1982 Château La Mission Haut-Brion Pessac-Léognan Bordeaux France Wine Tasting Note

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1982
99
A stunning tasting experience that kicks off with a smoke-drenched perfume made even better by its tobacco leaf, wild cherry, tar, cherry, currant, herb and array of spices. Full, deep, concentrated, regal and intense, this is drinking great today. Drink from 2023-2047.

A stunning tasting experience that kicks off with a smoke-drenched perfume made even better by its tobacco leaf, wild cherry, tar, cherry, currant, herb and array of spices. Full, deep, concentrated, regal and intense, this is drinking great today. Drink from 2023-2047.

3,053 Views   Tasted
Served blind, this mind-blowing elixir has it all. The intoxicating perfume spoils you with its smoke, tobacco, tar, cigar ash, forest leaf, and red currant nuances. There is intensity, richness, depth, and concentration, along with layers of deep, red, earthy, tobacco, and smoke-stained fruits that do not want to quit. The seamless, palate-staining finish goes on for more than 60 seconds. Drink from 2022-2040.

Served blind, this mind-blowing elixir has it all. The intoxicating perfume spoils you with its smoke, tobacco, tar, cigar ash, forest leaf, and red currant nuances. There is intensity, richness, depth, and concentration, along with layers of deep, red, earthy, tobacco, and smoke-stained fruits that do not want to quit. The seamless, palate-staining finish goes on for more than 60 seconds. Drink from 2022-2040.

3,881 Views   Tasted
This bottle was compelling from start to finish. The tobacco, smoke, cigar box, ash, tar and fireplace notes that joined the earthy, leafy, red fruits on the nose rocked it. But the palate, with its levels of mouth-filling depth, length, richness and fruit killed it. This is what great wine is all about. At close to 40 years of age, there is no need to age this any longer. I am sure there is another 2 decades of show left here, but why wait?

This bottle was compelling from start to finish. The tobacco, smoke, cigar box, ash, tar and fireplace notes that joined the earthy, leafy, red fruits on the nose rocked it. But the palate, with its levels of mouth-filling depth, length, richness and fruit killed it. This is what great wine is all about. At close to 40 years of age, there is no need to age this any longer. I am sure there is another 2 decades of show left here, but why wait?

4,939 Views   Tasted
This is about as good as any wine I am going to taste this year. Splash decanted, it took only sip to know, I was not in Kansas anymore. Full-bodied, with intensity, concentration, palate filling levels of fruit and surreal textures, everything about this gem hit the spot! Long, expansive and mouth-filling, the finish kept on going long after the wine went where it was supposed to go. This is at peak, but I am sure well-stored examples should remain at this extrodinary level for at least 2 decades.

This is about as good as any wine I am going to taste this year. Splash decanted, it took only sip to know, I was not in Kansas anymore. Full-bodied, with intensity, concentration, palate filling levels of fruit and surreal textures, everything about this gem hit the spot! Long, expansive and mouth-filling, the finish kept on going long after the wine went where it was supposed to go. This is at peak, but I am sure well-stored examples should remain at this extrodinary level for at least 2 decades.

4,212 Views   Tasted
Showing at close to its peak, this stunner remains powerful, majestic, rich, full-bodied, concentrated and complex. The sublime smoke-filled aromatics with nuances of mesquite, tobacco. cigar wrapper, cedar and roasted cherries hits the spot. The palate is bathed in the smoky red fruits with spice and tobacco leaf accents. This is one of the great wines from La Mission Haut Brion that if you have not experienced it, find a friend with a bottle and offer to take them to dinner, because you need to taste this at least once in your life.

Showing at close to its peak, this stunner remains powerful, majestic, rich, full-bodied, concentrated and complex. The sublime smoke-filled aromatics with nuances of mesquite, tobacco. cigar wrapper, cedar and roasted cherries hits the spot. The palate is bathed in the smoky red fruits with spice and tobacco leaf accents. This is one of the great wines from La Mission Haut Brion that if you have not experienced it, find a friend with a bottle and offer to take them to dinner, because you need to taste this at least once in your life.

4,479 Views   Tasted
Intensely smoky, with wild cherry, burning cigar wrapper and gravelly scents, the wine is full-bodied, concentrated, meaty, regal and lively. This has entered the mature drinking zone, the powerful, refined, mouth-feel and the sweet and tart, red berry finish is the final kicker here. I am sure there is at least 25 or more years of great drinking in this beauty!

Intensely smoky, with wild cherry, burning cigar wrapper and gravelly scents, the wine is full-bodied, concentrated, meaty, regal and lively. This has entered the mature drinking zone, the powerful, refined, mouth-feel and the sweet and tart, red berry finish is the final kicker here. I am sure there is at least 25 or more years of great drinking in this beauty!

