La Mission Haut Brion 2003

robert_parker89

Reviewed by: Neal Martin

I must admit that I was never impressed by the 2003’s from Pessac-Leognan that seemed to suffer more than many from the torrid summer heat. The Mission ’03 is lacking intensity on the nose, a little diffuse, earthy with a touch of dark chocolate. Certainly it pales here apposite Mouton ’03. Smooth entry on the palate, fine tannins, soft texture with touches of blackberry and boysenberry and still that warm, slightly alcoholic finish that detracts from the overall wine. It is not a terrible wine, far from it, but La Mission’s bar is set high and this falls below it. Tasted April 2008.

robert_parker89

Reviewed by: Neal Martin

A deep garnet core with ruby rim. This bottle has an identical bouquet to the one opened last month. Very ripe black cherries, a lot of glycerin with a touch of black plum. Definitely the more New World-style nose. A ripe, rounded palate with blackberry, plum and cassis but lacking the tension and nervosite one seeks in La Mission. A nice wine given the vintage but not a great La Mission. Drink 2010-2018. Tasted May 2008.

robert_parker93

Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.

The 2003 La Mission Haut-Brion shows more creme de cassis, plenty of cedar wood, melted licorice and charcoal in a medium to full-bodied wine. It is a blend of 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc. Rustic tannins in the back knock down the ultimate pleasure, and the point score, ever so slightly, but there’s no doubting the complex, perfumey, noble aromatics this wine has managed to attain despite the staggering heat and drought in June, July and August. This has reached full maturity, but should hold nicely for another 7-10 years. Here’s a case where the second wine comes very close in quality to its bigger sibling, possibly because it is showing great complexity and is even more evolved than the Mission Haut-Brion. 2003 was tough in the Pessac-Leognan because of the lighter soils and the enormous heat and drought. Hence, the harvest here started in mid-August, which was historic.

robert_parker88

Reviewed by: Neal Martin

A moderate nose of chocolate and cassis. Muted at the moment and without the aromatic depth of Haut-Brion. The palate is tannic, masculine wine with a rustic, earthy core. Not much grip. At this stage I would have to disagree with other pundits who praised La Mission - for me it lacked persistency and exhibited a slightly alcoholic finish. I hope this wine improves by the time of bottling because at this premature juncture it failed justify its reputation. Tasted March 2004.

robert_parker92

Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.

Like its renowned sibling, Haut-Brion, the 2003 La Mission Haut-Brion tips the scales at 13.25% alcohol, and 60% of the crop was used in the final blend. Although firm, powerful, and closed, with a dense purple color, high tannin, and a tight personality with some austerity to shed, there is plenty of size and depth to this 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, and 8% Cabernet Franc blend. There is nothing about this 2003 that reminds me of either the 1989 or 1990. In fact, it comes across like a more obviously tannic vintage such as 1995, and seems completely dominated at this stage of its evolution by its first growth brethren, Haut-Brion. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2025.

robert_parker93

Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.

The top wines of this vintage tend to be from St.-Emilion’s limestone hillsides and the corridor between St.-Julien and St.-Estephe, but the 2003 La Mission-Haut-Brion is a very successful effort from the south. Roasted herb, scorched earth, sweet black currant and tar-like aromas jump from the glass of this evolved, mature effort. While copious tannins are still present, the acid is low and the wine is loosely structured, complex, seductive, fleshy and full. It seems to be aging quickly, so owners are well-advised to check a bottle or two as it appears to be close to full maturity. The 2003 is unlikely to last as long as more classic vintages.

robert_parker94

Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.

The 2003 La Mission Haut-Brion is a large-scaled wine offering a distinctive bouquet of scorched earth, black cherry liqueur, and hints of blackberries, blueberries, graphite, and smoke. Ripe, heady, full-bodied, soft, and revealing considerable complexity, low acidity, and a broad, expansive mouthfeel, it should drink well in 2-3 years and last for two decades. Its 13% plus alcohol is normal for this hot year.

robert_parker91

Reviewed by: Neal Martin

Tasted blind at Farr Vintner’s Left Bank tasting. Having never found much pleasure in the La Mission ’03, this represented the best example of the wine. It has a very backward, taciturn nose, although you can tell there is a lot of fruit intensity, unfurling nicely with broody black fruit, wild hedgerow, slate and a touch of spice. The palate is well balanced with fine tannins, tensile and taut, a silver thread of acidity binding this together. Earthy red-berried fruit, a touch of dried Provencal herbs and well balanced on the finish. This is a fine La Mission, but I would suggest, not a great example from the estate. Tasted October 2010.

robert_parker93

Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.

A blend of 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc, this 5,000 case cuvee tips the scales at a relatively lofty 13.25% alcohol. Gravelly, smoky, scorched earth, and sweet berry fruit (black currants and blueberries) characteristics as well as surprisingly delicate nuances are followed by a layered, medium to full-bodied wine with sweet fruit, low acidity, fine power, and a luscious texture (the pH is a high 3.9). Anticipated maturity: 2007-2018.

robert_parker92

Reviewed by: Neal Martin

Tasted at Bordeaux Index’s “10-Year On” tasting in London. The La Mission ‘03 has a delicate bouquet that takes time to muster energy – eventually offering wild hedgerow and briary notes, a touch of leather and a hint of orange blossom. The palate is medium-bodied with furry tannins. There is certainly good weight and control here with an attractive tertiary finish laced with fennel and white pepper. Perhaps this just has the edge over the Haut-Brion at the moment? Fine. Tasted March 2013.

vinous90

Reviewed by: Neal Martin

The 2003 La Mission Haut-Brion is one of the few examples of this infamous vintage that has improved in bottle, though it’s still far from a first- or even second-tier La Mission. My most recent bottle displays all the tropes of that hot summer: black cherries, fig, singed leather and cooked meats. It does not have the delineation of the best vintages. The palate is reasonably well balanced with sweet black fruit, still displaying those fennel and garrigue notes. The finish is opulent yet slightly monotone. Tasted at a private dinner in Bordeaux.

vinous93

Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer

Medium red-ruby. Raspberry, smoked meat and truffle on the nose, with a slightly liqueur-like ripeness. Dense, fat and seamless; unusually soft and lush for a young La Mission, with compelling sweetness. But there are also huge, ripe tannins underneath. Finishes very sweet, suave and long.

vinous94

Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer

Deep ruby-red. Laid-back aromas of cherry, raspberry and minerals; not at all over the top in the context of the vintage. Rich, tactile and deep; sweet but not at all exotic, thanks to lovely ripe acids that accentuate the wine's fresh fruit. A big mouthful of wine, finishing with huge but fine tannins and excellent length. This is developing well in barrel. The IPT here is 77, the highest ever recorded for La Mission.

vinous93

Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer

Full medium ruby. Aromatic nose combines raspberry, minerals, licorice and exotic spices. Juicy, spicy and dense, with a deep core of fruit. A bit youthfully austere compared to the lusher Haut-Brion but spreads out impressively on the back end. Finishes with substantial but very fine tannins and excellent persistence. The IPT here is 77, compared to 72 for Haut-Brion. Both wines were just below 70 in the 2000 vintage.