2015 Ch La Mission Haut Brion Bordeaux, Pessac-Leognan

Rose petals, sandalwood and currants with some plums and fruit tea. Full-bodied, tight and focused. Incredibly straight and minerally. Toned muscles here. Tannic. Traditional and unwavering. Try in 2024.

100 points jamessuckling.com November 2018

Château La Mission Haut-Brion from Pessac-Léognan is one of the great names of Bordeaux—an estate with a rich history and an unmistakable identity, known for producing wines of power, elegance, and longevity. Often considered a spiritual twin to its nearby sibling Château Haut-Brion, this Grand Cru Classé de Graves consistently delivers some of the most profound red wines of the Left Bank.

Located just across the road from Haut-Brion in the northern part of Pessac-Léognan, the vineyard lies on deep gravel soils with clay and limestone subsoils—perfect for growing Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc with depth and finesse. The estate dates back to the 16th century and rose to prominence under the ownership of the Lazarist missionaries in the 17th century, hence the name La Mission. It was acquired by Domaine Clarence Dillon in 1983, bringing it under the same family ownership as Haut-Brion.

The winemaking, led by the esteemed Jean-Philippe Delmas, is meticulous. Each plot is vinified separately, with fermentation in temperature-controlled vats and ageing in new French oak barrels for 18 to 22 months. The style is distinct—often darker, denser, and slightly more brooding than Haut-Brion, with an intense mineral edge and tremendous aging potential.

In the glass, La Mission Haut-Brion reveals layers of blackberry, cassis, tobacco leaf, graphite, and smoke, framed by beautifully integrated oak and fine-grained tannins. The palate is full and structured, with great tension and a lingering, complex finish that can evolve for decades.

This is Bordeaux at its most majestic—a wine of heritage, precision, and undeniable class.