Château La Mission Haut-Brion 2011 - Cru Classé de Graves

Bettane & Desseauve

About the wine:

A smoky, spicy nose and a silky texture; slightly firmer on the palate than the 2014, but with plenty of character and a long finish.

About the estate:

While awaiting its new facilities—much like its larger counterpart, Haut-Brion—Mission continues to delight us with its velvety, wonderfully complex wine, a superb expression of Merlot grown on deep gravel soils (often accounting for more than 50% of the blend) and an exceptional Cabernet Sauvignon that we dream of one day tasting on its own! The Sémillon-dominated white wine remains unrivaled in Bordeaux in terms of aromatic nobility and complexity.

Guide Hachette des vins

About the estate:

Separated from Château Haut-Brion only by Route Nationale 250 and united with it since 1983 as part of the Clarence Dillon estates, this vineyard stands out for its history. This history is linked to the powerful de Lestonnac family until 1682, and then, until the Revolution, to the Lazarist Fathers of Saint-Vincent, who recognized the remarkable qualities of its gravelly terroir, now planted with 29 hectares of vines, including 3.6 hectares of white grapes.

Guide des Vins Gault & Millau

About the wine:

The texture is taut, precise, refined, and slender. The spices add warmth and charm. It strikes a balance between power and intensity, yet remains exceptionally elegant.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About the wine:

La Mission-Haut-Brion’s small 2011 vintage (4,150 cases) reflects the nobility and complexity of this great terroir. Aromas of glowing embers, scorched earth, blueberries, blackcurrants, licorice, and spices burst from the glass of this dense, ruby-purple wine. Full-bodied (unusual for 2011), yet without harsh edges, this opulent, multidimensional, fleshy, rich, surprisingly long, and balanced wine is yet another great success in what is nearly the centennial of remarkable wines produced from this sacred vineyard. This long-lived 2011 should be reasonably mature in 4 to 6 years and have a shelf life of two decades. A revelation in a vintage that will likely not receive much exciting press coverage.

About the estate:

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the wine:

In 2011, this red wine blends spicy and fruity notes on both the nose and the palate. The tannins are firm on the attack, leading to a fragrant, classic finish; it is a Graves of moderate intensity, yet very appealing. It exudes a certain sophistication, though it does not overwhelm with its body. This wine, which unfolds with great finesse, will be ready to drink fairly soon.

About the estate:

The estate has a gravelly terroir, slightly richer than that of Haut-Brion, which lies directly across from it. If one were to define the distinctive character of this famous wine based on the vintages tasted, one would say that it bears a striking resemblance to Château Haut-Brion. It possesses the same qualities of suppleness and smoothness (which in no way prevent long and glorious aging in the bottle), as well as the same highly distinctive smoky bouquet. Its profile on the palate, however, is quite different: softer, deeper as a young wine, and more charming, as it is easier to appreciate from its earliest years. With age, La Mission yields to Haut-Brion in terms of stylistic complexity and pure finesse, but surpasses its neighbor in the voluptuousness of its texture. As you can see, these two cousins, vinified by the same team with the same exacting standards, are perfect reflections of their distinct terroirs and grape variety selections.

Wine Spectator

Jancis Robinson