La Chapelle de la Mission Haut-Brion, Pessac-Leognan 2019

The second wine from this great estate, the 2019 La Chapelle De La Mission Haut-Brion is based on 50% Merlot, 46% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the balance Cabernet Franc. It might be the second wine of the vintage and has plenty of classic La Mission sexiness and opulence as well as textbook notes of sweet red and black currants, tobacco leaf, exotic spice, acacia flowers, and lead pencil. Full-bodied, round, expansive, and powerful, yet also light on its feet and flawlessly balanced, it's a stunning Pessac in its own right to enjoy over the coming 20 years or so.

Delicious already with iodine, oyster shell, crushed stone and blackcurrants. Full body, round tannins and a juicy finish.

Restrained, finessed and sculpted, this is a wine that I highly recommend in the 2019 vintage. Blueberry and creamy blackberry fruits, given nuance with fragrant violet and peony, alongside flint and gunsmoke. Delicious, a brilliant stepping stone to La Mission Haut-Brion but absolutely standing on its own. Bottled May 2021. Harvest finished October 4. 27% of production.

The 2019 La Chapelle de La Mission Haut-Brion is absolutely gorgeous. Rich and pliant in the glass, with striking depth and fine balance, La Chapelle is everything a second wine should be. Succulent red berry fruit, iron, white pepper, smoke and tobacco lend nuance. There's real intensity and resonance here. I would give the 2019 a few years in bottle to come around fully.

The 2019 La Chapelle de la Mission Haut-Brion is composed of 50.1% Merlot, 45.5% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4.4% Cabernet Franc, harvested from the 11th of September to the 2nd of October. The estimated label alcohol degree is 14.5%. Deep garnet-purple in color, it prances out of the glass with showy notes of crushed black cherries, warm blueberries and mulberries plus suggestions of cinnamon toast, aniseed, lilacs and dark chocolate. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is packed with poise and sophistication, offering a gentle earthy underpinning to all that black fruit, framed by fine-grained tannins and plenty of freshness, finishing long and spicy.

The 2019 La Chapelle de la Mission Haut-Brion has a crisp and fresh nose with blackberry, black olive and a light marine scent coming through with time. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, and well-judged acidity. Quite harmonious with the oak neatly subsumed on the finish. Delightful. Tasted blind at the Southwold annual tasting.