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Château La Mission Haut-Brion Pessac-Léognan Red Bordeaux Blend 1990
Reminiscing over the 1989 and 1990 vintages, which I have followed from birth, there always seemed to be a dramatic difference in quality. Not that the 1990 was not a top wine, but in its infancy, I never thought it would come close to being as riveting and magnetic as its older sibling, the 1989. However, it has proven to be nearly as prodigious. One of the hottest years in Bordeaux, 1990, a vintage of enormous yields, even dwarfing yields in 1985 and 1982, produced a fabulously open-knit, seemingly fast track La Mission that, at age 22, shows no signs of fading or losing its grip. The color is slightly more mature and evolved than the 1989's, exhibiting a lighter rim and a less dark blue/ruby/purple hue. Classic La Mission-Haut-Brion aromatics of camphor, licorice, scorched earth, hot bricks, barbecue, cassis, blueberry and kirsch are well displayed. Broad, expansive, velvety-textured and opulent with high glycerin and perhaps slightly higher alcohol (I don't have the statistics to verify that), the 1990 is as delicious and open-knit as the 1989...Most 1990s have been quick to reach full maturity, and as brilliant as they can be, they need to be monitored carefully by owners. Currently in late adolescence, but close to full maturity, the 1990 should hold in a cold cellar for another 15-20 years. However, it is a fabulous wine to inspect, taste and consume, so why wait? Robert Parker
Ratings on Delectable
Cody Short 
Every time I drink this I realize it’s one of my favorite Bordeaux of all time. This is drinking beautifully and it’s all about tobacco, smoke and red fruits. Tannins have settled nicely and this is just stunning stuff!
Every time I drink this I realize it’s one of my favorite Bordeaux of all time. This is drinking beautifully and it’s all about tobacco, smoke and red fruits. Tannins have settled nicely and this is just stunning stuff!
9.8
Jason Chang
Proprietor NINE SUNS Winery, HOUYI Vineyard
Thanks to @Greg Gregory This is my 2nd fav BDX of all time. Wow.
Thanks to @Greg Gregory This is my 2nd fav BDX of all time. Wow.
9.9Nicole Hakli
Sommelier The NoMad Restaurant
Beautiful aromatic floral representation of Pessac Leognan. Neighbor to the more brooding Haut Brion.
Beautiful aromatic floral representation of Pessac Leognan. Neighbor to the more brooding Haut Brion.
9.6
Antonio Galloni
Founder, Vinous
Total pleasure bomb. A great bottle!
Total pleasure bomb. A great bottle!
9.8
Steven Gullo
Mulberry, dried tobacco, and roasted herbs. Meaty, mouth filling, and round texture. Tannins still fairly present, but smooth. Long, smoky finish. Outstanding to say the least.
Mulberry, dried tobacco, and roasted herbs. Meaty, mouth filling, and round texture. Tannins still fairly present, but smooth. Long, smoky finish. Outstanding to say the least.
9.5
Scott Barber
Wine Educator Meadowood Napa Valley
Classic roasted gravel with smoke and rose petal.
Classic roasted gravel with smoke and rose petal.
9.4
Filippo Calabresi
Winemaker Tenimenti d'Alessandro
close to the edge; nose like a moist forest, palate smooth like moss..
close to the edge; nose like a moist forest, palate smooth like moss..
9.4
Chris Baggetta
Sommelier/Wine Director Quince Restaurant
Not the best bottle of this wine I've tasted. It was a little hollow.
Not the best bottle of this wine I've tasted. It was a little hollow.
8.5
Nicolas Greinacher
Drinking beautifully right now, the 1990 Château La Mission Haut Brion is a great success from this generous and warm vintage, albeit not hitting the same hights as the 1982 or 1989. More evolved than the 1989, it offers a fragrant nose of dried figs, cigar box, leather, smoked herbs, scorched earth and ripe, almost jammy black currant. Quite opulent in character, the wine delivers a full body, boatloads of concentrated black fruit flavours and ripe, fine-grained tannins. A wine for the hedonists. Drink now until 2030
Drinking beautifully right now, the 1990 Château La Mission Haut Brion is a great success from this generous and warm vintage, albeit not hitting the same hights as the 1982 or 1989. More evolved than the 1989, it offers a fragrant nose of dried figs, cigar box, leather, smoked herbs, scorched earth and ripe, almost jammy black currant. Quite opulent in character, the wine delivers a full body, boatloads of concentrated black fruit flavours and ripe, fine-grained tannins. A wine for the hedonists. Drink now until 2030
9.6
Arden Barnett
Pop and pour. Special stuff
Pop and pour. Special stuff
9.5
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