Ian Debaere

9.2

Zacht, fruitig en loopt soepel binnen
Echt een aanrader! — 2 years ago

Romain Fitoussi

9.1

Black fruits expression of the gamay, foreshadowing the North Rhône’s Syrah. Many juicy shades of fruit including black cherry, blackberries, licorice, pepper, flower nuances, marked acidity. Still fits very well even at D+4. Very nice product, nature style

Expression très fruits noirs du gamay, préfigurant les syrah du Rhône Nord. Beaucoup de nuances juteuses de fruits dont cerise noire, mûres, réglisse, poivre, acidité marquée. Se tient encore très bien même à J+4. Très beau produit. — 3 years ago

Fredybeans

9.4

Robe vieil or
Nez floral, tubéreux et zeste d agrume voir terpénique
Bouche fraîche acide et délicate
Peu d alcool 11%
J adore le style mais pas universel — 5 years ago

Matt

9.0

Expresses its windy exposition and kaolin clay soils, the fruit is dialed and taught with firm tannins driving the wine through the finish. Mineral underpinnings. Despite its nerve, the classic D&R buoyant fruit emerged. Would like to see it in 1-2 years to see where it is. — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

So, if it’s my birthday celebration, there is a juicy ribeye & some old(er) Claret.

My only disappointment with this bottle is as good as it is, there are better things still down the road.

The nose reveals classic Claret. There are earthy, funky fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, black plum, baked strawberries with shades of raspberries. Steeped fruit teas, limestone minerals, dry crushed rocks, stones, black, rich earth, clay, dry herbs, dark berry cola, cedar, leather, not quite fresh tobacco, underbrush, graphite, gentle, dark spice, slight peppery notes, clove, touch of nutmeg & cinnamon & vanillin, anise to black licorice, eucalyptus notes with fresh & slightly candied florals of, red, dark, blue, purple & violets.

The body is medium full with rounded, nicely resolved, tarry tannins. The structure, tension, length and balance are really singing. It would be good to have another 2001 LMHB in ten years. While 2001 wasn’t a critically acclaimed vintage, I think LMHB over performed the vintage. As well, it followed a grand 2000 vintage which, handicapped it from the start. Ripe; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, black plum, baked strawberries, bright cherries, rhubarb, figs, with shades of raspberries. Steeped fruit teas, limestone minerals, dry crushed rocks, stones, black, rich earth, clay, dry top soil, dry herbs, dark berry cola, cedar, leather, not quite fresh tobacco, underbrush, graphite, gentle, dark spice with soft heat, slight peppery notes, clove, touch of nutmeg & cinnamon & vanillin, anise to black licorice, eucalyptus notes with fresh & slightly candied florals of, red, dark, blue, purple & violets. The acidity is excellent...like a gentle rain shower. The long finish is elegance defined, extremely well balanced ending in soft, round, dry, dusty tannins with beautiful spice.

Photos of; Chateau La Mission Haut Brion & estate vines, beautiful barrel room, pond & Roman columns and the back vow of the Chateau.

Please indulge me while I post some history on this grand producer. As much as I love the wine, I love the history & people that do the hard work to bring us such great wines.

Chateau La Mission Haut Brion is not quite as old as Chateau Haut Brion. However, they are opposite side of the road neighbors. La Mission Haut Brion dates back to the late 16th century. The property came into being after it was purchased by Jean de Pontac in 1533. US winery history is a baby compared to France.

In 1607, the estate changed hands. It was inherited by Ms. Olive de Lestonnac. What an inheritance!

In 1815, something rare happened. Chateau La Mission Haut Brion became the property of an American owner, the Chiapelle family. At the time, the family was already involved in the Bordeaux wine trade. In fact, they knew about the business as they had managed a myriad of different estates including Chateau Cos d’ Estournel.

La Mission Haut Brion continued to change hands until it was finally sold to another American family, the Woltner’s. Frederic Woltner purchased La Mission Haut Brion in 1919. The also became owners on Howell Mountain.

It changed hands one final time in 1983 when it was purchased by Domaine Clarence Dillon, the owner of neighboring, Chateau Haut Brion. They renovated the entire property, starting with replanting the vineyards which, was completed in 1987.

The 26 hectare vineyard of Chateau La Mission Haut Brion is planted to; 45.8% Cabernet Sauvignon, 43.8% Merlot and 10.4% Cabernet Franc. 3.5 hectares of vines are reserved for the production of the white Bordeaux.

To produce the red wine of Chateau La Mission Haut Brion, the wine is vinified in large, 180 hectoliter, temperature controlled, stainless steel vats and aged in 100% new, French oak for an average of 22 months. The annual production of La Mission Haut Brion averages between 6,000 and 7,000 cases per year. — 6 years ago

Fredybeans

9.2

Robe noire
Nez grillé puis mûre fruit noire et un cote florale type pivoine
Bouche pleine gourmande dense mais finale tannique d une classe incroyable
Impressionnant👍👍 — 7 years ago

Monique Gillioen

9.6

Een zeer fijne syrah. €150 bij Quique D. — 3 years ago

Severn G

9.1

Notes are cumbersome, so no notes today but plus side, scores are honest and I should be a professional reviewer, LOL.

On the Lawn at Tanglewood this final afternoon with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Our guest conductor Michael Tilson Thomas is leading IVES (Psalm 90) and BEETHOVEN (Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Opus 125).

