2022 Château La Mission Haut-Brion, Pessac-Léognan, Bordeaux

51.7% Cabernet Sauvignon, 43.2% Merlot, 5.1% Cabernet Franc. Cask sample.

Deep, bright crimson. Subdued but with a stony freshness. Cassis as it opens. Vibrant attack with good acidity and freshness. Long and linear, the tannins are firm but wrapped in fruit. Persistent.

Drink 2032 - 2055

A rich and muscular wine that reflects the warmth of the vintage, the 2022 La Mission Haut-Brion reveals aromas of dark berries, cherries, and crème de cassis mingled with liquorice, spices, incense and spring flowers. 

Full-bodied, broad and concentrated, it’s surprisingly lively despite an elevated pH of 4.0, exhibiting a seamless, broad-shouldered profile with an ample core of fruit framed by rich, powdery tannin. It’s a blend of 51.7% Cabernet Sauvignon, 43.2% Merlot and 5.1% Cabernet Franc.

While I don’t see the 2022 Château La Mission Haut-Brion matching the legendary wines from this address at this early stage, it’s nevertheless a gorgeous wine in the making. 

Based on 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 43% Merlot, and the balance Cabernet Franc, it has a pure, elegant, lengthy style as well as classic cassis and darker cherry fruits, some smoky, tobacco, scorched earth nuances, medium to full body, perfectly ripe tannins, and a great finish. 

I love its tannins, and it’s a forward, seamless, balanced beauty that will shine with just short-term cellaring.

The 2022 La Mission Haut-Brion is shaping up to be a jewel of a wine. La Mission is positively striking, Dark, powerful, and imposing, with compelling inner sweetness. The purity of the flavours is striking, but the wine’s statuesque personality might be even more impressive. 

Time in the glass brings out various savoury and mineral notes that add complexity. The balance here is just mind-blowing. What a wine!

Drink 2032 - 2062

The 2022 La Mission Haut-Brion is matured in 70% new oak. It has a very refined bouquet with mineral-driven dark berry fruit, hints of Earl Grey and freshly-rolled tobacco, focused with exquisite delineation. 

The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins that still provide the backbone to the most elegant La Missions I have tasted at this stage. It is harmonious and silky toward its extremely persistent finish. 

At the moment, it has got its nose just in front of its First Growth sibling...at least at the moment. For sure, it's going to be one of the standouts of the 2022 vintage.

Drink 2029 - 2065

Gorgeous intensity on the nose, really fragrant and perfumed, and richly scented with black fruits and bramble berries. Round, full, persistent and thrilling on the palate, a perfect balance between rich, concentrated and intense fruit and lively acidity. 

There is density and crispness while remaining quite pure and focussed, with no overt over-ripeness or heaviness. Precise and elegant, juicy and alive. This has supreme charm. 4pH.

Drink 2030 - 2052

One of the most intense Missions that I can remember in terms of colour, but the density in the phenolics is beautifully balanced on the palate by red roses and peony aromatics, edges of violet, incense, cigar box, black pepper spice, with clear grip and fierce concentration. 

It delivers an exceptional feeling of walking the line between excess and restraint, which is hard to resist. Yields a little higher on Cabernet Sauvignon than in Haut-Brion, so there is a higher percentage here.

Drink 2030 - 2050

This has a real al dente fruit character on the palate with lemon rind and blackcurrants with blueberries. Lead pencil and stone, too. Full-bodied with chewy and juicy tannins that are primary and growing quickly on the palate as you taste it. 

Reminds me of the 1978, but brighter and more precise. 51.7% cabernet sauvignon, 43.2% merlot and 5.1% cabernet franc.