Tasting Notes
Vinous 94
The 1929 La Mission Haut-Brion is remarkably deep in hue. The bouquet is introspective yet compelling, with scents of leather, roasted chestnuts and sandalwood, later joined by meat juices. The palate is balanced, but the word that comes to mind is "rickety." Imagine a wooden shack buffeted by an incoming storm – it’s holding up, but maybe not for long. There is so much grace about this old La Mission, yet a scintilla of dryness on the finish indicates that you should be mindful about provenance, since this bottle came directly from the handful of bottles at the estate. Tasted at the La Mission Haut-Brion vertical in London.
Anticipated maturity: 2021-2025
Robert Parker 97
Tasted 2 Times With Consistent Notes The extraordinary 1929 vintage, which may well have been the vintage of the century, with a style that old timers compare to modern day 1982s, or more recently, the 1990s, produced wines that were wonderfully opulent and unctuous. Henri Woltner wrote that the 1929 La Mission drank fabulously well in 1933, yet he doubted its ability to age well. How wrong he was! Still deep garnet in color with only a trace of amber at the edge, this wine exhibits a fabulously exotic, sensual bouquet filled with aromas of tobacco, blackcurrants, cedar, and leather. On the palate it reveals high alcohol, as well as the remarkably sweet, rich, expansive, staggering concentration of fruit necessary to stand up to the alcohol. This is a velvety, lush, full-bodied wine that it is an incredible privilege to drink.
JancisRobinson.com 17
Still incredibly deep, almost a blackish tinge. A bit too old now? Very dry and lots of acidity, a bit too much volatile acidity. Old fashioned and beginning to taste a bit hard and dank. I’m sure it was wonderful in its day.
Anticipated maturity: 1959-1990



