1985 Chateau La Mission Haut Brion

Ah, La Mission… not an 1855 classified growth (only chateau outside the Medoc to be included was Chateau Haut-Brion), and yet, it’s considered one of the truly iconic Bordeaux producers. It is a sister property to Haut-Brion, as they are quite literally across the street from each other and have had the same owner for over 40 years, yet La Mission has its own identity and is typicallt considered to have more raw power (but perhaps less elegance) than its better-known sibling.

The ‘85 is considered a classic La Mission Haut Brion — one of the better vintages of the 80s after the legendary 1982 and 1989. Though I couldn’t find a tech sheet for this specific bottling, it’s an almost equal blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot (slightly more Cab), with a bit of Cabernet Franc. The wine spends 1.5-2 years aging in mostly new oak.

Tasting Notes: Deep purple color — more youthful-looking than I expected. Expressive nose of black and blue berries, tobacco, and leather. Perfectly well-balanced and mature, but still retaining some nice acidity and fruit, showing that Pessac-Leognan power. Absolutely stunning — probably one of the top 10 Bordeaux I’ve ever tasted.