Region | |
---|---|
Subregion | France > Bordeaux > Left Bank > Pessac-Léognan |
Colour | Red |
Type | Still |
The second wine of La Mission Haut Brion. Some of the fruit from the now defunct La Tour Haut Brion vineyard is included in this wine as well as that of the younger vines of La Mission.
View all vintages of this wine | View all wines by Château La Mission Haut-Brion
Lots of crushed berries and violets with sandalwood on the nose. Some herbs. Full body and firm, chewy texture. Slightly austere tannins. Long and chewy. Needs time to soften. Better after 2022.
Tasted blind. Mid ruby colour. A nice hit of spice and ripe red fruit on the nose here – but the oak is subtle and savoury. Pithy and crunchy, with a hit of sweet spice on the end. There is fair matière here, bringing more intrigue and depth. It remains a little subdued and coiled, but I expect this to improve with age. Gravelly finish.
Drink 2025 – 2039
The 2017 La Chapelle de la Mission Haut-Brion is a blend of 49.2% Merlot, 41.9% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 8.9% Cabernet Franc. Deep garnet in color, it is a little closed to begin, soon emerging from the glass with glimpses at crushed red and black cherries, mulberries, and redcurrant jelly, plus suggestions of rosehip tea, underbrush, and dusty soil. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is light on its feet and refreshing, delivering beautifully ripe, silt-like tannins and a long mineral-laced finish.
This is a lovely fragrant wine, less dense and concentrated than the last two vintages but extremely accomplished. It has beautiful aromatics, gorgeous red fruits and an overall feeling of brightness and cohesion. It's fresh, succulent and easy to recommend. Frost only affected 0.3% of the vineyard area, leading to yields of almost 50hl/ha across the two estates in 2017. It was the third earliest harvest on record at Haut-Brion, commencing on 24 August for the whites and 31 August for the reds, with the only real difficulty to overcome being the low levels of sunshine over the summer. 22% of production went into this wine.
Drinking Window 2023 - 2033
Deepest healthy crimson. Very fine graphite nose over scented – violets? – black fruit. Super-creamy richness, moderate intensity but real precision. Bright, juicy and with great purity of fruit, lingering and full-fruited finish with moderated tannins. Mouth-watering freshness.
Drink 2022-2032
Violets are very much in evidence the nose has fragrant charm the palate bramble freshness at the start. Rich black fruits give breadth and weight in the middle lots of cassis but at the back there is underlying freshness the finish light and bright. Drink 2024-2034.
Very clean and very pure this is a fresh and forward La Chapelle and it is bright and very tender with only the meresttouch of acidity and tannin. I know that there is a core of energy here which will keep this wine alive for some time but, on the exterior, all is calm and refreshing. It is an ‘aperitif’ La Chapelle, such is its freshness and bounce.
Quite tannic but in a very attractive way with blueberries, currants and spices. Medium-bodied, tight and chewy. Show tension and texture.
Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2017 La Chapelle de la Mission Haut-Brion, a blend of 49.2% Merlot, 8.9% Cabernet Franc and 41.9% Cabernet Sauvignon, needs a little coaxing to reveal notes of wild blueberries, redcurrant jelly, ripe plums and star anise with hints of red roses and vanilla pod plus a waft of Sichuan pepper. Medium-bodied, the palate has a serious structure of refreshing acidity and ripe, grainy tannins supporting the many delicate nuances, finishing with a lively lift. 2020-2035.
The 2017 La Chapelle de la Mission Haut-Brion is a blend of 49.2% Merlot, 41.9% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8.9% Cabernet Franc. Deep garnet-purple colored, it opens with spice-laced notions of warm plums, mulberries and cassis with touches of tree bark, cloves, pencil lead and yeast extract. Medium to full-bodied, it has a firm frame of chewy tannins and refreshing acid supporting the spicy black and red fruits, finishing a little grippy.