3,967 Views   Tasted
WOW! Just the visuals of this wine in the glass lets you know, you are in for a treat. Mind boggling intensity, concentration and depth of raw materials are at play here. The fruit takes over your palate and stays there for a full 60 seconds. The aromatics combine wet earth, smoke, tar and notes of an unlit Behike cigar. I know this because I had one handy and was trying to show my girlfriend what cigar wrapper scents were like, and I grabbed the best example I could find. The tannins and there, but with fully polished edges. This is what great, aged Bordeaux is all about.

WOW! Just the visuals of this wine in the glass lets you know, you are in for a treat. Mind boggling intensity, concentration and depth of raw materials are at play here. The fruit takes over your palate and stays there for a full 60 seconds. The aromatics combine wet earth, smoke, tar and notes of an unlit Behike cigar. I know this because I had one handy and was trying to show my girlfriend what cigar wrapper scents were like, and I grabbed the best example I could find. The tannins and there, but with fully polished edges. This is what great, aged Bordeaux is all about.

6,748 Views   Tasted
Always a thrill to taste, with its smoke, cigar box, tobacco, thyme, cassis and blackberry nose. Full bodied, concentrated, rich and loaded with fruit and character, this just keeps getting better and better. You can feel free to pop a cork on this beauty now, or wait a few more decades.

Always a thrill to taste, with its smoke, cigar box, tobacco, thyme, cassis and blackberry nose. Full bodied, concentrated, rich and loaded with fruit and character, this just keeps getting better and better. You can feel free to pop a cork on this beauty now, or wait a few more decades.

5,071 Views   Tasted
Compelling, powerful, intense, concentrated, long and mouth filling, the smoky, tobacco, truffle, burning campfire, cigar box, blackberry and cassis characteristics remain with you from start to the seemingly endless finish. This example was still youthful, although as you can see, it clearly offers a sublime experience today. As you might expect with bottles that are close to 35 years of age, there will be bottle variation. This note was for the better bottle.

Compelling, powerful, intense, concentrated, long and mouth filling, the smoky, tobacco, truffle, burning campfire, cigar box, blackberry and cassis characteristics remain with you from start to the seemingly endless finish. This example was still youthful, although as you can see, it clearly offers a sublime experience today. As you might expect with bottles that are close to 35 years of age, there will be bottle variation. This note was for the better bottle.

6,474 Views   Tasted
A perfect bottle of a perfect wine! There was so much fruit, you could eat it with a spoon. But not just any fruit, the berries were incredibly ripe, fresh, energetic and sweet. The nose was all about the smoke, tobacco, cigar box and burning camp fire embers which were surrounded with an endless array of blackberries, plum and cassis. Deep, plush, polished and long, this is the perfect example of refined, elegant power and purity,

A perfect bottle of a perfect wine! There was so much fruit, you could eat it with a spoon. But not just any fruit, the berries were incredibly ripe, fresh, energetic and sweet. The nose was all about the smoke, tobacco, cigar box and burning camp fire embers which were surrounded with an endless array of blackberries, plum and cassis. Deep, plush, polished and long, this is the perfect example of refined, elegant power and purity,

7,535 Views   Tasted
Stunning in every way! The nose screams its tarry, tobacco laden essence, the berries seem like they were smoked before vinification. The tannins have softened, the flavors have gained in complexity and the palate sensations have expanded.

Stunning in every way! The nose screams its tarry, tobacco laden essence, the berries seem like they were smoked before vinification. The tannins have softened, the flavors have gained in complexity and the palate sensations have expanded.

7,608 Views   Tasted
Cigar box, tobacco, smoke, ash, tar and dark red berries make a great perfume. But with this bottle, the fruit was on the tart side with cranberry leaning with some rusticity in the finish. Clearly, this was not a correct bottle as I’ve had much better tastings of this potentially perfect wine. It's worth paying for paying in time or money for provenance.

Cigar box, tobacco, smoke, ash, tar and dark red berries make a great perfume. But with this bottle, the fruit was on the tart side with cranberry leaning with some rusticity in the finish. Clearly, this was not a correct bottle as I’ve had much better tastings of this potentially perfect wine. It's worth paying for paying in time or money for provenance.

5,630 Views   Tasted
There are great bottles, and there are amazing wines. When you get lucky and both those qualities hit with a legendary bottle, you are in for a stunning tasting experience. From the moment the wine hit the glass and released its smoky, tobacco, black fruit and earthy aromas, I knew I was in for something special. Layer after layer of intense, ripe, earthy fruits and sweet tannins coated my palate with flavor that must have gone on for 60 seconds! Thank God the dinner lasted 3 hours which allowed us to watch the bottle develop. Drink this now, or wait 20 years, this is the real deal...

