Château La Mission Haut Brion, Cru Classé, Pessac Léognan,

The 1999 La Mission Haut-Brion has long been one of the “dark horses” from the estate, sandwiched between the 1998 and 2000 and unfairly overlooked. This bottle reveals an intense bouquet that has far more chutzpah than I presupposed. Black fruit, charcoal, singed leather and just a subtle hint of game are all delivered with impressive definition. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, and a marine influence is more noticeable than a decade ago when I last tasted it. While it has not quite lost its rather conservative and well-behaved finish, it is a thoroughly enjoyable La Mission Haut-Brion that might represent better value than more feted vintages. Tasted from an ex-château bottle at the estate.