The 1964 La Mission is a beautiful example of the vintage that has now been fully mature for decades, but continues to drink at a very high level. The deep, complex and beautiful bouquet wafts from the glass in a classic blend of cassis, medicinal black cherries, singed tobacco, a lovely base of soil, a bit of roasted game and a smoky topnote. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, pure and absolutely à point, with beautiful focus and balance, a lovely core of velvety fruit and lovely length and grip on the resolved and vibrant finish. A beautiful ’64.

The 1964 La Mission Haut-Brion continues to drink very well, offering up an expressive bouquet of dark berry fruit, camphor, smoked meats, loamy soil and cigar ash. Medium-bodied, supple and melting, it's a suave, seamless La Mission that's open-knit and charming. While it's fully mature, at least from my cellar in France it shows no sign of decline—testimony to the extraordinary longevity of this estate's wines under the Wolnter brothers' proprietorship. - William Kelley