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When the wine is young, the initial sensation is its unctuousness, the softness of a very ripe grape, the freshness of aromas and at the same time the texture of very special tannins. These meld with a trace of mineral in the wine. It is as if the land was in the glass, comprising notes of roasted coffee beans, cocoa and tobacco. This delicate bitterness is somewhat reminiscent of crystallized cherry-stones seeped in spirit.
It is certainly a penchant for revealing all its qualities at once that distinguishes the wines of La Mission and pleases a lot of tasters.
It is also the consummate expression of the land of the Graves of Pessac.
When maturing, this wine is still generous, openly proffering all its qualities. This hedonistic side is one of its most attractive particularities.
For the 2000 vintage, Robert Parker called it a superstar of a great vintage and gave Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion 100 points!!!
The Dillon family, new owners in 1993
The Dillon family first came to know and appreciate La Mission in the summer of 1985. It was the fiftieth year of their ownership of Haut-Brion. An Anniversary Party took place in the park at Haut-Brion. Four generations of the Dillon family came for the celebration.
The Duchesse de Mouchy redecorated a small pavilion for the use of journalists (accustomed to staying at La Mission during the time of the Woltners) and other friends. Luxembourg memorabilia and curios have found their place therein.
When the sale of La Mission Haut-Brion later became known, one of the first bids came from Château Haut-Brion. Already parcels of lands from the two properties intermingled. A good portion of Haut-Brion vines ran alongside those of La Mission. There were various other candidates but none so persistent as their neighbour from across the road. In 1993 their offer was accepted and the sale went through.
The Duchesse de Mouchy turned La Mission Haut-Brion in a nice gathering place for family and visitors.
All lunches and dinners concerning La Mission are held in its château. The Duchesse de Mouchy decorated it with material from the anniversary party and furniture from Haut-Brion and Luxembourg. Furniture was bought at various sales and antique dealers in Bordeaux. Continuing the search for suitable acquisitions is an ongoing and pleasurable task.
Improvements at La Mission Haut-Brion began at once to bring it apace with the Haut-Brion installations. The first step was a renovation of the old chais. Simultaneously a new chai was built with modern vats and up to date equipment. In 1996 a new bottling system was installed and a tasting room was set up in what was a former meditation corner for the monks. Along with new building, restoration and creation done in many areas of the property, the roads and alleys that crisscross the vineyard have been widened and some paved.
  
Facts & Figures
Area under vine
21 hectares
Production
72,000 to 84,000 bottles
Soil
Gravel soil with a subsoil of clay and sand
Aging
In 100% new barrels for 20 months
Grape varieties
48% Cabernet Sauvignon
45% Merlot
7% Cabernet Franc
Other Chateaux
Chateau Haut Brion
  
Wines available
All wines sold by BDXV come direct from Bordeaux and have been stored at the Chateaux or in professional storage facilities since the time of bottling. BDXV’s wines have never ever been in the hands of private collectors. This gives you the customer the highest level of quality guarantee that the wines you buy have been stored in optimal conditions since the time they were bottled.
Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion 2005, EUR POA*
Score: 97 points. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2048.
Robert Parker: 97 points
April 2008: There are slightly more than 5,000 cases of the 2005 La Mission-Haut-Brion, a blend of 69% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, and a touch of Cabernet Franc. While there is little difference between La Mission and Haut-Brion’s terroirs (their vineyards are only separated by a two-lane road), La Mission possesses more fat, texture, and intensity. An enormously endowed wine with huge tannin and structure, the 2005 offers a quintessential Graves bouquet of burning embers, charcoal, blackberries, truffles, black currants, and a meaty character. Reminiscent of the 1989, with more structure as well as a longer window of drinkability, the 2005 may be a modern day, improved version of a vintage such as 1955, which was well-endowed, very tannic, and took a long time to come around. While fabulously full-bodied and unctuous, the 2005 will not provide much charm in its youth. It needs 8-10 years of cellaring, and should age effortlessly for 30-40 years.
The rivalry between the two great Pessac-Leognan estates of Haut-Brion and La Mission-Haut-Brion continues despite the fact that since 1983, both wines have been made by the same winemaking team. Jean-Bernard Delmas has moved fifty miles north to Montrose, but his son, Jean-Philippe, has produced both wines following the 2003 vintage. La Mission is obviously made in a different style than Haut-Brion. It will never have as much nuance and nobility aromatically. It does possess more muscle, concentration, and opulence than Haut-Brion, but both offer prodigious styles of wine.
April 2007: The 2005 La Mission-Haut-Brion is even more impressive this year than it was in 2006. There are approximately 5,500 cases of this blend of 69% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 1% Cabernet Franc. Jean-Philippe Delmas told me that for the first time in this vineyard’s history, the entire vineyard was seriously crop-thinned. The result is a wine that is reminiscent of the 1989, but with more structure, muscle, and tannin. However, the tannin is sweet – a good sign in a wine with such extraordinary power and richness. Scorched earth, blueberries, blackberries, and a hint of truffles appear in the staggering aromatics. The wine is massive in the mouth, with incredible fat and richness as well as mouth-searing levels of velvety tannin in the finish. Even though the fruit is wonderfully ripe and the texture is unctuous, this stunning offering will not be drinkable for 6-7 years, and should keep for 25 years thereafter.
April 2006: The deep ruby/purple-hued 2005 La Mission-Haut-Brion is the finest offering from this estate since the 2000, a vintage it resembles in power, muscle, and structure. A gorgeous perfume of creosote, blueberries, and black fruits is followed by powerful, full-bodied flavors with great purity as well as remarkable freshness. Already revealing a certain unctuosity and thickness, it should continue to put on weight and develop magnificently for 25-30+ years. La Mission’s staff believes it is more similar to the 1990 than 2000, but it is too early for me to agree or disagree. Nevertheless, this is a profound La Mission-Haut-Brion.
Jancis Robinson: 19 points
69% M 30% CS 1% CF (55% grand vin) A little more Merlot than usual. Crimson with some paleness at the rim. Extraordinary combination of almost super-ripe notes and freshness. This just walks on air! It has the guts and density underneath for the usual La Mission long life but seduces utterly with its initial aerien impression. Quite extraordinary. Still quite a weight of very fine tannins underneath. Very long and precise and very finely etched. A bit more ‘pointed’ than the Haut-Brion.
Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion 2000, EUR POA*
Score: 100 points. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2045.
Robert Parker: 100 points
A superstar of this great vintage, the 2000 La Mission Haut-Brion is as profound as the 1989, 1982, and 1975. It is more structured and tannic than the 1989, more civilized and refined, but not as thick as the 1982, and sweeter as well as purer than the 1975. The 2000 is neither flamboyant nor accessible, but what upside potential it possesses! In time, one might have to return to the prodigious duo of 1959 and 1961 to find a La Mission with this much potential. While still tight from bottling, its inky purple color is accompanied by extravagantly sweet aromas of blackberries, blueberries, toast, scorched earth, coffee, asphalt, graphite, and smoke. Super-intense and unctuously-textured, with a sumptuous mid-palate and finish, this is an explosively rich, layered effort that possesses everything I could ever want from a terroir that has given me as much hedonistic and intellectual pleasure as any other wine in the world. It is an amazing achievement for administrator Jean-Bernard Delmas, his son, Jean-Phillipe, and the entire winemaking team. The phenomenal aftertaste goes on for over a minute.
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