After a two-year pause, we arrive again to the day when Beethoven concludes on these hallowed grounds. The 9th by Beethoven is always bittersweet for us, as it marks the end of the official Symphony and Pops season for the BSO at their Summer home. It is a wonderful and singularly emotive piece moved with the full force of the Tanglewood Festival Chorus (110+) conveying the message of a divine spark of joy that makes all people one. The music and the day almost bring me to tears on an annual basis...
'Freude, schöner Götterfunken!' / 'Joy, beauteous, godly spark!' — 4 years ago

Fredybeans

9.0

Robe orange
Nez racinaire zeste d orange et presque sur la rose
Bouche ample dense pulpeuse — 6 years ago

with El

Jakub Kalinowski

8.9

Pale gold in colour with a fine mousse. Full of vanilla brioche, toasted almonds and marcipan, only later the peach & orchard apples emerge with a whiff of orange peel.
Quite broad on the palate yet with zingy acidity and fine bubbles. Nicely balanced, with a bit of saltiness. Again more nuts & brioche than fruit, with a slightly bitter almond note in the finish. Overall a very nice bubbly - either akin, but also good with food (eg. with smoked mackerel) — 6 years ago

Fredybeans

9.2

Robe vieil or
Nez racinaire agrume plantes médicinales
Bouche fraîche et pourtant gourmande avec un gras et une acidité tranchante
On croque dans un fruit
Aucune note d évolution
Superbe — 7 years ago

Severn G

9.2

On the Lawn at Tanglewood this final afternoon with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Our guest conductor Giancarlo Guerrero (Nashville Symphony director) is leading SCHOENBERG (Friede auf Erde, Opus 13 (Peace on Earth), for unaccompanied chorus) and BEETHOVEN (Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Opus 125).

The 9th by Beethoven is always bittersweet for us, as it marks the end of the official Symphony and Pops season for the BSO at their Summer home. It is a wonderful and singularly emotive moving piece, with the full force of the Tanglewood Festival Chorus at 250+ singers, conveying the message of a divine spark of joy that makes all people one.
'Freude, schöner Götterfunken!' / 'Joy, beauteous, godly spark!'

Nose has ripe yellow apple, lightly oxidized green apple peel, baked phyllo dough, partially aromatic white flowers and damp rocks. I always get a natural wine vibe here, without the vinegar-like profile, but it seems alive!

Palate has baked green and yellow apple pastry, crisp acidity yet dense, candle wax begins on the finish and ends with dry granite. Great balance, very lengthy finish, clean and not cumbersome, superb vintage, long life ahead. We love you Jean-Jacques. — 7 years ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.5

2018 vintage. Massive and overwhelming überripe summer blackberry nose and flavors throughout. Blackberry influence thins out somewhat; replaced by blueberries on the finish. Plenty of raw bacon and menthol flitting about. Equipped with a long, aging cork…was curious about this wine but it’s clearly much too much too soon in the game to tap this. Body initially massive but (d)evolved to sport a polished, nearly pinot-styled weighting after thirty minutes of air time. Need to buy three bottles and revisit in 5, 15 and 30 years. Priorities… — 3 years ago

Marty Mathis

9.5

2019 Cote du Py By far the best Gamay Noir I have tasted in several years. Such a precise expression of Morgon. This aroma shows the perfect combination of deep and inviting cherry plum fruitiness along with the slightest brush pepperiness and subtle meaty/earthy hints. There is no funky Brett in this wine that I can find. Not squeaky clean commercial either. There is no mistaking the pedigree of this vineyard site as well as the deft hand of this legendary producer. The texture is pure pleasure, almost nil tannins (The way I like it), and major length. Woody, brushy (rotundones) are combined with perfectly ripe tree fruit and alluring minerality . For anyone confused about the distinction between Burgundy and Beaujolais this should stand as a model example. Bravo bravo bravo!!! — 4 years ago

Daron Watson

9.7

Exceeded My Expectations & My Clients’ ~ D!G

Bouquet of apples, shortbread, peach, citrus blossoms, viburnum & vanilla

What strikes first on the palate is an electric streak of citrus: lemon oil, hard lime candy & tangerine zest ~ then it broadens to apricot & poached apples ~ with a gentle embrace of oak contrasted by flecks of flint

B!GUPS #WINEPIMP — 5 years ago

Fredybeans

9.2

Robe noire
Nez profond terrien d épices
Bouche pleine dense juteuse fraîche et juvénile — 6 years ago

Fredybeans

9.5

Robe or
Nez épices amande Pierre
Bouche huileuse visqueuse ultra gourmande Coeur de bouche ultra energique dense et finale ou le gras s estompe au profit de la pierre et d amers ultra nobles
Pour moi incroyable de densité et d equilibre vin d accord — 6 years ago

with Pico and El

Fredybeans

9.4

Robe jaune claire
Nez réduit puis s ouvre lentement sur des note d agrumes confits d iode
Bouche à l attaque dense et pleine de sève et de fraîcheur
Vin très massif et carré qui en est qu à ses débuts — 7 years ago

with Pico and El

Fredybeans

9.2

Robe jaune claire
Nez réduit et frais au début puis arôme florale et fruit blanc
Bouche tendue et stricte au début elle deviendra massive et concentrée avec 6 heures d ouverture — 7 years ago

Fredybeans

9.6

Jaune or
Nez épicé miellé Pierre chaude
Bouche dense sans notion d alcool superbe gourmande avec l impression de croquer dans un fruit jaune finale dense rocailleuse
La classe pour un millesime comme 2003 — 7 years ago

with picolator and El