2021 Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion Pre-Arrival Offer

Located across the road from sister property Chateau Haut-Brion, the 26 hectare vineyard of Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion is not only equally as accomplished today, it often bests the First Growth wine. In fact if the classification of Bordeaux happened again today you would expect La Mission to be included as a First Growth, such is the quality and consistency of the wines.

The deep gravel and clay vineyard is planted to 48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, and 7% Cabernet Franc for the red wine, and 62% Semillon, 38% Sauvignon Blanc for the white. Often seen as a more robust and structured wine than Haut-Brion, La Mission is no less concentrated and complex, and can be extremely long lived.

Other Reviews....
Unwinding in the glass with aromas of dark berries and plums mingled with loamy soil, sweet spices, cigar box and licorice, the 2021 La Mission Haut-Brion is full-bodied, lively and seamless, with a deep, concentrated core of fruit framed by bright acids and supple, powdery tannins. This charming, sensual rendition of La Mission is a blend of 48% Merlot, 46% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6% Cabernet Franc, attaining 13.4% alcohol.
94-96 points
William Kelley - Wine Advocate (Apr 2022)

The 2021 La Mission Haut-Brion is blessed with an ethereal bouquet, subtle touches of wilted iris petal and truffle infuse the black fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grain tannins, perfectly judged acidity, quite compact on the mid-palate with linear and correct finish. Not the most charming La Mission Haut-Brion. You could argue that it is slightly "aloof", yet intuition tells me it has something up its sleeve for later on. Patience necessary. Drink 2027-2060.
93-95 points
Neal Martin - Vinous

The 2021 La Mission Haut-Brion offers lovely aromatic presence and fine balance, albeit in the smaller-scaled style of the year. Dried herbs, mint, sweet red cherry, incense and blood orange all run through the 2021. This is a decidedly understated edition of La Mission. It will be interesting to see if elevage adds body. Drink 2031-2046.
92-94 points
Antonio Galloni - Vinous

Lots of sea-salt, iodine and purple-fruit aromas and flavors to this. Turns to bark and forest floor. Powerful. Full-bodied and muscular. 47.9% merlot, 45.8% cabernet sauvignon and 6.3% cabernet franc.
94-95 points
James Suckling

The 2021 Château La Mission Haut-Brion checks in as a blend of 47.9% Merlot, 45.8% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the rest Cabernet Franc that hit 13.4% alcohol and is still resting in 27% new French oak. Graphite, scorched earth, tobacco leaf, and gorgeous cassis and violet-tinge blue fruits all define the bouquet, and it's medium to full-bodied, with a vibrant, elegant mouthfeel, terrific tannins, and one hell of a great finish. It's a softer, rounder, more layered wine than the Haut-Brion, with a little more sexiness, yet both are utterly brilliant wines.
94-96 points
Jeb Dunnuck

Surprisingly deep in color, it takes a bit of effort before finding the cigar box, tobacco, smoke, forest leaf, currants, blackberries and plums in the nose. On the palate, there is a richness and sweetness to the fruit. But this is not an exuberant vintage. It is reserved, slightly austere, quiet and discreet. There is finesse to the tannins and flesh to the fruits, but the wine is restrained, building in the mid-palate with air, finishing with chewy currants, leafy, fresh, green herbs, thyme and dark chocolate. The wine blends 48% Merlot, 46% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6% Cabernet Franc, 13.4% ABV. Harvesting took place, September 20 - October 8. Yields were 48 hectoliters per hectare, with 40% of the harvest going into the grand Vin. Drink from 2026-2055.
93-95 points
Jeff Leve - The Wine Cellar Insider

Rose, violets and peonies on the nose, with dark chocolate and cassis, smells like liqueur chocolates, perfumed and aromatic. A crystalline quality to the fruit, so driven and pure on the palate. Energetic and lively filled with strawberry, raspberry, red cherry and plum - direct with a vein of exotic spice - cinnamon and clove, as well as touches of orange, bitter grapefruit, dark chocolate and crushed stone. Such a lot going on here, but so well delivered with intensity and direction with racy acidity that keeps everything lifted the whole way through. Lovely minerality on the tongue, the graphite lingering with the juiciness that is still so mouthwatering even on the finish. Compelling and charming. Drinking Window 2027 - 2050.
95 points
Georgina Hindle - Decanter

Conditions of Pre Arrival Offer:

1. There is no minimum order unless stated.

2. All wines are 750ml unless indicated otherwise.

3. Once received, all orders will be confirmed with suppliers and then an invoice issued - payment will be due on receipt of this invoice.

4. The wines are being collected and shipped in refrigerated containers and are due to arrive in late 2024.

5. Nicks Wine Merchants reserve the right to pass on any changes in Government duties and taxes and delivery charges from the date of order to the date of final delivery of the wine.

6. Errors and omissions excepted.

7. Delivery charges may apply - these can be determined by visiting the Freight Rates page.