Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion Cru Classe, Pessac-Leognan 2014

The 2014 La Mission Haut Brion is a blend of 54% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc and 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, picked between 15 September and 8 October and raised in 55% new oak. It has retained that engagingly fresh and vibrant bouquet, the bashful nature that it showed in barrel replaced by a more outgoing personality. This is an exquisite bouquet with pure black fruit, cold stone, a touch of black olive and later a suggestion of boysenberry preserve. The palate is still structured and considering that a majority is Merlot, quite masculine. There remains some new oak to be fully assimilated, although there is clearly the fruit to soak that up. It comes more alive on the second half with a lovely spiciness and impressive persistence. It will have more to give down the line and the strictness implies that this La Mission Haut Brion should be afforded a decade in the cellar before it will show what it can do.

The 2014 La Mission Haut-Brion is dark, powerful and authoritative from the very first impression. A dark, beguiling wine, it boasts serious richness and concentration. Savory herbs, tobacco, menthol, licorice and a host of dark fruit infuse this deep, intense La Mission. The 2014 is not a huge wine, but it does have exceptional balance. This is a very strong showing. The blend is 54 % Merlot, 45 % Cabernet Sauvignon and 1 % Cabernet Franc.

Medium-bodied, fresh attack, dominated by late summer fruits, suggesting perfectly but not overly ripe, still great integrity to the fruit, a floating gossamer quality to the structure, the tannins are deceptively fine, they in fact hold the structure very tightly, feel it on the finish with its impression of blackberry and raspberry fruits being kept firmly in hold. A lovely wine, medium to long term but with great potential for pleasure. From a blend of 54% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14.25%.

The 2014 Château La Mission Haut Brion is slightly more elegant and pretty compared to the richer, slightly more masculine Haut Brion. A blend of 54% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon and a splash of Cabernet Franc, it shows a kiss of red fruits in its core of darker currants, smoke tobacco, scorched earth, vanilla bean, and spice-driven aromas and flavors. With medium to full-bodied richness, impeccable balance, fine tannin, and a great, great finish, it’s a downright classy La Mission that will benefit from 4-5 years of bottle age and keep for 20+.

Currant and flower aromas galore. Very aromatic. Full-bodied yet tight and dense on the palate. A solid core of fruit and savory acidity. Very long and pretty. Drink in 2021.