2017 Château La Mission Haut-Brion, Pessac-Léognan, Bordeaux

Tasted blind. 

Deep ruby colour. Cedar, cassis and star anise. Dark, rich and brooding. Mouth-filling, rich fruit and deeply savoury spice. Powerful, smoky and rich but with all the density of fruit needed. Aristocratic, easy intensity and harmony. Good bones and great potential. 

Drink 2027 - 2045

Checking in as a blend of 56% Merlot, 39.6% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the balance Cabernet Franc brought up in 68% new French oak, the 2017 Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion sports a vivid ruby colour to go with a beautifully round, textured, opulent style on the palate that's hard to find in the vintage. Classic notes of unsmoked tobacco, incense, spiced currants, and chocolate all emerge from the glass, and it's medium to full-bodied, has silky tannins, a fresh, classic, balanced mouthfeel, and a great finish.

Drink after 2020

The 2017 La Mission Haut-Brion was bottled a little earlier than the Haut-Brion, 20-24 May. It has a more understated bouquet than Haut-Brion and consequently demands more coaxing, eventually revealing very pure raspberry and wild strawberry scents mixed with wet limestone and hints of wilted rose petal. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grain tannin, very focused and refined with darker fruit compared to the nose. Traces of tar and cedar surface towards the classic finish that lingers nicely, although Haut-Brion just has a tad more persistence and depth. Superb.

Drink 2023 - 2050

Composed of 56% Merlot, 4.4% Cabernet Franc and 39.6% Cabernet Sauvignon, the deep garnet-purple coloured 2017 La Mission Haut-Brion is a little reticent on the nose to begin, slowly unfurling to reveal notes of crushed blackcurrants, Black Forest cake and Morello cherries with suggestions of cigar box, pencil shavings, charcoal and fertile loam. Medium-bodied, the palate has fantastic intensity with loads of mineral layers and a rock-solid line of firm, grainy tannins, finishing very long and with great energy.

Drink 2023 - 2057

A positively stunning wine, the 2017 La Mission Haut-Brion is all class. Sweet floral notes give the 2017 striking freshness, nuance and energy. Rose petal, mint, blood orange, red cherry, pomegranate and mocha are all laced together. In 2017, La Mission plays very much in the red fruit and floral end of the spectrum. Effortless, gracious and wonderfully nuanced, the 2017 simply has it all. What a wine!

Drink 2024 - 2047

51% of the overall crop. 3.86pH.

The aromatics here are incredible, and there is the most gorgeous density of black brambly fruit on display. It's graceful but intense, and utterly delicious. It doesn't have the same intensity through the palate as the wonderful 2016, but it really does stand out in the vintage as being extremely good quality. It's going to take its time to come round, so settle in for the long haul.

Drink 2026 - 2042

A tight, solid red with crushed berry, sandalwood, stone and cement flavours. It’s full-bodied, yet very tight and compact with excellent depth and intensity. Closed and austere, but there’s both energy and levity to it at the same time. 

Try after 2025