Mission Haut Brion 2006

Pessac-Leognan, Grand Cru Classé

Units	Size	Case size	GBP Price:	Quantities	Buy
12	75cl Bottle	Case 12	£2,040 per Case	Case	[Add to shopping basket]

Tasting Notes
A somewhat under-the-radar La Mission, the 2006 was generally overlooked following the brilliance of the 2005. A young, dense purple-hued wine that is developing beautifully, it exhibits notes of Asian plum sauce, charcoal, barbecue smoke, roasted meats, graphite and background oak. Full-bodied with good acidity, moderate tannin and a vigorous, powerful youthfulness, the 2006 will age more quickly than the 2005, but it still requires another 5-8 years of cellaring. Score: 94 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2014-2035 01 August 2012
One of the vintage-s top wines is the 2006 La Mission-Haut-Brion. From bottle, it reminds me of the 1998, given its structure and backward style. Dense ruby/purple-colored, it possesses a boatload of tannin, but with coaxing, tobacco leaf, sweet black currant, burning ember, and blue fruit characteristics emerge. While thick and full-bodied, the tannins seem more elevated than I remember from barrel. It is going to be a beauty, but like many of the top 2006s, considerable patience is required. Only 55% of the production made it into the grand vin as Jean-Philippe Delmas made a severe selection. The final blend was 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the 2006 has one of the highest natural alcohols ever achieved at La Mission, averaging around 14.3%, which is astonishingly high for a Graves. Anticipated maturity: 2018-2035. Score: 95 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com 01 March 2009
This superb effort rivals La Mission’s 2005. There are 6,000 cases of the 2006, and general manager Jean-Philippe Delmas told me that the Merlot came in at a natural alcohol that exceeded 15%. The final alcohol is a whopping 14.3%, the pH is 3.8, and the blend is 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon. This utterly profound, exceptionally rich, full-bodied, thick La Mission is undeniably one of the candidates for the “wine of the vintage.” It possesses a dense ruby/purple color followed by sweet blue and black fruit notes intertwined with notions of burning embers and flowers. Unctuous, massively fruity, and thick, this is a great La Mission! Anticipated maturity: 2012-2035+ Score: 96 - 100 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com 01 April 2007
Tasted at Haut Brion. Picked at 43hl/ha (44ha/hl for the 2005). Deep black/purple colour. The nose has good intensity with blueberry, raspberry, a touch of sea salt. Good definition, no greenness. Good lift. Full-bodied, grippy tannins, very solid and cohesive. Fine acidity, a real mass of black fruits, infused with black olives. Very tight, very focused, this is not a flamboyant La Mission, it does not have the persistency of a truly great vintage like the 1989 or indeed 2005, but there is a wonderful purity and beguiling reserve. Very harmonious, minerally finish. It needs a year in bottle for its true pedigree to show. Tasted April 2007. Score: 92 - 94 Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com 30 April 2007
Deep crimson with strong purple notes. Fairly mild nose and rather voluptuous palate entry. Very fine tannins but with pretty rigid backbone. A certain velvetiness. Round and fine. But muted. Certainly refreshing but there is a little green streak on the finish. Seems weaker than I would have expected. Too much Tour in here? Opened up in the glass - more aromatic and playful than the Haut-Brion. But lighter and therefore apparently skinnier. Score: 17 Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2015-2025 16 April 2007
This is so perfumed and pretty. Classy and elegant on the nose, with currant, light vanilla and a hint of lilac. Full-bodied, with ultrafine tannins and a long, long finish. All in finesse. Very impressive for the vintage; could be the wine of the vintage. Score: 95 - 100 James Suckling, Wine Spectator 01 April 2007
With 59% Merlot, (40% Cabernet Sauvignon and 1% Cabernet Franc), La Mission contains the highest proportion of Merlot on the Left Bank. Despite the coolest August for twenty years, the prolonged sun of June, July and early September enabled the Merlot here to be harvested not only ripe but with exceptionally high sugar levels: the wine is now 14.3% alcohol - the same as in 2005. Intense deep ruby purple (deeper than Haut Brion) with pronounced and complex aromas of mint chocolate, woodsmoke and high-toned liqueur fruit – very La Mission. In the mouth it is big and broad with fantastic scale of luxuriantly ripe dark fruit, hints of tar and spice, and a very smoky finish. Weighty where Haut Brion is graceful. Rich and harmonious. Score: 94 - 96 Albany Vintners, - 01 April 2007

Tasting Notes

A somewhat under-the-radar La Mission, the 2006 was generally overlooked following the brilliance of the 2005. A young, dense purple-hued wine that is developing beautifully, it exhibits notes of Asian plum sauce, charcoal, barbecue smoke, roasted meats, graphite and background oak. Full-bodied with good acidity, moderate tannin and a vigorous, powerful youthfulness, the 2006 will age more quickly than the 2005, but it still requires another 5-8 years of cellaring.

