Pretty tight at first, eventually opening after two hours in a decanter with bitter chocolate, Graves earth, stone more than cassis fruit, tobacco, and violets. Structured yet seemingly mid weighted and graceful, with a sense of depth and power that is beautifully proportioned, conveying power without any heaviness. There is sap and breath on the palate with harmony. More gravel, bitter chocolate, and tobacco leaf on the palate. Ripe fruit plays beautifully with the savory and earthy notes. Finishes long. Drinking at peak after a couple hours in the decanter, and the last glass at four hours being the best by a stretch, with terrific perfume, an expansive palate presence, but mostly a sense of harmony and effortless balance. (96 pts.)
I’ve decided I should start drinking some bottles of merit, making the bottle the occasion. Life is short, and right now 2021 could use a little picker upper. LMHB is my favorite Bordeaux producer by a stretch, and this bottle reminded me why.
FWIW, it was a pretty fantastic partner to a plain hamburger.
One of the greatest Bordeauxs produced, this wine has been rated 95 to 100 in twenty seven years, to this date. In off to bad vintages such as '73, '74, '76 this wine can be very enjoyable.
Only one other Bordeaux, Petrus, has out performed this chateau over the last 100 years.
The La Mission Haut Brion can have a typically long life, properly cared for.
"LMHB is my favorite Bordeaux producer by a stretch, and this bottle reminded me why."
You could safely leave all three of those wines [in your will] to your grandkids or your great-grandkids.
Point being that those bottles needn’t be opened any time soon - they’ll still be going strong [and likely continuing to improve] well into the second half of the 21st Century, and maybe even into the 22nd Century.
When it comes to Bordeaux (or wine at all) it does not go much better than a well stored and aged LMHB from a good vintage. The 1990 is better as the 1989 today. That may change in the coming years (at least I guess it will). It depends on the bottle and the storage but 1989 LMHB can still be very young.