2019 Ch La Mission Haut Brion Bordeaux, Pessac-Leognan

The 2019 La Mission Haut-Brion is composed of 53% Merlot, 39.5% Cabernet Sauvignon and 7.5% Cabernet Franc, harvested from the 11th of September to the 2nd of October. The estimated label alcohol degree is 14.5%. Very deep purple-black in color, it slowly unfurls in the glass to reveal a beguiling perfume of violets, Black Forest cake, wild blueberries and kirsch with nuances of star anise, cast-iron pan, pencil lead and crushed rocks plus a waft of wild sage. The full-bodied palate is densely laden with layers of black fruit, earth and floral-laced flavors, framed by exquisitely ripe, finely grained tannins and compelling freshness, finishing with great length and loads of mineral sparks. A wine of impeccable breeding, both decadently flamboyant and provocatively graceful, this is already a prodigious wine of indisputable beauty.

98-100 points Lisa Perrotti-Brown robertparker.com

The 2019 La Mission Haut-Brion was picked from 11 September until 2 October at 52hl/ha. It is deep purple in colour. It has a very intense, what you might call quite "serious" bouquet with blackberry, wild hedgerow, crushed iris petals and a light estuarine influence. It shows exquisite delineation and focus. The palate is stunning with intense black fruit laced with crushed stone, sea salt, black pepper and cedar, almost Pauillac in style. This La Mission is so pixelated with stupendous intensity. After four hours it closes up and appears cowed by the presence of the expressive Haut-Brion. Yet after 8 hours it is unquestionably showing greater structure and depth than the First Growth and, as such, despite its mercurial nature, I wager that ultimately this will become one of the wines of the vintage. Breathtaking.

98-100 points Neal Martin vinous.com

The 2019 La Mission Haut-Brion is a powerful, brooding wine done in a grand scale. Scorched earth, tar, licorice, gravel and dried flowers infuse the 2019 with striking depth and dimension. A wine of somber, brooding beauty, the 2019 is going to need the better part of a decade to start unwinding. Readers will find a La Mission of virile power and breadth.

95-97 points Antonio Galloni vinous.com

A tight and structured La Mission that takes you deep into the glass with super intensity and power. The tannins are omnipresent and envelop the palate. It’s full-bodied yet agile and complete. Iodine, sweet-tobacco and blackberry character. It seems never to finish. Another WOW wine that reminds me of some of the great classics of this estate, such as the 1955.

99-100 points jamessuckling.com June 11 2020

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. 50% 1st wine. Drinking Window 2028 - 2044

96 points Jane Anson decanter.com

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.