1990 Château La Mission Haut-Brion Pessac-Léognan Bordeaux France Wine Tasting Note

96317 Views

1990
96
Drinking in its prime time window, the wine is full-bodied, concentrated, smoky and packed with notes of campfire embers, tar, tobacco leaf, cherries and red currants. Refined, earthy, complex and long, with a smoky, tobacco leaf, herb, earth and red fruit finish, this is ready to go.

Drinking in its prime time window, the wine is full-bodied, concentrated, smoky and packed with notes of campfire embers, tar, tobacco leaf, cherries and red currants. Refined, earthy, complex and long, with a smoky, tobacco leaf, herb, earth and red fruit finish, this is ready to go.

3,997 Views   Tasted
Textbook example of LMHB showing off its tobacco, cigar wrapper, leaf, smoke, cherry, cedar and tar aromatics at the drop of the hat. It is concentrated, full and offers ample depth, but there is a slight rusticity to the tannins that takes away from the tobacco-tinged, red fruit finish just a little bit. Still, this is a gorgeous wine that is showing just great today.

Textbook example of LMHB showing off its tobacco, cigar wrapper, leaf, smoke, cherry, cedar and tar aromatics at the drop of the hat. It is concentrated, full and offers ample depth, but there is a slight rusticity to the tannins that takes away from the tobacco-tinged, red fruit finish just a little bit. Still, this is a gorgeous wine that is showing just great today.

4,251 Views   Tasted
A little bit better on the nose, with its blend of tobacco, cigar wrapper, cedar, forest notes and dark red, smoky fruits. The wine is concentrated, long and intense, but at least with this bottle, the tannins are a bit rough. Still, that is only a minor quibble, as this is showing great with just an hour or so of air. You can drink this over the next 2-3 decades.

A little bit better on the nose, with its blend of tobacco, cigar wrapper, cedar, forest notes and dark red, smoky fruits. The wine is concentrated, long and intense, but at least with this bottle, the tannins are a bit rough. Still, that is only a minor quibble, as this is showing great with just an hour or so of air. You can drink this over the next 2-3 decades.

4,678 Views   Tasted
If you like a good, aged, Cuban Cigar, you came to the right place. With gobs of smoke, tar, cigar ash and tobacco leaf, the earthy, deep, dark, red berries really shine through. Powerful, yet refined, there is depth, length, complexity and character. Good now, and better in 10-20 years, if the bottle has been well stored.

If you like a good, aged, Cuban Cigar, you came to the right place. With gobs of smoke, tar, cigar ash and tobacco leaf, the earthy, deep, dark, red berries really shine through. Powerful, yet refined, there is depth, length, complexity and character. Good now, and better in 10-20 years, if the bottle has been well stored.

5,469 Views   Tasted
This is a super wine. I loved its tar, smoke, tobacco, cigar box and cassis nose. Full bodied, concentrated and lusty on the palate, the long, potent finish with all its fresh, tobacco, cassis and cherry infused charms really sticks with you. At 26, this is drinking in a great place and well stored bottles should get even better over the next few years!

This is a super wine. I loved its tar, smoke, tobacco, cigar box and cassis nose. Full bodied, concentrated and lusty on the palate, the long, potent finish with all its fresh, tobacco, cassis and cherry infused charms really sticks with you. At 26, this is drinking in a great place and well stored bottles should get even better over the next few years!

5,069 Views   Tasted
If you like refined power, intensity, complexity and a nose that haunts you with its cigar box, smoke, blackberry, cassis, campfire, tobacco and cedar character, you will be more than happy. If you're also looking for concentration, length, freshness and earthy sensations on the palate, with a finish that really delivers, you're definitely going to love this wine! It's ready for prime time drinking too.

If you like refined power, intensity, complexity and a nose that haunts you with its cigar box, smoke, blackberry, cassis, campfire, tobacco and cedar character, you will be more than happy. If you're also looking for concentration, length, freshness and earthy sensations on the palate, with a finish that really delivers, you're definitely going to love this wine! It's ready for prime time drinking too.

