Château La Mission Haut-Brion 2001 comes from a very good year for the left bank and Graves' premiere Pessac-Léognan appellation.

La Mission highlights the characteristics of the 2001 Bordeaux vintage, which saw a reversion to the more classical style of Bordeaux following the heady opulence of the blockbuster 2000 vintage: cool-climate wines of elegance, restraint and balance, with pure fruit and nice firm tannins.

La Mission 2001 is drinking exceptionally well now, with plenty more promise in the bottle.

"Very complex, with blackberries, flowers and minerals. Full-bodied, with fine tannins and a fresh, sweet fruit aftertaste. Refined La Mission. Beautiful." Wine Spectator

"...very elegant, almost understated in character, quite rounded and lithe, the Merlot intense and dominating over the Cabernet. Seductive bouquet. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, lovely ripe rounded black fruits cut through with vibrant acidity. Nice tension like the ’05 with a crisp, slightly leafy finish with great length. Do not ignore the quality of this wine. Excellent." eRobertParker.com

"Black cherry, tobacco and minerals on the nose. Dense but juicy and sharply delineated, thanks to its firm spine of acidity...finishes with lovely musky sweetness, firm but ripe tannins and superb length." Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar