A consistently profound La Mission-Haut-Brion and a strong candidate for the wine of the vintage, this wine continues to evolve at a glacial pace. Among the most powerful, concentrated wines of the vintage, the 1978 La Mission-Haut-Brion has a classic Graves nose of scorched earth, roasted coffee, tobacco, and smoky, sweet black currant and cherry fruit. It is very full-bodied, with supple tannins and sweet, concentrated, layered fruit offering up sumptuous flavors that seem almost atypical for the vintage. A great 1978, and a wine to look for at auction, as it is probably undervalued. Anticipated maturity: Now-2015. Last tasted, 9/02.