4,739 Views   Tasted
Showing its correct age, with a light, ruby tone, the nose is pure cassis, cigar box, tobacco, mint, cherry pipe tobacco and wet forest aromas. On the palate, the wine is smoky, concentrated with a strong tobacco essence, silky smooth tannins, and a fresh, clean, long, pure cherry and cassis finish. This was really showing great with just 15 minutes in the decanter. If you have a bottle, pop a cork, you'll be happy you did.

Showing its correct age, with a light, ruby tone, the nose is pure cassis, cigar box, tobacco, mint, cherry pipe tobacco and wet forest aromas. On the palate, the wine is smoky, concentrated with a strong tobacco essence, silky smooth tannins, and a fresh, clean, long, pure cherry and cassis finish. This was really showing great with just 15 minutes in the decanter. If you have a bottle, pop a cork, you'll be happy you did.

4,735 Views   Tasted
The aromas remind me of a campfire, with its myriad of burning wood and smoke filled scents that are made even better by the cherry liqueur, truffle, cassis and barbecue notes. Full bodied, dense and rich, this youthful, powerful wine can age for decades.

The aromas remind me of a campfire, with its myriad of burning wood and smoke filled scents that are made even better by the cherry liqueur, truffle, cassis and barbecue notes. Full bodied, dense and rich, this youthful, powerful wine can age for decades.

4,882 Views   Tasted
Now, we're talking my language. I like where this conversation is and I love where this conversation is going!!! This is powerful, yet refined. The nose hits you where it counts with its potent smoke, cigar box, ash, black plum, blackberry, earth and tobacco profile. Dense, thick and concentrated, everything is in balance ending with a long, intense, expansive finish. Drink this now, or age it for decades. What a wine! If you cannot afford the 1989 La Mission Haut Brion, buy this wine. It's not that different in quality.

Now, we're talking my language. I like where this conversation is and I love where this conversation is going!!! This is powerful, yet refined. The nose hits you where it counts with its potent smoke, cigar box, ash, black plum, blackberry, earth and tobacco profile. Dense, thick and concentrated, everything is in balance ending with a long, intense, expansive finish. Drink this now, or age it for decades. What a wine! If you cannot afford the 1989 La Mission Haut Brion, buy this wine. It's not that different in quality.

5,980 Views   Tasted
1990 La Mission Haut Brion is an exciting wine. The moment your nose meets the perfume, you know something special is going on. Potent aromatics of tobacco, earth, cedar, hot stones, coconut, blackberry, cassis, tar and spice are easy to find. In the mouth, the wine feels lush, elegant and yet powerful. Balanced and in harmony, this beautiful Bordeaux wine has a long, bright future to look forward to. 97 Pts

1990 La Mission Haut Brion is an exciting wine. The moment your nose meets the perfume, you know something special is going on. Potent aromatics of tobacco, earth, cedar, hot stones, coconut, blackberry, cassis, tar and spice are easy to find. In the mouth, the wine feels lush, elegant and yet powerful. Balanced and in harmony, this beautiful Bordeaux wine has a long, bright future to look forward to. 97 Pts

8,730 Views   Tasted
Tobacco, stone, smoke, truffle, spice, cigar box and cassis aromas lead to a full bodied, concentrated wine that is powerful, rich, tannic and still youthful. Another 5-10 years will add a lot of complexity to the cassis, spice, mineral and licorice filled finish.

Tobacco, stone, smoke, truffle, spice, cigar box and cassis aromas lead to a full bodied, concentrated wine that is powerful, rich, tannic and still youthful. Another 5-10 years will add a lot of complexity to the cassis, spice, mineral and licorice filled finish.

8,426 Views   Tasted
Served blind at Chateau La Mission Haut Brion over dinner - The wine opened with spice, truffle, tobacco, cassis, earth, roasted blackberries and freshly baked berry pie aromatics. Voluptuous in style and filled with rich layers of cassis, this stunning example of La Mission Haut Brion ends with a long, dark berry and kirsch filled sensation.

