- Lot Description
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Bid on this bottle of 1989 La Mission Haut-Brion, Pessac-Léognan (100RP, 100VN, 97DC, 97JG, 96WS). Vinous: "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. (NM)" (09/2019
This lot contains the following items:
1989 La Mission Haut-Brion, Pessac-Léognan (qty: 1)
- Lot Items
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1989 La Mission Haut-Brion, Pessac-Léognan (750 ml)Quantity: 1Provenance: Original owner. Purchased on release from local retailer and stored in a professional temperature-controlled wine cellar of a Los Angeles based collector. Hand delivered to K&L.Fill level: Very High ShoulderLabel condition: Bin Soiled LabelTasting Notes:- Professional Reviews
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
100
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, creme 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. (RP)
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Vinous
100
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. (NM)
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Decanter
97
An extremely fine Mission, just beginning to say its piece. It's dense, gorgeously velvety in texture and bursting with fruit and energy. On the palate you get liquorice and dark chocolate notes, showing clear generosity while easily walking the line of balance. The longer it sits in the glass, the more the minerality takes hold on the mid-palate, doling out its tiny sparks of electricity and holding your attention. The subtle smoke, freshly cut herbs and tight tannins steal up on you, planting their flag in the finish. (JA)
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John Gilman
97
The striking difference in purity between the top wines of 1989 and their counterparts in 1990 is very readily apparent in the magical 1989 La Mission Haut-Brion, which is a significant step from the very fine 1990 paired up with it at this tasting. The brilliant and vibrant nose soars from the glass in a sappy blend of black cherries, blackberries, cigar wrapper, gravelly soil tones, smoke and a touch of new oak. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, pure and nascently complex, with a rock solid core of sappy fruit, stunning soil inflection, ripe tannins and stunning purity on the beautifully focused and endless finish. This is one of the greatest young vintages of La Mission I have ever had the pleasure to taste. 97+
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Wine Spectator
96
What a nose of pressed flowers and full-throttle dried fruits. Full-bodied, with intense and very ripe fruit that has undertones of dried fruit, raisin and grilled meat. Chewy and decadent, almost rustic, offering so much richness and decadence. So much to give still, but why wait? (JS, Web-2010)
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Jancis Robinson
Lively and rich. Dense blackcurrant and savoury. Much livelier than the 1990. Mainly Cabernet Sauvignon. Fresh and sinewy. 18.5/20 points (JR)
Ratings: RP: 100 VN: 100 DC: 97 JG: 97 WS: 96
