-
100
/ 100
Jeb Dunnuck -
99
/ 100
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate -
98
/ 100
James Suckling -
97
/ 100
Vinous -
96
/ 100
Decanter
Red
Classification
Merlot Blend
Variety
2019
Vintage
750ml (Bottle)
Bottle Size
France
Country
Bordeaux, Graves
Region
14.5%
Alcohol %
15 Plus Years
Cellaring
Scores
100 / 100"The 2019 Château La Mission Haut-Brion is Merlot-dominated, checking in as 53% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the rest Cabernet Franc. It's a more opulent wine compared to Haut-Brion, and the Merlot is front and center here, with ripe, sexy black cherry and redcurrant fruits as well as licorice, scorched earth, cedar pencil, and graphite aromas and flavors. Rich, exuberant, and straight up sexy on the palate, it's full-bodied, has a deep, layered mid-palate, building tannins, and a heavenly finish. Just a prodigious, powerful, off-the-charts expression of this terroir, it actually reminds me slightly of the 2005 (or 1998?) with its mix of sexiness and opulence. This is one of the few 2019s that will make your eyes roll back in your head. It will need 10-15 years of cellaring, but it’s a sensational wine on every level and will have 40+ years of prime drinking"
- Jeb Dunnuck
99 / 100
"(William Kelly) The 2019 La Mission Haut-Brion unwinds in the glass with aromas of inky berry fruit, wild plums and cherries mingled with notions of warm spices, burning embers and creamy new oak. Full-bodied, deep and layered, it's rich and concentrated, with a deep core of fruit, bright acids and fine, powdery tannins. Powerful and tightly wound, this is less sumptuous and demonstrative out of the gates than its sibling Haut-Brion, but I suspect it possesses even greater potential."
- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
98 / 100
"Blackcurrants and crushed stones with violets and roses. Earthy and black truffle notes, too. Medium to full body with firm, silky tannins that are layered and attractive, in a muscular and toned fashion. Iodine, ink, earth and bark with wet-vine undertones to the fruit at the end. Reserved and impressive. Best after 2025."
- James Suckling
97 / 100
"The 2019 La Mission Haut-Brion was picked from September 11 until October 2, and matured in 78% new oak. This has a fragrant nose, very well defined and neatly disguising the 14.6° alcohol. It comes across just a little closed compared to other vintages, perhaps due to tasting in December. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, fresh and vibrant. This has a gorgeous texture and real tension toward the finish. Intense rather than powerful, it fans out wonderfully, gaining depth with aeration. An audacious La Mission Haut-Brion, but perhaps not quite within the very top rank of this estate."
- Vinous
96 / 100
"Wonderful depth of flavour, a signature of this château that is just so elegant but is always happy to oblige in delivering delightfully sappy, seductive, gently spiced fruit. Cigar box and tobacco notes, floral peony and iris aromatics. Great second wave of aromatics that is striking and increases the density and width of the palate. Oak already feels integrated even at this early stage (JA)"
- Decanter
Tasting Notes
Located across the road from sister property Chateau Haut-Brion, the 26 hectare vineyard of Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion is not only equally as accomplished today, it often bests the First Growth wine. In fact if the classification of Bordeaux happened again today you would expect La Mission to be included as a First Growth, such is the quality and consistency of the wines.
The deep gravel and clay vineyard is planted to 48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, and 7% Cabernet Franc for the red wine, and 62% Semillon, 38% Sauvignon Blanc for the white. Often seen as a more robust and structured wine than Haut-Brion, La Mission is no less concentrated and complex, and can be extremely long lived.
Tasting Profile
- Light
- Full
- Low Tannin
- Tannic
- Sweet
- Dry
- Low Acidity
- High Acidity