1996 La Mission Haut Brion Bordeaux Blend

Bordeaux Blend - 750ML
Reg: $449.00
$389.00
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REVIEWS

DC 95 NM 95 JR 93 VN 93 JL 92
DC 95

Decanter,

Many 1996 are still pretty closed up right now, as it was a vintage with fairly hefty tannins but this is perfect for drinking with a good carafing first. It's full of generous, rippling berry fruits and soft smudges of...
NM 95

Neal Martin's Wine Journal, July 2008

The first bottle is corked. The second displays a very fine, cedar and tobacco infused nose: quintessentially ’96 claret. Does not quite have the precision of the ’05 or ’00 but more vigour than the ’95. The palate is...
JR 93

Jancis Robinson's Purple Pages, September 2011

61% Merlot, 39% Cabernet Sauvignon. Looks very much more evolved than the Bahans 1996. Great edge and evolution. Some oyster shells – certainly something edgy and marine on the nose. Fully evolved on the palate. Lovely...
VN 93

Vinous, September 2021

The 1996 La Mission Haut-Brion is an improvement on the previous vintage, though it remains a couple of steps behind the high point of the decade, which came two years later. This is quintessential 1996 Pessac, featuring...
JL 92

TheWineCellarInsider.com, November 2023

Burning wood, smoked herbs, leafy tobacco, and sharp red currants with a peppery edge shape the perfume. Crisp, firm, and slanting towards austere in the palate, this is an old-school-styled wine that some tasters will...

WINE DETAILS

Color & Type Red
Varietal Bordeaux Blend
Country France
Region Bordeaux
Sub-region Pessac Leognan
Vintage 1996
Size 750ML
Percent alcohol 13%
Closure Cork

Created by the noble Lestonnac family in the early years of the 16th century, the vineyard of Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion owes its name and its reputation to a missionary order commonly known as the Lazarites, who held the property from 1682 until the French Revolution.

The property is situated just opposite that of Chateau Haut-Brion, in the Pessac-Leognan appellation of the Northern Graves region. The vineyard covers an area of 29 hectares of which 26.60 hectares are planted with 42.7% Merlot, 47% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 10.3% Cabernet Franc with an annual production of 6,000 to 7,000 cases. Over 3 hectares are devoted to white grape varieties (Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc).

In 1983, the Dillon family, already owners of Chateau Haut-Brion, added Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion to Domaine Clarence Dillon’s holdings. The new owners immediately set to work on an ambitious renovation program for the property, giving La Mission a new lease on life.

In the space of twenty-five years, the Dillon family, having fallen under the spell of this enchanting estate, successfully completed their impressive makeover of Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion so that for many years to come , it might continue to offer wine connoisseurs the world over a little glimpse of paradise in each bottle.

Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion is definitely bewitching. It possesses a great intensity that delights with complex red fruits and and the signature of its terroir showing notes of Havana cigars, chocolate, and roasted cedarwood. On the palate, the wine is spherical and generous with a long, silky finish.

The 1996 La Mission Haut Brion is a Bordeaux Blend from the esteemed Pessac Leognan sub-region of Bordeaux, France. This red wine is a true gem, exuding elegance and complexity that is characteristic of the region's finest offerings.

In the glass, the wine displays a deep, ruby red color, hinting at its depth and concentration. The nose is a symphony of aromas, with the first impression being a refined cedar and tobacco infusion. This is quintessentially '96 claret, showcasing the classic characteristics of the vintage. While it may not possess the precision of the stellar '05 or '00 vintages, it compensates with more vigor than the '95.

On the palate, the La Mission Haut Brion '96 reveals its true character. Medium- to full-bodied, it becomes sinewy and assertive, yet always maintaining a sense of elegance and natural harmony. As it opens up in the glass, it builds beautifully, showcasing superb persistency on the leafy, slightly peppery finish. This wine is a testament to the potential of Bordeaux blends, with its ability to evolve and improve with age.

According to Neal Martin's Wine Journal, this particular bottle of the 1996 La Mission Haut Brion has taken some time to settle, but now is the perfect time to enjoy its splendor. It is recommended to drink this wine between 2012 and 2040, allowing it to further develop and reveal its full potential.

Other critics, such as Vinous and Jancis Robinson, also praise the wine for its evolution and mellifluous texture. Vinous suggests giving the wine a couple of hours' decanting, while Jancis Robinson notes its fully evolved palate and clean, health-giving qualities.

Overall, the 1996 La Mission Haut Brion is a remarkable wine that exemplifies the excellence of Bordeaux blends. With its refined aromas, elegant structure, and incredible aging potential, it is a wine that will surely impress even the most discerning wine enthusiasts.