Château La Mission Haut-Brion 2023

Deep, noble, fascinating, with immensely refined aromas—violet, cherry, cassis; a finely chiselled palate, carved from stone, crisp, juicy, highly elegant, dancingly light and with excellent length. An outstanding La Mission, classic in the house style.

A generously scented nose, very floral and perfumed, lovely high aromatics and fully expressive. Blue fruits, red cherries and some plum. Weighty and full, this really leaves a lasting impression on the palate, juicy but not too much, a tiny hint of sourness in the back gives the zing while the structure and the tannins do most of the talking, really putting the structure at the fore with a powdery, chalkiness that lingers. It’s serious, but in no way austere. Weighty but still streamlined. Chocolate, cherry and blackcurrant, feels very calm and confident, polished and sophisticated. It’s not trying too hard and feels settled in the glass. Delicious. 3.8pH. 4.4 acidity. 80 IPT. 47% grand vin production.

Blackberries, spice, smoke, flowers, and currants shine in the perfume. On the palate, the wine is concentrated, yet refined, long, deep, and intense. There is a vibrancy to the fruits that pairs perfectly with the smoky notes, currants, and blackberries. There is depth, length, and volume, with an easy-going elegance and lift. Nothing is pushed. Everything is balanced and in place. The sneaky finish builds, lingers, and resonates its essence. Part of the success of the vintage is due to July, with its cloudy skies, which provided protection from the sun, helping to keep ABV levels down. In the cellars, the extraction was soft, at lower temperatures. The wine blends 52.7% Merlot, 29.6% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 17.7% Cabernet Franc, 14.5% ABV. 3.7 pH. Harvesting took place September 6–October 3. Only 42% of the harvest was placed into the grand vin. Drink from 2030–2060. 95–97 pts.

52.7% Merlot, 29.6% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17.7% Cabernet Franc. Beguiling perfume, black cherry, seductive violet notes and licorice. On the second nose, refined cassis spice, chocolate pastilles and blueberry jelly. On the complex palate with a silky texture, tight-knit ripe tannic structure, balanced verve and a well-trained body. In the concentrated, long finish, small black berries, dark precious wood and regal astringency.

Fragrant, kicks off with clear grip and energy, plump fruits underneath, edges of campfire smoke and grilled caramel, ripe ruby fruit, with the signature florality, charm and luscious edge of La Mission. Harvest through to October 5. 69% new oak for ageing, Jean-Philippe Delmas director, Jean-Philippe Masclef technical director, no outside consultant.

Score: 95–97. The nose, both intoxicating and delicate, reveals languorous notes of ripe black fruits (plum) and slate, then perfumed flowers (peony, iris). On the palate, the ripe, succulent fruit—initially framed by fine, sappy, delicate tannins—breaks free to burst across the tongue in a controlled explosion. An elegant, energetic wine that concludes with a sumptuous finish.

The subtle freshness revealed by this wine is a highly accomplished fusion of freshness and ripeness, with everything in place, yet nothing overdone! Ripe black berries mingle with peony aromas and hints of pepper. The wine surprises with its velvety attack, but this only sets the stage for the arrival of compact, beautifully integrated tannins that gradually unfold and take hold on the finish. They are joined by a structuring acidity that brings welcome freshness to an environment that is rather dense and on the firmer side. A harmonious wine with the build required for long ageing.

It surprised us with its accomplished, vibrant, and gourmand character: a nose of dark fruits and purple flowers; the attack is superbly classy, the texture fluid and airy, the tannins slightly creamy, very abundant, and suave. More florality on the retronasal, including peony and red rose.

96-98. Barrel Sample. This fine wine has a rounded edge along with aromas of spice and black fruits. The wine is dense but with layers of acidity and with complex tannins. Showing the opulent black fruits so often found at this estate, and with a smooth texture, there is great promise of long-term aging.

Deep black color. An intense, refined, fruity nose, subtle and noble. Great, complex precision. Very fine and rich when swirled in the glass. Meticulous and full on the attack, with plenty of flavor through the mid-palate and rare aromatic characteristics, the wine melts across the palate, deep and relentlessly juicy. It finishes very long, pure and noble in its texture. Remarkable. Its score could rise.

Surpassing the expectations formed at the en primeur stage, the 2023 La Mission Haut-Brion unfurls in the glass with aromas of cassis, dark berries, spices, liquorice, burning embers and pencil shavings. Medium- to full-bodied, ample and velvety, it is suave and seamless, built around a perfectly controlled, dense core of fruit framed by powdery, structuring tannins and lively acidity, extending into a long, seemingly endless and ethereal finish. The blend comprises 52.7% Merlot, 29.6% Cabernet Sauvignon and 17.7% Cabernet Franc.