A beautiful aromatic display which starts with delicate autumn leaves, black berries, dried herbs and cedar. It's smoky and torrefied, with some dried cranberry and cooked plum notes. There's energy in the mouth- not forceful or bullish but standing firm and upright with lots of pleasure to give.

Ripe black fruits, smoky tobacco, scorched earth, and graphite define the 1995 Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion, though it's tight and closed on opening with an almost austere edge that gives way to ample density and depth once it blossoms with air. It actually reminds me a little of the 2000 with its backward yet incredibly promising style. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it has moderate acidity, plenty of tannins, and a great finish. If drinking any time soon, give it a solid hour in a decanter, and after following this bottle for an evening, I'm convinced (or say, optimistically hopeful) it will turn into something truly spectacular.

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?"

Subtle aromas of sweet tobacco, cigar box and ripe strawberry. Full-bodied, with very well-integrated, tightly woven tannins. Chewy, rich.