the wine I had hoped it would be. Rich, dramatic and powerful, it exudes intensity in all of its many dimensions. Naturally, the aromatics that make La Mission so compelling have not even begun to develop. Readers should plan on cellaring the 2015 for at least a decade, although I suspect the wine won't be ready to drink before age 20, as it clearly needs to shed some baby fat. A heady mélange of black cherry, plum, smoke, licorice and tobacco builds into the dramatic, deeply expressive finish.

Wine Advocate

98

par Lisa Perrotti-Brown le 22/02/2018

The deep garnet-purple colored 2015 La Mission Haut-Brion is a blend of 58% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 35% Cabernet Sauvignon. Youthfully mute with bright, youthful red currants, black raspberries, cassis and freshly crushed blackberries notions, it slowly unfurls to reveal an earthy/minerally undercurrent of damp soil, charcoal, iron ore and truffles plus a waft of violets. Medium to full-bodied, decadently fruited and yet wonderfully elegant with very ripe, very silky tannins, freshness that sits well in the background and an almost electric intensity of vibrant red and black fruit flavors, it finishes long and minerally. Just. Beautiful. Consider giving it 6-7 years in bottle before broaching and drink it over the next 30+.

Wine Spectator

96

par James Molesworth le 15/02/2018

Alluring, with steeped plum, blackberry and açaí berry fruit imparting a distinctive edge. Slightly burly tannins roam underneath but the fruit is so fleshy and broad they are easily absorbed, while dark pudding, warm tar, licorice snap and roasted alder notes flow in on the lengthy finish. Reveals a gorgeous Turkish coffee accent at the very end. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2025 through 2040. 6,800 cases made.  –JM

Jamessuckling.com

100

par James Suckling le 12/02/2018

Rose petals, sandalwood and currants with some plums and fruit tea. Full-bodied, tight and focused. Incredibly straight and minerally. Toned muscles here. Tannic. Traditional and unwavering. Try in 2024.

Jeb DUNNUCK

98

par Jeb Dunnuck le 30/11/2017

Jamessuckling.com

100

par James Suckling le 30/06/2016

The 100-point 2015 La Mission Haut-Brion is almost as persuasive as the 2015 Margaux. Its similar tannin structure and texture that make the wine so perfect. The almost pure cabernet sauvignon is a benchmark for the grape type. Here is my tasting note from visiting the château last week. Château La Mission Haut-Brion Pessac-Léognan: The persistence of this wine is superb with a great expression of amazing cabernet sauvignon. Black currants and rose petal abound in both the nose and the palate. Full-bodied yet tight and reserved. So polished and balanced. A reference point for La Mission. 100 points. 

Decanter.com

96

par Jane Anson le 02/05/2016

Taut and tense from the off: coffee, smoky almond and pulsing with vibrancy and energy. Reservations over the high alcohol at 15.1%abv but 3.74pH means you barely feel it. Such beautiful tannic grip and sense of forward motion, showing great ageing potential. Beautiful length of damson and loganberry fruits and fragrant heather and garden herbs. Lovely texture, structured and tannic hold. 78% new oak.2026-2040

The Wine Cellar Insider

96-98

par Jeff Leve le 30/04/2016

Smoke, tar, tobacco, flowers, boysenberry and cassis pop with no effort. On the palate, this wine combines power with freshness, length and purity of fruit. Rich and structured, this delight delivers a multifaceted finish, which I timed at close to 60 seconds! Created from a blend of 58% Merlot and 35% Cabernet Sauvignon and 7% Cabernet Franc, the wine reached 15.1% alcohol with a pH of 3.74. The Grand Vin was made from 56% of the harvest, which took place from September 9 to October 1.

Vinous

94-97

par Antonio Galloni le 27/04/2016

In 2015, La Mission Haut-Brion is translucent and deeply expressive to the core. Remarkably polished for such a young wine, the 2015 also handles its 15% alcohol with grace. Smoke, graphite, tar, leather and incense, the 2015 exudes intensity allied to freshness, a combination that makes it virtually irresistible in my book. The 2015 is also remarkably nuanced for such a big wine, but it has tremendous persistence in all directions. Scents of rose petal, mint, red cherry and pomegranate meld into the voluptuous finish. Tasted two times.

Jancis Robinson

18,5

par Jancis Robinson le 26/04/2016

58% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon. Picked from 9 September to 1 October. Very dark and glamorous-looking. Fairly dumb nose but obviously great weight and intensity. A big brooding monster! Massive charge of tannins. Big and pretty alcoholic on the end. Not very communicative at the moment. Lots of palate-tanning tannins. After a while in the glass, a whiff of cordite emerged. Sorcery? Drink 2030-2050

timatkin.com

95

par Tim Atkin MW le 20/04/2016

Jamessuckling.com

100

par James Suckling le 05/04/2016

The purity in this wine is really mindblowing. So perfect. Licorice. Stone. Blackberry, blueberry. Full body. The power is amazing. But then it finishes etheral and so agile and beautiful. I am lost for words. This will rank with the best ever from here including 1975 and 1929. 58% merlot, 35% cabernet sauvignon, and cabernet franc.

Wine Advocate

97-99

par Neal Martin le 01/04/2016

The 2015 La Mission Haut Brion is a blend of 58% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon and 7% Cabernet Franc that was picked between 9 September and 1 October. Matured in 78% new oak, it has an incredibly pure bouquet with intense blueberry, blackberry, iodine and cold stone aromas that soar from the glass. There is nothing holding back here - a La Mission with real exuberance. The palate is medium-bodied with incredible intensity in the mouth, but without any leaden weight. It is a startling La Mission Haut-Brion to behold at this early stage. It is one of those wines where as a professional critic, I had to adopt a poker face to hide the untrammeled joy this nascent wine imparts. Complete and profound, the 2015 will rank as one of the great modern-day classics from this grand estate, another to add to that long list of magical La Missions. Drink 2030-2070