Château La Mission Haut-Brion
Château La Mission Haut-Brion
AboutChâteau La Mission Haut-Brion
Château La Mission Haut-Brion takes its name from the Lazarist priests who received the property in 1682 through Olive de Lestonnac’s charitable bequest. They built the chapel of Notre-Dame d’Aubrion in 1698. Frédéric Otto Woltner bought the estate in 1919 and introduced enamelled steel vats in 1926 to improve control of fermentation temperatures. Domaine Clarence Dillon acquired it in 1983, restoring the buildings and vineyards and adding a new vat house.
The twenty-nine hectares span Pessac and Talence, with most planted to Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, and just over four hectares to Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc. Gravel mounds provide natural drainage, while winter plant cover and compost made at the estate are used to care for the soils.
Château La Mission Haut-Brion 2002 Pessac-Léognan
French Red
Intensely aromatic, with dark cherry at the centre and a generous frame of polished oak. Concentrated and long, the palate has substantial dark fruit, measured power and a firm, savoury structure that benefits from air. Give it about four hours in a decanter to open fully, then serve with roast beef, lamb or other simply seasoned red meat.
Château La Mission Haut-Brion 2011 Pessac-Léognan
French Red
Dense and classically shaped, with cassis and ripe dark fruit joined by cedar, tobacco, earth, smoke, coffee and dried red fruit. The palate is rich and complex, combining bright freshness with firm ripe tannins, fine balance and a tightly wound, very long finish. Allow three to five hours in a decanter and serve with venison, beef or roast lamb.
Château La Mission Haut-Brion 2005 Pessac-Léognan
French Red
Sweet blackberry, cassis and spring flowers open over crushed rock and earthy mineral notes. Full-bodied and richly layered, the palate combines warm dark fruit with velvety yet firm tannins and an energetic backbone. Tobacco, cedar and savoury spice add depth before the exceptionally long, textured and precise finish.
Château La Mission Haut-Brion 1997 Pessac-Léognan
French Red
A mature, leafy bouquet brings hickory, clove and freshly picked mint over red berry fruit. The medium-bodied palate is piquant and fully evolved, adding tobacco, peppercorn and cracked black pepper to its savoury core. Fine structure and lingering spice keep the engaging finish poised, with depth but no excess weight.