2016 La Mission Haut Brion Rouge

A blend of 57.5% Merlot and 42.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2016 La Mission Haut-Brion is deep garnet-purple in color. It is uncharacteristically shy to begin, needing considerable coaxing to unlock notes of blackcurrant cordial, black cherries, and wild blueberries, plus opulent wafts of rose oil, Chinese five spice, dried lavender, and licorice. The full-bodied palate explodes with a whole array of cassis and blackberry preserves layers, followed by sparks of exotic spices and dried flowers, supported by very fine, exquisitely ripe tannins, leading to a firework display of spices and minerals on the finish of this atomic wine.
99/100 Lisa Perrotti-Brown

Love the balance and elegance, this is a superb La Mission, with length, fine but plentiful tannins, with baking spices, leather, rose bud, white truffle, lace-like tannins. Has lift and grace but also a ton of depth, heading into its drinking window and ready to wow anyone lucky enough to own it. 100% new French oak for ageing.
98/100 Jane Anson

Make no mistake, 2016 La Mission Haut Brion is a strong and impressive wine. It has loads of strong, powerful and smoky fruit and a big and powerful backbone of tannins, acidity and loads of crunchy and peppery layers. That is the good news. The bad news is that the wine is almost completely closed refusing to provide a more thorough look into its interesting personality. This is a classic La Mission that would potentially need another 15 years of cellaring before the fun really starts.
96/100 Ivar Bjurner; The Wine Independent