Mission Haut Brion 1989

Pessac-Leognan, Grand Cru Classé

Units	Size	Case size	GBP Price:	Quantities	Buy

Tasting Notes
The 1989 La Mission Haut-Brion has arguably lain in the shadow of the lionized 1989 Haut-Brion for a number of years, so let me put this out there: The 1989 La Mission has improved over the last decade and is now equal to Haut-Brion; at its best, it may ultimately even surpass it. This note comes from a bottle compared directly with Haut-Brion, and it easily holds its own. The heavenly, live-wire bouquet displays more minerality and tension than the Haut-Brion, offering black olive and crushed stone – penetrating and thrilling. The palate is perfectly balanced with filigreed tannin, incredible intensity and perhaps just a little more backbone compared to the Haut-Brion. The freshness knocks you sideways, and the length and precision are faultless. This is easily one of the best La Mission Haut-Brion ever crafted and, in this instance, just a perfect bottle of wine. Tasted from an ex-château bottle at the estate. Score: 100 Neal Martin, Vinous.com Maturity: 2019-2070 01 September 2019
The Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion has flirted with perfection for many years. It has an expressive and generous bouquet with hints of lavender, wild woodland, clove, black olive and warm gravel - one of those heady bouquets that seem to "glow". The palate is utterly sublime with super fine tannins, perfectly judged acidity and a gorgeous tobacco-infused finish that has incredible persistency and complexity. This is just about as good as you could expect from a bottle of wine. Stunning. Tasted November 2013. Score: 99 Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com 30 May 2014
Both La Mission-Haut-Brion and Haut-Brion hit home runs in this vintage, which did not produce as many profound wines as the Bordeaux publicity machine suggested. 1989, the 200th anniversary of the French revolution, was an incredibly hot year (surpassed only by 1990 and 2003). Even from barrel the seamless 1989 La Mission revealed a special elixir aspect, tasting like it had been designed by Chanel. It still possesses a blue/purple color with only a hint of garnet creeping in, and the explosive aromatics offer up notes of licorice, crème de cassis, blueberry liqueur, smoky barbecue meats, truffles and graphite. If that’s not enough to get one salivating, the palate has never disappointed either. Full-bodied with extraordinary opulence as well as sweet, well-integrated, velvety tannins, this fresh, lively, blockbuster La Mission appears to be one of those rare wines that never goes through a closed, unfriendly stage. It has been a compelling, multidimensional effort from barrel, in its infancy, and as it heads into late adolescence. A remarkable tour de force in winemaking, it is one of the all-time profound La Mission-Haut-Brions. Anticipated maturity: now-2050. Score: 100 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2012-2050 01 August 2012
I am certainly not going to argue with anyone who believes La Mission-Haut-Brion's 1989 is every bit as profound as the 1989 Haut-Brion. It is a spectacular wine, and as it ages in the bottle, it is quickly becoming one of my all-time favorite La Mission-Haut-Brions, ranking alongside the 1982, 1975, 1961, 1959, and 1955. The 1989 boasts a dense, thick, purple color, followed by a sweet, roasted cassis, chocolatey-scented nose with whiffs of tobacco, tar, and minerals. The wine is extremely full-bodied, unctuously-textured, sweet, jammy, and rich. Although it is still a youthful, unformed wine, it is already delicious to drink. It should develop additional bottle bouquet by the turn of the century, after which it will drink well for 15-20 years. Last tasted 11/96 Score: 100 Robert Parker, 'Bordeaux' 3rd Ed. Maturity: 1996-2016 01 January 1998

Tasting Notes

The 1989 La Mission Haut-Brion has arguably lain in the shadow of the lionized 1989 Haut-Brion for a number of years, so let me put this out there: The 1989 La Mission has improved over the last decade and is now equal to Haut-Brion; at its best, it may ultimately even surpass it. This note comes from a bottle compared directly with Haut-Brion, and it easily holds its own. The heavenly, live-wire bouquet displays more minerality and tension than the Haut-Brion, offering black olive and crushed stone – penetrating and thrilling. The palate is perfectly balanced with filigreed tannin, incredible intensity and perhaps just a little more backbone compared to the Haut-Brion. The freshness knocks you sideways, and the length and precision are faultless. This is easily one of the best La Mission Haut-Brion ever crafted and, in this instance, just a perfect bottle of wine. Tasted from an ex-château bottle at the estate.

Score: 100

Neal Martin, Vinous.com Maturity: 2019-2070 01 September 2019

The Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion has flirted with perfection for many years. It has an expressive and generous bouquet with hints of lavender, wild woodland, clove, black olive and warm gravel - one of those heady bouquets that seem to "glow". The palate is utterly sublime with super fine tannins, perfectly judged acidity and a gorgeous tobacco-infused finish that has incredible persistency and complexity. This is just about as good as you could expect from a bottle of wine. Stunning. Tasted November 2013.

Score: 99

Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com 30 May 2014

Both La Mission-Haut-Brion and Haut-Brion hit home runs in this vintage, which did not produce as many profound wines as the Bordeaux publicity machine suggested. 1989, the 200th anniversary of the French revolution, was an incredibly hot year (surpassed only by 1990 and 2003). Even from barrel the seamless 1989 La Mission revealed a special elixir aspect, tasting like it had been designed by Chanel. It still possesses a blue/purple color with only a hint of garnet creeping in, and the explosive aromatics offer up notes of licorice, crème de cassis, blueberry liqueur, smoky barbecue meats, truffles and graphite. If that’s not enough to get one salivating, the palate has never disappointed either. Full-bodied with extraordinary opulence as well as sweet, well-integrated, velvety tannins, this fresh, lively, blockbuster La Mission appears to be one of those rare wines that never goes through a closed, unfriendly stage. It has been a compelling, multidimensional effort from barrel, in its infancy, and as it heads into late adolescence. A remarkable tour de force in winemaking, it is one of the all-time profound La Mission-Haut-Brions. Anticipated maturity: now-2050.

Score: 100

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2012-2050 01 August 2012

I am certainly not going to argue with anyone who believes La Mission-Haut-Brion's 1989 is every bit as profound as the 1989 Haut-Brion. It is a spectacular wine, and as it ages in the bottle, it is quickly becoming one of my all-time favorite La Mission-Haut-Brions, ranking alongside the 1982, 1975, 1961, 1959, and 1955. The 1989 boasts a dense, thick, purple color, followed by a sweet, roasted cassis, chocolatey-scented nose with whiffs of tobacco, tar, and minerals. The wine is extremely full-bodied, unctuously-textured, sweet, jammy, and rich. Although it is still a youthful, unformed wine, it is already delicious to drink. It should develop additional bottle bouquet by the turn of the century, after which it will drink well for 15-20 years. Last tasted 11/96

Score: 100

Robert Parker, 'Bordeaux' 3rd Ed. Maturity: 1996-2016 01 January 1998

Your Lists & Checkout

New Arrivals

Advanced Search

wine regions

quick links

Mission Haut Brion 1989

Pessac-Leognan, Grand Cru Classé

search wines

Full wine List

RSS feeds

wine regions

join our mailing list