2000 Château la Mission-Haut-Brion

100 POINTS

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

One of the wines of the vintage, the 2000 has barely budged in its evolution since it was bottled and released in 2002. After ten years in bottle, it still reveals a dense opaque purple color along with a potentially sensational bouquet of blueberries, black currants, graphite, asphalt and background oak. Extremely powerful, full-bodied and superbly concentrated with good acidity and high but round tannins, this massive La Mission-Haut-Brion should take its place among this estate’s most hallowed vintages when it hits full maturity in another one to two decades. I was surprised by just how youthful this wine tasted at age 12. If tasted blind, I would have guessed it to be around 4 to 5 years old. Anticipated maturity: 2020-2050.

98 POINTS

Jane Anson - Decanter

The colour here is deep and dense – just beginning to soften towards brick red - without a huge colour change from the rim to the centre. The fruit character is rich and plummy, with autumnal damson and blackberry notes alongside supple tannins. There is clear aromatic intensity, and floral edges, that become more intense over time – a great indicator of something special going on. Dark fruit flavours and cigar leaf nuances complete what is a delicious wine, at the perfect moment to launch into the next phase of its life.

95 POINTS

Stephen Tanzer - Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

Saturated ruby-red. Full-blown aromas of dark berries, smoked meat, tobacco and iron. Lush, thick and ripe; really builds steadily in the mouth and explodes on the back end. Quintessential La Mission notes of tobacco, minerals, tar and hot stones. Today the 2001 seems even more sharply etched but this is denser, riper and deeper, with perfectly integrated acidity. Finishes very long, with huge, palate-coating tannins.

93 POINTS

James Suckling - Wine Spectator

Lovely aromas of dried lavender, crushed berries and minerals. Full-bodied, with firm, yet polished tannins and a medium finish of tobacco, berry and dark chocolate. A balanced and very pretty young red. Not quite as exciting as in barrel, but clearly outstanding. Best after 2010.

René Gabriel - WeinWisser

Gewaltige Power, Kräuter, Tabak, Eukalyptus. Reift zur Legende. 20/20