La Mission Haut Brion 1995

This vintage is aging at a glacial pace and the tannins are currently more significant than their counterbalancing components of fruit and glycerin. While the word "potential" seems to be the most positive descriptor for this vintage, there are some nagging doubts about whether all the tannins will melt away and the fruit will hold. As in most 1995s, the color remains a healthy dark plum/purple. One of the bigger wines of the vintage, the ripe, powerful Merlot component has buttressed the Cabernet elements, giving the wine plenty of body, tannin and La Mission's classic asphalt, cassis, blackberry, smoky barbecue, meaty notes intermixed with a hint of hot rocks. The 1995 is still a young wine and I am beginning to wonder if this vintage overall will resemble 1975 rather than something with more charm? Anticipated maturity: 2020-2035?

50% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc, 49% Cabernet Sauvignon. Mid ruby. Occluded nose. Rather a gentle beast. Rich and sweet with the bite of dust tannins on the finish. Very sweet and flattering. Very definitely a smudgy 'cloud' of a wine. Medium weight. Not lots of intensity. Quite delicate. But lovely length even if the dryness of the tannins is starting to triumph. Long.

The wine is high-class, exhibiting a dense ruby/purple color, and a reticent but promising nose of roasted herbs, sweet, peppery, spicy fruit, medium to full body, and admirable power, depth, and richness. Anticipated maturity 2003-2020.