There are great bottles, and there are amazing wines. When you get lucky and both those qualities hit with a legendary bottle, you are in for a stunning tasting experience. From the moment the wine hit the glass and released its smoky, tobacco, black fruit and earthy aromas, I knew I was in for something special. Layer after layer of intense, ripe, earthy fruits and sweet tannins coated my palate with flavor that must have gone on for 60 seconds! Thank God the dinner lasted 3 hours which allowed us to watch the bottle develop. Drink this now, or wait 20 years, this is the real deal...

8,286 Views   Tasted
Sublime! I could spend the morning telling you about the truffle, smoke, tar, tobacco, blackberry, black cherry, earthy fruits, or the rich, concentrated texture, the palate coating finish, and the power of the wine, but I think I'll stick with sublime. As good as this is, it's only going to get better with time too!

Sublime! I could spend the morning telling you about the truffle, smoke, tar, tobacco, blackberry, black cherry, earthy fruits, or the rich, concentrated texture, the palate coating finish, and the power of the wine, but I think I'll stick with sublime. As good as this is, it's only going to get better with time too!

7,212 Views   Tasted
Tar, cassis, black cherry, cedar wood, Cuban Cigar wrapper, truffle, slate and charcoal scents created a potent perfume. On the palate, the wine is dense, powerful, rich and concentrated with layers of ripe, sweet berries, ending in a finish of licorice, black cherry, herbs and spice, that must last at least 50 seconds. At 31 years of age, this is still young!

Tar, cassis, black cherry, cedar wood, Cuban Cigar wrapper, truffle, slate and charcoal scents created a potent perfume. On the palate, the wine is dense, powerful, rich and concentrated with layers of ripe, sweet berries, ending in a finish of licorice, black cherry, herbs and spice, that must last at least 50 seconds. At 31 years of age, this is still young!

7,907 Views   Tasted
Smoke, tobacco, cherry pipe tobacco, tar, earth, truffle and stones make up the perfume. Full bodied and packed with cassis, black berries and spice, this tannic wine requires time before full maturity. This was not a perfect example of this often stellar wine. I've tasted much better bottles on different occasions. Provenance is worth paying for.

Smoke, tobacco, cherry pipe tobacco, tar, earth, truffle and stones make up the perfume. Full bodied and packed with cassis, black berries and spice, this tannic wine requires time before full maturity. This was not a perfect example of this often stellar wine. I've tasted much better bottles on different occasions. Provenance is worth paying for.

10,691 Views   Tasted
1982 La Mission Haut Brion explodes from the glass with an complex array of aromas including tobacco leaf, spice, leather, tar, cassis, truffle and fresh earth. This dense, powerful, masculine wine is graceful, elegant and complex. The finish fills the mouth with a purity of fruit that is seldom seen in a wine. Still young, this wine will age for decades. 100 Pts

1982 La Mission Haut Brion explodes from the glass with an complex array of aromas including tobacco leaf, spice, leather, tar, cassis, truffle and fresh earth. This dense, powerful, masculine wine is graceful, elegant and complex. The finish fills the mouth with a purity of fruit that is seldom seen in a wine. Still young, this wine will age for decades. 100 Pts

15,921 Views   Tasted
This Bordeaux wine is filled with smoke, tobacco, earth, tar and minerals. In the mouth, this juicy, large boned, structured wine is massive. The powerful wine ends with black cherry and dark berries. Still young, this wine needs time for the tannins to resolve. I’ve had better bottles of this potentially magical wine. This bottle, while good, was not at the level of greatness normally found. It was a bit reserved.

This Bordeaux wine is filled with smoke, tobacco, earth, tar and minerals. In the mouth, this juicy, large boned, structured wine is massive. The powerful wine ends with black cherry and dark berries. Still young, this wine needs time for the tannins to resolve. I’ve had better bottles of this potentially magical wine. This bottle, while good, was not at the level of greatness normally found. It was a bit reserved.

11,953 Views   Tasted
Tobacco, spice, earthy, tar, leather and hot brick aromatics with hints of licorice make up the aromatics. Soft, silky and perfectly balanced, this sophisticated wine was sadly, not a perfect bottle. The color was a little light and the wine lacked the levels of concentration found in the best bottles. While this was a good experience, it did not deliever the thrills discovered in the best bottles.

Tobacco, spice, earthy, tar, leather and hot brick aromatics with hints of licorice make up the aromatics. Soft, silky and perfectly balanced, this sophisticated wine was sadly, not a perfect bottle. The color was a little light and the wine lacked the levels of concentration found in the best bottles. While this was a good experience, it did not deliever the thrills discovered in the best bottles.

