Is the 2002 La Mission Haut Brion at buy at $100?

Post Reply
User avatar
Blanquito
Posts: 5923
Joined: Mon Jan 26, 2009 9:24 pm

Is the 2002 La Mission Haut Brion at buy at $100?

Post by Blanquito »

Just found three well-stored bottles for $100 at a small, non-internet store.

Are these a buy? I'm not a label buyer (for the most part). I know these are a buy given the producer's regular prices, but what about what's in the bottle?
User avatar
Harry C.
Posts: 538
Joined: Tue Jan 27, 2009 1:00 am
Contact:

Re: Is the 2002 La Mission Haut Brion at buy at $100?

Post by Harry C. »

Mindful that I have not had it, the pundits average 90-92, FWIW. CellarTracker says average price now at auction is about 140. Reasonable buy.
User avatar
Comte Flaneur
Posts: 4864
Joined: Mon Jan 26, 2009 9:05 pm
Contact:

Re: Is the 2002 La Mission Haut Brion at buy at $100?

Post by Comte Flaneur »

I think that is a bargain Patrick.

But if you substitute in 2002s Leoville Lascases or Palmer, wines of similar calibre it wouldn't be quite so obvious.

But I definitely would.
User avatar
JimHow
Posts: 20108
Joined: Thu Nov 20, 2008 10:49 pm
Location: Lewiston, Maine, United States
Contact:

Re: Is the 2002 La Mission Haut Brion at buy at $100?

Post by JimHow »

Buy like the wind.
User avatar
Roel
Posts: 168
Joined: Tue Nov 18, 2014 10:24 pm
Location: Waalwijk, Netherlands
Contact:

Re: Is the 2002 La Mission Haut Brion at buy at $100?

Post by Roel »

Yes, for LMHB it's a good price. But the vintage isn't. I would buy something else, never been impressed by any 2002. So fancy LMHB, buy! Fancy great wine or even QPR...Nooo!
User avatar
Comte Flaneur
Posts: 4864
Joined: Mon Jan 26, 2009 9:05 pm
Contact:

Re: Is the 2002 La Mission Haut Brion at buy at $100?

Post by Comte Flaneur »

Roel quite a few of us could give you a list as long as our arms of 2002s we have been impressed with. Mostly left banks. Wines like my favourites: Leoville Lascases, Leoville-Barton...but plenty more
User avatar
JimHow
Posts: 20108
Joined: Thu Nov 20, 2008 10:49 pm
Location: Lewiston, Maine, United States
Contact:

Re: Is the 2002 La Mission Haut Brion at buy at $100?

Post by JimHow »

Roel I'm a huge fan of 2002 left bank.
The most classically styled clarets since '88.
User avatar
Comte Flaneur
Posts: 4864
Joined: Mon Jan 26, 2009 9:05 pm
Contact:

Re: Is the 2002 La Mission Haut Brion at buy at $100?

Post by Comte Flaneur »

Talking of LMHB I was digging around in my cellar today, which means crawling around on my belly, and I stumbled across a 1986 LMHB I didn't know I had. I guess if it was a 1086 it might be ready to drink.
User avatar
Blanquito
Posts: 5923
Joined: Mon Jan 26, 2009 9:24 pm

Re: Is the 2002 La Mission Haut Brion at buy at $100?

Post by Blanquito »

I got the excellent 2002 Leoville Barton on the shelf for $35 back in the day.

Parker gave the 02 LMHB 'only' 89 pts (he was worried about the tannins), which means Houndsong would be all-in.
User avatar
JimHow
Posts: 20108
Joined: Thu Nov 20, 2008 10:49 pm
Location: Lewiston, Maine, United States
Contact:

Re: Is the 2002 La Mission Haut Brion at buy at $100?

