Mission Haut Brion Vintage:1998

Mission Haut Brion Vintage:1998The knockout nose, with all its smoke, hot stone, campfire embers, burnt earth, tobacco, cigar wrapper and roasted, ripe red fruits is a beauty. Full bodied, with good concentration, the tannins are a bit rustic, so the wine lacks the polish of the better vintages, but with decanting, the wine fills out, offering a classic expression of its charms. You can drink now with 1 2 hours of air, else, wait another 5 years.

but in 2000 the fruit has enough intensity to nearly cover the tannins

black and blue fruit

showing tons of intensity

then fleshier in the middle

black raspberry

12% Sauvignon Blanc and 2% Muscadelle picked from 29 September until 14 November over four or five pickings

The big-bodied flavors possess a bit more size

Juicy and vinous

(from Charmes proper)

This is distinctly sauvage in character with moderate toast

The fruit remains fabulously rich and vibrant from start to finish

Medium to full-bodied