Mission Haut Brion Pessac Leognan 1985

Category:
 
Red Wines
Sub-Category:  
 
Red Wines
Producer:
 
Mission Haut Brion
Label Name:
 
Pessac Leognan
Vintage:
 
1985
Country:
 
France
Region:
 
Pessac-Léognan (Graves), Bordeaux
Volume:
 
750ml
ABV:
 
12.5%
Grape(s):
 
Cabernet Sauvignon (≈47%), Merlot (≈43%), Cabernet Franc (≈10%).
Acidity:
 
2
Tannins:
 
2
Sweetness:
 
1
Body:
 
4
Length:
 
4
Aroma Intensity:
 
4
Best Temperature:
 
16-18°C

Awards/Ratings
Wine Spectator 95 (1991); Vinous 93 (recent notes); Wine Advocate ~92 (2012). Widely praised by critics and offered in major auction houses

Tasting Note
Evolved Pessac-Léognan: blackcurrant and kirsch with tobacco, cedar, graphite, smoked/herbal and gamey mushroom notes; medium–full, fleshy palate, low acidity, soft/silky tannins and a smoky, lingering finish.

Food Pairing
Western: roast beef, lamb rack, venison and braised short ribs. Asian: Peking duck, char siu/roast pork, Korean bulgogi or braised beef (galbi). (Classic Bordeaux pairings with roasted red meats and game).

Production Method
Traditional Bordeaux vinification with selective parcel blending; aged in oak barrels (historically ~18–22 months with a high proportion of new oak) before extended bottle ageing.

Vineyard Info
Château La Mission Haut-Brion, a Graves cru classé estate adjacent to Haut-Brion; owned by Domaine Clarence Dillon since 1983 and noted for gravel soils and premium Bordeaux blends.