10,726 Views   Tasted
This wine shot off all the bells and whistles anyone could want in a wine. This wine makes the blind see, the deaf hear and can be used at revivals to help the wheelchair bound walk again! This was off the charts. If the scale ran over 100, this bottle would bust the triple digit mark. The perfume was intoxicating. Very rich, deep, concentrated and complex. The non stop layers of flavors and sensations that cascade over your palate like water at Niagara Falls is something that has to be tasted to be believed. The seamless finish lasted over a minute, I timed it! Absolutely incredible. If anyone doubts this wine is equal to, or better than the more famous and expensive Haut Brion, they need to taste it. This was a mind blowing wine! Still young, this sublime elixir can be tasted today for its incredible richness, but another decade will do magical things. 100 Pts

This wine shot off all the bells and whistles anyone could want in a wine. This wine makes the blind see, the deaf hear and can be used at revivals to help the wheelchair bound walk again! This was off the charts. If the scale ran over 100, this bottle would bust the triple digit mark. The perfume was intoxicating. Very rich, deep, concentrated and complex. The non stop layers of flavors and sensations that cascade over your palate like water at Niagara Falls is something that has to be tasted to be believed. The seamless finish lasted over a minute, I timed it! Absolutely incredible. If anyone doubts this wine is equal to, or better than the more famous and expensive Haut Brion, they need to taste it. This was a mind blowing wine! Still young, this sublime elixir can be tasted today for its incredible richness, but another decade will do magical things. 100 Pts

11,791 Views   Tasted
An earthy, truffle, smoke and black fruit perfume was compelling. The palate texture that was a thing of beauty. Could a wine get better than this?

An earthy, truffle, smoke and black fruit perfume was compelling. The palate texture that was a thing of beauty. Could a wine get better than this?

8,633 Views   Tasted
Smokey aromatics with olives, black fruits, tobacco and cassis please the senses. This wine has such a beautiful mouth feel. It’s very sexy with its layers of silky, concentrated fruit. Does Bordeaux get much better? Does any wine get better?

Smokey aromatics with olives, black fruits, tobacco and cassis please the senses. This wine has such a beautiful mouth feel. It’s very sexy with its layers of silky, concentrated fruit. Does Bordeaux get much better? Does any wine get better?

7,033 Views   Tasted
The smoke filled nose with minerals, herbs and mountains f ripe fruit accented by coffee, toffee and mocha with lightly toasted bread needs to be experienced. Off the charts! But the party doesn’t stop there. The palate experiences endless layers of rich, deep, ripe, concentrated and complex juicy fruit.

The smoke filled nose with minerals, herbs and mountains f ripe fruit accented by coffee, toffee and mocha with lightly toasted bread needs to be experienced. Off the charts! But the party doesn’t stop there. The palate experiences endless layers of rich, deep, ripe, concentrated and complex juicy fruit.

7,232 Views   Tasted
Complex aromatics filled with truffle, tobacco, smoke, leather, cassis, plums and forest floor. Concentrated, deep and lush with round, silky tannins, freshness and complete harmony. The long seamless finish remains in your mouth for over a minute.

Complex aromatics filled with truffle, tobacco, smoke, leather, cassis, plums and forest floor. Concentrated, deep and lush with round, silky tannins, freshness and complete harmony. The long seamless finish remains in your mouth for over a minute.

6,583 Views   Tasted
Young, very concentrated, highly extracted juice with a beautiful smoky nose. Your palate is completely drenched in flavor in every sip. Everything is in balance with this stunning wine.

Young, very concentrated, highly extracted juice with a beautiful smoky nose. Your palate is completely drenched in flavor in every sip. Everything is in balance with this stunning wine.

6,692 Views   Tasted

When to Drink Chateau La Mission Haut Brion, Anticipated Maturity, Decanting Time

Chateau La Mission Haut Brion needs as long as 15-25 years in the best years until it truly offers its best drinking experiences. Young vintages can be decanted for 3-4 hours or more. This allows the wine to soften and open its perfume.

Older vintages might need very little decanting, just enough to remove the sediment. Chateau La Mission Haut Brion offers its best drinking and should reach peak maturity between 15-60 years of age after the vintage.

Serving Chateau La Mission Haut Brion with Wine, Food, Pairing Tips

Chateau La Mission Haut Brion is best served at 15.5 degrees Celsius, 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The cool, almost cellar temperature gives the wine more freshness and lift. Chateau La Mission Haut Brion is best served with all types of classic meat dishes, veal, pork, beef, lamb, duck, game, roast chicken, roasted, braised, and grilled dishes. Chateau La Mission Haut Brion is also good with Asian dishes, and hearty fish courses like tuna, salmon, mushrooms, and pasta.

The white wine of Chateau La Mission Haut Brion is best served with a myriad of different seafood dishes, shellfish, crab, lobster, sushi, sashimi, chicken, pork, and veal, as well as Asian cuisine.

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