Château La Mission Haut Brion, Cru Classé, Pessac Léognan, 2012

Tasting Note:

There is a whopping 62% of Merlot in the blend with the balance being Cabernet Sauvignon. At this stage one would expect La Mission to be the more exuberant and flashy of the two big wines from the Clarence Dillon stable, however, the 2012 is somewhat introverted and subdued. It is a massively powerful, large scale, alcoholic wine that is undoubtedly serious, but it is not displaying the classic hallmarks of La Mission at this early stage. Intensely mineral, fine herbs, some cooked meats and savoury notes. There is huge concentration; this is a big step up from Clarence de Haut Brion. There are pure, regal flavours here: plum, sandalwood, red cherries, bitter sweet fruit, blood orange, and cassis. As one would expect from a La Mission, there are beautiful ripe fruit tannins, which firm up the wine and cover the top gums. Refined and somewhat reserved.