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2021 Château La Mission Haut-Brion, Pessac-Léognan, Bordeaux

  • Red
  • Dry
  • Full Bodied
Not ready
James Lawther MW
17.5/20
Neal Martin MW
93-95/100
James Suckling
94-95/100
William Kelley
94-96/100
Jane Anson MW
97/100
Product: 20218008990
2021 Château La Mission Haut-Brion, Pessac-Léognan, Bordeaux

Description

Merlot 48%, Cabernet Sauvignon 46%, Cabernet Franc 6%

Just as with Château Haut-Brion, the tannins are tightly wound and the fruit cool and restrained. But this also has the sense of a dog pulling at its lead, waiting for its shackles to be loosened. This is one of the most obvious examples in this vintage of a return to the “classicism” of the last century, of a wine with both grip and freshness. Yet its intensity is very much of this century. This is a wine for both purists and enthusiasts. Drink 2028-2050.

Our score: 18/20

Berry Bros. & Rudd, April 2022

Colour Red
Sweetness Dry
Vintage 2021
Maturity Not ready
Body Full Bodied
Producer Château La Mission-Haut-Brion

Critics reviews

James Lawther MW 17.5/20
A mix of refined power and elegance. Deep crimson hue. Fragrant dark fruit and cassis notes as the wine opens. Texturally very fine with plentiful tannins that are coated and smooth. Lovely freshness accompanied by persistence and drive. Great balance. Plenty of potential.Drink 2030 - 2050james_lawther, JancisRobinson.com (May 2022)
Drink 2030 - 2050
James Lawther MW, JancisRobinson.com (May 2022)
Neal Martin MW 93-95/100
The 2021 La Mission Haut-Brion is blessed with an ethereal bouquet, subtle touches of wilted iris petal and truffle infuse the black fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grain tannins, perfectly judged acidity, quite compact on the mid-palate with linear and correct finish. Not the most charming La Mission Haut-Brion. You could argue that it is slightly "aloof", yet intuition tells me it has something up its sleeve for later on. Patience necessary.Drink 2027 - 2060Neil Martin, Vinous.com.com, (May 2022)
Drink 2030 - 2050
Neal Martin MW, Vinous.com (May 2022)
James Suckling 94-95/100
Lots of sea-salt, iodine and purple-fruit aromas and flavors to this. Turns to bark and forest floor. Powerful. Full-bodied and muscular. 47.9% merlot, 45.8% cabernet sauvignon and 6.3% cabernet franc.james_suckling, jamessuckling_com (May 2022)
Drink 2030 - 2050
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com (May 2022)
William Kelley 94-96/100
Unwinding in the glass with aromas of dark berries and plums mingled with loamy soil, sweet spices, cigar box and licorice, the 2021 La Mission Haut-Brion is full-bodied, lively and seamless, with a deep, concentrated core of fruit framed by bright acids and supple, powdery tannins. This charming, sensual rendition of La Mission is a blend of 48% Merlot, 46% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6% Cabernet Franc, attaining 13.4% alcohol.William Kelley, Wine Advocate (Apr 2022)
Drink 2030 - 2050
William Kelley, RobertParker.com (Apr 2022)
Jane Anson MW 97/100
Plenty of classic La Mission finesse and balance, touches of cloves and velvety tannins, this is surpremely balanced and elegant, with pummice stone minerality. It is a little taut on the finish in its tannic structure and no question majors more heavily on the cool blue fruit character than we have seen with this property in recent years. Seriously enjoyable, a total masterclass in cool climate fruit delivery. Easy to recommend. 73% new oak, harvest september 20 to October 8. No frost impact here and very little mildew, meaning the overall yield was up to 47hl/h, extremely generous for the vintage. Drink 2028 - 2044jane_anson_mw, janeanson_com (May 2022)
Drink 2030 - 2050
Jane Anson MW, JaneAnson.com (May 2022)

About this wine

Chateau la Mission Haut-Brion

Château La Mission-Haut-Brion is the greatest Graves wine after Haut-Brion and in some vintages is considered the superior wine of the two. La Mission-Haut-Brion is situated just across the road from Haut-Brion in the commune of Talence in the southern suburbs of Bordeaux. Since 1983, both properties have been under the same ownership, Domaine Clarence Dillon S.A. La Mission-Haut-Brion's vineyards (Cabernet Sauvignon 48%, Merlot 45%, Cabernet Franc 7%) lie on a large (up to 18 metres deep in places) gravel bank interspersed with clay. The wine is fermented in temperature-controlled, stainless steel vats and then matured in oak barriques (100% new) for 18 months. The wines of La Mission Haut Brion are rich, oaky and powerful and need at least 10 years of bottle ageing before they should be broached.
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