Post by JimHow »

I have a case of the 2002 Leoville Barton unopened in my cellar.
2002 was the year He rated Pape Clement ahead of both Haut Brion and LMHB for the first time ever.
I've had all three wines from 2002. They are all outstanding, warranting much higher than the 89s he gave to both LMHB and HB.
User avatar
JimHow
Posts: 20108
Joined: Thu Nov 20, 2008 10:49 pm
Location: Lewiston, Maine, United States
Contact:

Re: Is the 2002 La Mission Haut Brion at buy at $100?

Post by JimHow »

We had the 2002 Haut Brion in Dallas at the BWE convention a couple years ago, Ed and I each brought a bottle.
There were two or three other vintages of Haut Brion there as well.
The '02 was my favorite.
User avatar
Blanquito
Posts: 5923
Joined: Mon Jan 26, 2009 9:24 pm

Re: Is the 2002 La Mission Haut Brion at buy at $100?

Post by Blanquito »

You're tempting me, guys. I admit, Parker's score made me pause, and I usually expect a fantastic wine for $100. But this could be a real sleeper.
User avatar
Roel
Posts: 168
Joined: Tue Nov 18, 2014 10:24 pm
Location: Waalwijk, Netherlands
Contact:

Re: Is the 2002 La Mission Haut Brion at buy at $100?

Post by Roel »

Glad you love your 2002's. Had my share and (mostly) liked them, not raved about them. I truely love 1988 btw. I just want to spend my money on2003, 2005, 2008, 2009 and 2010. Maybe some 2004's too.
User avatar
JimHow
Posts: 20108
Joined: Thu Nov 20, 2008 10:49 pm
Location: Lewiston, Maine, United States
Contact:

Re: Is the 2002 La Mission Haut Brion at buy at $100?

Post by JimHow »

Im buying as much 2010 as I can these days.
User avatar
AlohaArtakaHoundsong
Posts: 1460
Joined: Sun Sep 02, 2012 5:12 pm
Contact:

Re: Is the 2002 La Mission Haut Brion at buy at $100?

Post by AlohaArtakaHoundsong »

Blanquito wrote:I got the excellent 2002 Leoville Barton on the shelf for $35 back in the day.

Parker gave the 02 LMHB 'only' 89 pts (he was worried about the tannins), which means Houndsong would be all-in.
That's when 89 points meant something. Those were the days.
User avatar
Roel
Posts: 168
Joined: Tue Nov 18, 2014 10:24 pm
Location: Waalwijk, Netherlands
Contact:

Re: Is the 2002 La Mission Haut Brion at buy at $100?

Post by Roel »

JimHow wrote:Im buying as much 2010 as I can these days.
Me too. Love the vintage on all levels, from humble Cru Bourgeois to GCC. 2009 is good too, but I prefer the crunchy style of '10.
User avatar
robert goulet
Posts: 1266
Joined: Fri Mar 13, 2009 8:18 am
Contact:

Re: Is the 2002 La Mission Haut Brion at buy at $100?

Post by robert goulet »

If this is as good as '04 then u have quite the deal
User avatar
SF Ed
Posts: 710
Joined: Mon Jan 26, 2009 11:08 pm
Contact:

Re: Is the 2002 La Mission Haut Brion at buy at $100?

Post by SF Ed »

Haven't tasted 2002 but LMHB tends to outperform in lesser years, so given track record and the fact that 2002 is drinking better/more classically than the vintage is generally given credit for, I would go for it.

SF Ed
User avatar
JimHow
Posts: 20108
Joined: Thu Nov 20, 2008 10:49 pm
Location: Lewiston, Maine, United States
Contact:

Re: Is the 2002 La Mission Haut Brion at buy at $100?

Post by JimHow »

The PC price for 2002 Haut Brion.
Of course we got it for $100 back in the day.

2002 Haut Brion 299.99
95-100 Wine Spectator: '"Wow. Super aromas, with blackberries, minerals, currants and licorice. Full-bodied, with an amazing core of fruit and fine tannins. Very long. Exceptional wine."

I think it is much closer to the WS100 than the RMP89.
Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Bing [Bot], Google [Bot] and 27 guests