Chateau La Mission Haut Brion, Cru Classe, Pessac Leognan 2003

"Shows more creme de cassis, plenty of cedar wood, melted licorice and charcoal in a medium to full-bodied wine. Rustic tannins in the back knock down the ultimate pleasure, and the point score, ever so slightly, but there’s no doubting the complex, perfumey, noble aromatics this wine has managed to attain. Here’s a case where the second wine comes very close in quality to its bigger sibling, possibly because it is showing great complexity and is even more evolved than the Mission Haut-Brion. " - Robert Parker

"Aromas of blackberry, tobacco and hints of oak. Full-bodied, with lots of silky and round tannins and a long finish. Lots going on here. Layered and powerful." - Wine Spectator