1949 La Tour Haut Brion

Many of the wines that should be considered for inclusion in a list of the century's greatest red Bordeaux come from the tiny property of Latour-Haut-Brion which for some time has been the second wine of La Mission-Haut-Brion. Anyone who has tasted the 1982, 1975, 1961, 1959, 1955, 1949, and the inconsistent but potentially superb 1947 recognizes that this wine, now largely forgotten by the Bordeaux cognoscenti, has produced some extraordinarily rich, beefy, full-bodied, powerhouse wines that have admirably stood the test of time. Moreover, since Latour-Haut-Brion has always been eclipsed by the justifiable prestige accorded to its neighbors, La Mission-Haut-Brion and Haut-Brion, it can be purchased for a reasonable price at auction. Wine Advocate.October, 1994