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

Bettane & Desseauve

About the wine:

Smoky, spicy nose, silky texture, a touch of hardness in the tenin compared to the 2014, but plenty of character and long follow-through on the palate.

About the domain :

Pending new facilities, as with its great twin Haut-Brion, Mission continues to delight us with its velvety, complex, great wine, a great expression of Merlot on deep gravel (often more than 50% of the blend) and an exceptional Cabernet Sauvignon that we dream of tasting pure one day! Our Semillon-dominant white wines are still unrivalled in Bordeaux for their aromatic nobility and complexity.

Guide Hachette des vins

About the domain :

Separated from Château Haut-Brion just by the RN 250 and united with it since 1983 as part of the Clarence Dillon estates, this cru is distinguished by its history. This is linked to the powerful de Lestonnac family until 1682, then, until the Revolution, to the Lazarist fathers of Saint-Vincent, who recognized the remarkable qualities of its gravelly terroir, now planted with 29 ha of vines, including 3.6 ha of white.

Guide des Vins Gault & Millau

About the wine:

The material is under tension, precise, chiselled and slender. Spices add warmth and charm. A balance of power and intensity, yet great elegance.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About the wine:

La Mission-Haut-Brion's small production (4,150 cases) of 2011 testifies to the nobility and complexity of this great terroir. Aromas of fiery embers, scorched earth, blueberry, blackcurrant, licorice and spices burst from the glass of this dense ruby/purple-colored wine. Full body (atypical for 2011), but no hard edges for this opulent, multidimensional, fleshy, rich, surprisingly long, balanced wine, which is another great achievement in what is almost the hundredth anniversary of remarkable wines made from this hallowed vineyard. This long 2011 should be reasonably ripe in 4 to 6 years and ensure two decades of cellaring. A revelation in a vintage that probably won't receive much exciting press.

About the domain :

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

About the wine:

In 2011, the red blends spice and fruit on the nose and palate. The tannins hold up well on the palate, with a perfumed, classic length, and a very seductive, semi-powerful bass. It asserts a kind of sophistication, but without impressing with its substance. This wine, which unfolds with finesse, can be drunk fairly quickly.

About the domain :

The château's gravelly terroir is slightly richer than that of Haut-Brion, which faces it. If we want to define the specificity of this famous cru on the basis of the vintages tasted, we'd have to say that it bears a striking resemblance to Château Haut-Brion. It possesses the same supple, mellow qualities (which in no way prevent long, glorious bottle ageing), as well as the same highly original smoky bouquet. On the palate, however, it's quite different, softer, deeper and more charming, because it's easier to understand in its early years. With age, La Mission yields to Haut-Brion in stylistic complexity and sheer finesse, but surpasses its neighbor in textural voluptuousness. As you can see, these two cousins, vinified by the same team and with the same exacting standards, are perfect reflections of their own terroirs and grape varieties.

Wine Spectator

Jancis Robinson