The 2019 La Mission Haut-Brion has a beautiful, floral bouquet with touches of pressed violet infusing the black fruit, exquisite delineation and focus; the new oak is seamlessly integrated. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-boned tannins, pixelated, hints of blood orange and graphite towards the beautifully-framed finish that lingers long in the mouth. Exceptional. Tasted blind at the Southwold annual tasting. 98 points

The 2019 La Mission Haut-Brion is fabulous. There`s no doubt about that. When it might actually be ready to drink is another matter! Soaring aromatics are so alluring. On the palate, though, the 2019 is incredibly reticent. Readers should be in no rush. Today, La Mission is a wine of huge potential. Dark red cherry, rose petal, incense, iron and gravel hint at what is to come. 97+ points

Fully knitted down but already showing its class, with a nuanced, complex mix of cassis, blackberry and black cherry fruits shot through with bitter orange peel, crushed stones and sage leaf. The most gorgeous juicy freshness runs through the muscular tannins, with the same violet flower freshness that was found in La Chapelle this year. Just so full of enticing campfire and gunsmoke on this finish, this is a wine that will go for years. Love it, one of my wines of the vintage. Bottled May. This is an upscore. 99 points