1991 La Mission Haut Brion
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Tasting notes
Over the years, I have encountered the 1991 La Mission Haut-Brion three or four times, and it is definitely one of the better examples of a written-off vintage. Its bucolic, tertiary scents do their best, and the palate, while light-years away from the previous two vintages in terms of complexity, offers attractive black fruit and traces of stewed black tea. The finish is showing some dryness, but it’s just about hanging in there. Drink soon, folks.
Critic scores
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More reviews and scores
Brought by Sebastian Payne MW of The Wine Society. Subtle, fresh with a light suggestion of warm bricks on the nose. Relatively light bodied but beautifully balanced. A ballet dancer of a wine. A very successful and elegant 1991. (JR)
Fragrant and pretty. Lush, sweet and soft. Ready, mellow, gentle. No great follow through. A smudge of La Mission. Drink now! David Peppercorn described this as luncheon claret. (JR)
La Mission enjoyed considerable success in the 1991 vintage. This deep ruby-colored wine boasts a fragrant, smoky, mineral, and berry-scented nose. Suave, elegant, and rich, with noticeable fatness to its harmonious flavors, good balance, and a long, medium-bodied finish, the wine exhibits fine ripeness, and a tasty, aromatic personality. This precocious La Mission should drink well for the next 6-10 years.
About the producer
Ch. la Mission Haut-Brion – sister estate of Ch. Haut-Brion and part of the Clarence Dillon stable – is one of the greatest estates in all of Bordeaux. Based in Pessac-Léognan but not officially classified, it produces outstanding red and white wines.