Mission Haut Brion - Pessac-Léognan 2021

Vinous

92

byAntonio Gallonithe4/2/2024

The 2021 La Mission Haut-Brion comes across as delicate and soft. It is a wine that is very strongly marked by the year—there is no doubt about that. Floral and spice notes open first, as the 2021 shows off its restrained personality. Dark fruit, leather,

Vinous

92

byAntonio Gallonithe2/28/2024

The 2021 La Mission Haut-Brion comes across as delicate and soft. It is a wine that is very strongly marked by the year—there is no doubt about that. Floral and spice notes open first, as the 2021 shows off its restrained personality. Dark fruit, leather, cedar and tobacco develop in the glass, but this very clearly offers only modest definition, mid-palate pliancy and persistence. Even so, there are no hard edges. Overall, it's a very good wine in a year that was obviously extremely challenging.

Wine Advocate

95

byWilliam Kelleythe2/22/2024

The 2021 La Mission Haut-Brion unfurls in the glass with a complex, detailed bouquet of plums, cassis, flowers, spices, licorice and loamy soil. Medium to full-bodied, rich and concentrated, its fleshy, layered core of fruit is framed by beautifully velvety tannins. In bottle, much as en primeur, this blend of 48% Merlot, 46% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6% Cabernet Franc is a charming, sensual rendition of La Mission.

Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux

97

byJane Ansonthe1/30/2024

This is just gorgeous, flirting with the very best. Striking aromatics of crushed red rose petals that pop out of the glass, Not as long lasting as some vintages perhaps, but so much finesse and balance, plenty of classic La Mission finesse and balance, touches of mint leaf, cloves and pummice stone minerality. Taut on the finish in its tannic structure and no question majors more heavily on the cool blue fruit character than we have seen with this property in recent years but it is seriously enjoyable, a total masterclass in cool fruit delivery, and a reminder than in the warmer location of Mission and Haut-Brion, these more understated vintages can really offer joyful drinking. 73% new oak, harvest September 20 to October 8. No frost impact here and very little mildew, meaning the overall yield was up to 47hl/h. This is one I strongly recommend, my red wine of the vintage.

matthewjukes.com

18

byMatthew Jukesthe8/2/2022

There is a big difference between La Chapelle and the Grand Vin as this wine is much more concentrated and more tannic and reticent. The tannins come in early, cloaking the fruit and making this elegant wine more combative and action-packed. The fruit character is superb, and the length is extraordinary given the relative lightness of the overall framework. The fruit is mildly exotic in parts over a plummy core, but the skin elements keep the taste buds buzzing with energy, which surely points to a long and even life ahead of it. While many wines in 2021 seem to want to kick off early, La Mission will take its time to blossom. 18+

Jamessuckling.com

94-95

byJames Sucklingthe6/8/2022

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.

Jeb DUNNUCK

94-96

byJeb Dunnuckthe6/2/2022

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.

Bettane & Desseauve

95

by Bettane & Desseauvethe5/24/2022

Texture un peu plus souple et veloutée dans son toucher de bouche que Haut-Brion. Long et doté de tannins d’un raffinement sans égal, avec une prise de bois exemplaire. Il ira loin.

The Vintage Journal

94-95

byAndrew Caillard MWthe5/17/2022

Deep crimson. Lifted blackcurrant, plum graphite aromas with herb garden star anise notes. Inky deep blackberry, dark plum elderberry fruits, graphite chalky textures, cedar oak notes and fresh integrated juicy acidity. Very lively and pure but should settle down with age. 48% merlot, 46% cabernet sauvignon, 6% cabernet franc. 72% new oak. 13% alc

Alexandre Ma

95-97

byAlexandre Mathe5/16/2022

Marvellous! This is the La Mission I have expected. Hats off to La Mission for its success in the eventful 2021... This wine boasts more "colors" on the nose, presenting a beautiful image of spring orchard. At the first sniff, what comes into is a Himalayan musk, followed by hints of spicy clove and amomum tsao-ko, and ends up with the juicy berry fragrances. All in order and well-layered, composing a gentle and textured smell. You probably can’t imagine how gentle and elegant it tastes. “Almond syrup” may be the best description for it. After tasting so many wines in 2021, I am convinced that La Mission is one of my favorite en primeurs wines in the whole Left Bank of Bordeaux. ?!????????La Mission,????????2021?????????????La Mission??… ?????????????????,???????????????????????????????,??????????????,???,?????????????????????,???????????????La Mission????????,????????????????????????La Mission,???,????????????????????

The Wine Cellar Insider

93-95

byJeff Levethe5/16/2022

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

Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux

97

byJane Ansonthe5/13/2022

Vinous

93-95

byNeal Martinthe5/12/2022

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.

Vinous

92-94

byAntonio Gallonithe5/11/2022

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.

vvwine

95-97

byAdrian Van Velsenthe5/10/2022

48% Merlot, 46% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc. Kräftiges Rubinrot. Tiefgründig und kühl, steinig, nobel, die Frucht ist ein Mix aus dunklen und roten Beeren, dazu florale Töne, super fein. Im Gaumen schlank im Auftakt, baut dann aus, der Wein hat eine sehr gute Struktur, eine knackige Frucht und ungemein viel Energie, hier tänzeln die Beeren geradeso über die Zunge, das hat Finesse und Präzision und ist aufgrund des moderaten Alkoholgehalts eine wahrlich klassische Mission. 2025-2045+ (Verkostet im April 2022. Château La Mission Haut-Brion)

Anthocyanes

95-97

byYohan Castaingthe5/6/2022

Assemblages réalisés. Bien qu'un peu timide avec un nez légèrement fermé, La Mission Haut-Brion exhale des notes de violette, d'iris, de mure et de pivoine. Boisé à peine perceptible et aucune trace de sous maturité. Très belle entrée en bouche, alliant acidité et suavité, des tanins élégants, fins, satinés et structurants sans être agressifs. On comprend la recherche d'élégance des tanins dans les assemblages. Un vin vers l'épure et relativement charmeur pour le millésime.

Wine Advocate

94-96

byWilliam Kelleythe4/29/2022

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.

Decanter.com

95

byGeorgina Hindlethe4/1/2022

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.