1966 La Mission Haut Brion, Graves (375ml)

“This particular bottle of the 1966 La Mission was not marked by volatile acidity, as had been the case with the last bottle I tried of this wine and which I reported on back in the article on the ’66 clarets several years ago. Consequently, it was a step up in quality and really proved to be a lovely example of the vintage, offering up a complex and very classic nose of cassis, chipotle pepper, dark berries, singed cigars, herb tones, a beautiful base of dark, La Mission soil tones and a smoky topnote. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and beautifully focused, with tangy acids, a fine core of fruit, melting tannins and great length and balance on the black fruity, soil-driven and ever so slightly, horsey finish. A lovely and fully mature vintage of La Mission.” (01/2015)

“Very ripe, rich and fleshy, although still with a hard backbone. Deep ruby, brick-red color, ripe, intense raspberry aromas, full-bodied, with ripe, rich raspberry flavors and cedar and tobacco notes. There's plenty of tannin here. (JS)” (11/1991)

“The 1966 La Mission Haut-Brion is a vintage I have tasted many times, this last example courtesy of a half-bottle at the Four Seasons in London. It has a classic mature Graves nose of dusty black fruit, cedar and cigar humidor, plus traits of fireside hearth. The palate is well balanced with quite firm tannins and plenty of cedar-infused black fruit. A little drier than other vintages, but not austere, delivering good weight on the finish. (NM)” (06/2018)

“The 1966 La Mission-Haut-Brion, never quite as rich and deep as the 1964, is still a beautifully made, elegant La Mission, with a very cedary and leather-scented, fruity bouquet, medium to full body, and a long, supple, velvety finish. (RP)” (01/1998)