A pleasant claret now, but better in '92. Should develop quickly. Medium ruby color; grassy, earthy, oyster shell aromas; medium-bodied, with rich, earthy, slightly strong grassy flavors and a medium finish.--La Mission-Haut-Brion vertical. -JS

Delicious, but at the end of its plateau of maturity, the 1987 La Mission gave me considerable pleasure in a lighter style that is a reference point for just how seductive, perfumed., and interesting an off-year vintage of Bordeaux can be. The wine has always been supple, with plenty of smoky black fruits intermixed with a whiff of herbs and tobacco. The wine has still retained that fragrance, but in the mouth the finish is becoming increasingly attenuated. Nevertheless, I suspect magnums and larger formats of this wine could provide drinking that could possibly even hit a 90-point score from a pristinely stored large format. Anticipated maturity: Drink up. Last tasted, 9/02.