La Mission & Haut-Brion tasting

Tasting at Hong Kong Wine Vault, with Jean-Philippe Delmas in attendance.

2009 La Mission Haut-Brion Blanc - pipi de chat, citrus, toasty oak and a little smoke.

2009 Haut-Brion Blanc - toasty corn, more subtle and elegant, perhaps a little closed compared to La Mission?  Riper on the palate.

Then came a pair of wines I tasted back in 2009 at the château during en primeur.

2008 La Mission Haut-Brion - really sweet and ripe, with metallic minerals, vanilla, smoky and minty. Of course the tannins are still here.

2008 Haut-Brion - more muted, smoky, slightly peppery.  Grippy on the palate.

1998 Chapelle de la Mission - in a word: manure.  Farmy, earthy, savory, soy sauce, fermented soy bean, stinky cheese.

1998 Bahans Haut-Brion - smoky, nice and elegant.

Had to leave early so didn't get to taste the 1998 grand vins.

Full post on the entire evening is here.