2002 Mission Haut Brion, La Bordeaux Blend
Reviews of 2002 Mission Haut Brion, La Bordeaux Blend
89 points, Robert Parker, Wine Advocate
April 2005
This angularly-styled La Mission possesses hard tannin that may or may not dissipate over time. It exhibits a dark ruby color in addition to a sweet perfume of dusty, loamy soil notes interwoven with notions of white flowers, blueberries, black currants, and hints of toasty oak in the background. Medium-bodied and austere, it requires 2-4 years of bottle age, and should keep for 12-15.
89-92 points, Robert Parker, Wine Advocate
October 2003
Extensive amounts of dry tannin in the finish may prove to be a liability after bottling. Nevertheless, this 2002 possesses plenty of power, a dense ruby/purple color, and a sweet nose of hot rocks intermixed with black currants, plums, cherries, and spice box. Medium-bodied and tannic, it cuts a large swath across the palate. The tannin will need to be monitored. If it becomes better integrated, this wine will be outstanding as well as long-lived. At this stage, it is similar in structure to the 1996 and 1988. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2020.
89-93 points, Stephen Tanzer
June 2003
(a blend of 52% merlot and 48% cabernet sauvignon) Good medium ruby. Reticent but lively aromas of black raspberry, cassis, tobacco leaf and minerals. Sweet and bright but youthfully closed, owing to its strong mineral component and firm spine of acidity. This has lovely depth of flavor but is rather sullen today. Finishes with broad, palate-dusting tannins and notes of berries and minerals. 89-93 points
91-93 points, Stephen Tanzer
June 2004
Good bright ruby-red. Pungent, musky aromas of raspberry, menthol, minerals and exotic Indian spices. Vibrant and powerful on the palate, with a strong minerality and a tight core of fruit. Light on its feet, thanks to vibrant acidity. Very tightly wound today but very long on the back end, with horizontal tannins saturating the palate. This is developing impressively and should be long-lived. 91-93 points
91 points, Stephen Tanzer
June 2005
($72-$90) Bright ruby-red. Sexy aromas of black raspberry, smoked meat and warm stones. Dry, classic and deep, but quite closed today, even a bit youthfully austere. Finishes very long, with substantial dusty tannins and brisk acids. Much more backward today than the Haut-Brion, despite possessing a lower indice de polyphenols totaux (65, compared to 70). But both of these wines really call for at least six or seven years of cellaring. 91(+?) points
92-94 points, Wine Spectator
June 2003
Lots of blackberries, tobacco and minerals. Fragrant wine. Full-bodied, with very fine tannins and berry and mineral character. Long finish. Almost 95-100. Château La Mission-Haut-Brion pulls out the stops in a less than perfect year. Score range: 92-94 (JS)
91 points, Wine Spectator
March 2005
Bright aromas of blackberries, cherries, currants and toasted oak follow through to a full-bodied palate, with chewy tannins. Long and silky. Racy. Best after 2009. (JS)
WineZap Reviews
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Mywinetime
September 2007
This wine is sweet and has a dark color to it. I liked the nose to it as well. |
About 2002 Mission Haut Brion, La Bordeaux Blend
About the Winery Mission Haut Brion, La
" In 1983 the Dillon family bought La Mission Haut-Brion from the heirs of the Woltner family. It became a part of Domaine Clarence Dillon under the aegis of Joan Dillon, Duchesse de Mouchy.
In 1955, Seymour and Thérèse Weller were friends of their neighbors, the Woltner family. They brought their young cousin, Joan Dillon, to meet them. Thus occured the first contact with La Mission Haut-Brion of the future Duchesse de Mouchy, now P.D.G. of the vineyard.
When the sale of La Mission Haut-Brion became known, one of the first bids came from Château Haut-Brion. Already parcels of lands from the two properties intermingled. A good portion of Haut-Brion vines ran alongside those of La Mission. There were various other candidates but none so persistent as their neighbor from across the road. In 1993 their offer was accepted and the sale went through...renovation of the old chais. Simultaneously a new chai was built with modern vats and up to date equipment. In 1996 a new bottling system was installed and a tasting room was set up in what was a former meditation corner for the monks."
haut-brion.com/home/en/langflash-en.php
About the Wine
"When the wine is young, the initial sensation is its unctuousness, the softness of a very ripe grape, the freshness of aromas and at the same time the texture of very special tanins. These meld with a trace of mineral in the wine. It is as if the land was in the glass, comprising notes of roasted coffee beans, cocoa and tobacco. This delicate bitterness is somewhat reminiscent of crystallized cherry-stones seeped in spirit...The last year of the millennium will be remembered for several extraordinary meteorological events. First came the eclipse of the sun on August 11th. The second phenomena consisted of two extremely violent storms that struck the Sud-Ouest. One came on August 7th and was severe but short lived and the second struck on December 27th with an unprecedented violence. It lasted from sundown until the wee hours of the morning with the hiatus being between 8PM to 10PM. It wreaked havoc on the entire region...Ultimately, 1999 was a relatively hot year and 2% warmer than the mean temperatures recorded during the past forty years. This is a considerable difference. For the most part the year will go down as one with brutal climactic events...July was dry with the exception of three days of violent storms. In a few hours the rainfall surpassed 35% of the usual July precipitation. The rain continued at the beginning of August but the weather changed abruptly at the time of the eclipse on August 11th. For one month not a drop fell. September 20th suddenly torrential rain returned spilling 79 millimetres in one day, a quota that entailed 125% of the usual rainfall for the entire month of September...
A prerequisite of a great wine is to be good at all times. La Mission Haut-Brion 1999 is an example of this. The deep ruby red color remains young and lively. The ever so typical aromas of the wine invade the nose and the mouth. Scents of burnt wood, toasted bread, and a light whiff of leather lead up to an awareness of an odor of cocoa powder bursting in at the finish. The volume in the mouth is balanced and harmonious. The finale is soft and long evolving towards a great complexity. It is a great wine in a classic year..."
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