Score: 94

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2014-2035 01 August 2012

One of the vintage-s top wines is the 2006 La Mission-Haut-Brion. From bottle, it reminds me of the 1998, given its structure and backward style. Dense ruby/purple-colored, it possesses a boatload of tannin, but with coaxing, tobacco leaf, sweet black currant, burning ember, and blue fruit characteristics emerge. While thick and full-bodied, the tannins seem more elevated than I remember from barrel. It is going to be a beauty, but like many of the top 2006s, considerable patience is required. Only 55% of the production made it into the grand vin as Jean-Philippe Delmas made a severe selection. The final blend was 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the 2006 has one of the highest natural alcohols ever achieved at La Mission, averaging around 14.3%, which is astonishingly high for a Graves. Anticipated maturity: 2018-2035.

Score: 95

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com 01 March 2009

This superb effort rivals La Mission’s 2005. There are 6,000 cases of the 2006, and general manager Jean-Philippe Delmas told me that the Merlot came in at a natural alcohol that exceeded 15%. The final alcohol is a whopping 14.3%, the pH is 3.8, and the blend is 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon. This utterly profound, exceptionally rich, full-bodied, thick La Mission is undeniably one of the candidates for the “wine of the vintage.” It possesses a dense ruby/purple color followed by sweet blue and black fruit notes intertwined with notions of burning embers and flowers. Unctuous, massively fruity, and thick, this is a great La Mission! Anticipated maturity: 2012-2035+

Score: 96 - 100

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com 01 April 2007

Tasted at Haut Brion. Picked at 43hl/ha (44ha/hl for the 2005). Deep black/purple colour. The nose has good intensity with blueberry, raspberry, a touch of sea salt. Good definition, no greenness. Good lift. Full-bodied, grippy tannins, very solid and cohesive. Fine acidity, a real mass of black fruits, infused with black olives. Very tight, very focused, this is not a flamboyant La Mission, it does not have the persistency of a truly great vintage like the 1989 or indeed 2005, but there is a wonderful purity and beguiling reserve. Very harmonious, minerally finish. It needs a year in bottle for its true pedigree to show. Tasted April 2007.

Score: 92 - 94

Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com 30 April 2007

Deep crimson with strong purple notes. Fairly mild nose and rather voluptuous palate entry. Very fine tannins but with pretty rigid backbone. A certain velvetiness. Round and fine. But muted. Certainly refreshing but there is a little green streak on the finish. Seems weaker than I would have expected. Too much Tour in here? Opened up in the glass - more aromatic and playful than the Haut-Brion. But lighter and therefore apparently skinnier.

Score: 17

Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2015-2025 16 April 2007

This is so perfumed and pretty. Classy and elegant on the nose, with currant, light vanilla and a hint of lilac. Full-bodied, with ultrafine tannins and a long, long finish. All in finesse. Very impressive for the vintage; could be the wine of the vintage.

Score: 95 - 100

James Suckling, Wine Spectator 01 April 2007

With 59% Merlot, (40% Cabernet Sauvignon and 1% Cabernet Franc), La Mission contains the highest proportion of Merlot on the Left Bank. Despite the coolest August for twenty years, the prolonged sun of June, July and early September enabled the Merlot here to be harvested not only ripe but with exceptionally high sugar levels: the wine is now 14.3% alcohol - the same as in 2005. Intense deep ruby purple (deeper than Haut Brion) with pronounced and complex aromas of mint chocolate, woodsmoke and high-toned liqueur fruit – very La Mission. In the mouth it is big and broad with fantastic scale of luxuriantly ripe dark fruit, hints of tar and spice, and a very smoky finish. Weighty where Haut Brion is graceful. Rich and harmonious.

Score: 94 - 96

Albany Vintners, - 01 April 2007

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