Served blind at Chateau La Mission Haut Brion over dinner - The wine opened with spice, truffle, tobacco, cassis, earth, roasted blackberries and freshly baked berry pie aromatics. Voluptuous in style and filled with rich layers of cassis, this stunning example of La Mission Haut Brion ends with a long, dark berry and kirsch filled sensation.

8,925 Views   Tasted
With its smoke, tobacco, cassis, mineral and iron nose, this Bordeaux is a treat for the senses. This huge, youthful, concentrated wine is still filled with ripe tannins. Powerful, elegant, rich and supple, this regal style of wine ends with a long, pure, spicy, supple black fruit, filled finish. After two hours the wine continued softening and developing additional nuances.

With its smoke, tobacco, cassis, mineral and iron nose, this Bordeaux is a treat for the senses. This huge, youthful, concentrated wine is still filled with ripe tannins. Powerful, elegant, rich and supple, this regal style of wine ends with a long, pure, spicy, supple black fruit, filled finish. After two hours the wine continued softening and developing additional nuances.

6,958 Views   Tasted
Offering a stunning, complex nose of tobacco, truffles, herbs, spice, cassis, blackberry and licorice. Very concentrated. The impressive levels of depth experienced on the palate are a pleasure to taste. Long, rich, opulent and pure, this Bordeaux wine ends with a long, pure, chocolate, cassis finish.

Offering a stunning, complex nose of tobacco, truffles, herbs, spice, cassis, blackberry and licorice. Very concentrated. The impressive levels of depth experienced on the palate are a pleasure to taste. Long, rich, opulent and pure, this Bordeaux wine ends with a long, pure, chocolate, cassis finish.

6,912 Views   Tasted
1990 La Mission Haut Brion is showing signs of positive evolution in the color and the nose. Truffle, forest floor, stones, spice, cassis and earth make up the perfume. If nature marketed a perfume, this would be it! Very powerful entry filled with dense, rich, layers of ripe, black fruit, olives, chocolate and bitter, black cherries. Very sweet and rich. As good as this is drinking today, it’s only going to get better. 96 Pts

1990 La Mission Haut Brion is showing signs of positive evolution in the color and the nose. Truffle, forest floor, stones, spice, cassis and earth make up the perfume. If nature marketed a perfume, this would be it! Very powerful entry filled with dense, rich, layers of ripe, black fruit, olives, chocolate and bitter, black cherries. Very sweet and rich. As good as this is drinking today, it’s only going to get better. 96 Pts

4,080 Views   Tasted
Flowers, smoke, syrupy cassis and scents of hot stones grabbed your attention. Very rich and full bodied with a stellar mouth feel. The palate was caressed with flavors of over ripe black cherries, plums and other ripe dark fruits. This wine is what elegant Bordeaux is all about. The finish is long and pure. Great wine! It’s approachable, but requires 5-8 more years before hitting full maturity.

Flowers, smoke, syrupy cassis and scents of hot stones grabbed your attention. Very rich and full bodied with a stellar mouth feel. The palate was caressed with flavors of over ripe black cherries, plums and other ripe dark fruits. This wine is what elegant Bordeaux is all about. The finish is long and pure. Great wine! It’s approachable, but requires 5-8 more years before hitting full maturity.

4,555 Views   Tasted
This powerful, elegant, full bodied wine has an intense perfume of blackberry liqueur, spices and cigar box. Deep, rich and plush with amazing balance and character. Incredible, mouth feel and palate presence with a seamless finish. This is starting to come around, but it will easily continue evolving for 2-3 decades.

This powerful, elegant, full bodied wine has an intense perfume of blackberry liqueur, spices and cigar box. Deep, rich and plush with amazing balance and character. Incredible, mouth feel and palate presence with a seamless finish. This is starting to come around, but it will easily continue evolving for 2-3 decades.

3,931 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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