2022 La Chapelle de la Mission Haut-Brion, Pessac-Léognan, Bordeaux

55.9% Merlot, 35.4% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8.7% Cabernet Franc. Cask sample.

Crimson hue, lighter at the rim. Open and expressive with leafy, dark-fruit notes to the fore. Lively and juicy but sweet. Dry finish. A grainy note to the tannins on the end.

Drink 2029 - 2038

The 2022 La Chapelle de la Mission Haut-Brion, aged in 40% new oak, has a fragrant bouquet with well-defined and elegant red cherries and crushed strawberries. The palate is medium-bodied with tarry black fruit, a slightly powdery texture with a pert, saline finish. Very composed, with a touch of dark chocolate on the aftertaste. It should give 12 to 15 years of drinking pleasure.

Drink 2026 - 2038

A blend of 55.9% Merlot, 35.4% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8.7% Cabernet Franc, the 2022 La Chapelle de la Mission Haut-Brion offers aromas of dark berries, liquorice, graphite, bell pepper and pencil shavings. It’s medium to full-bodied, fleshy and nicely balanced with a tense, fresh, penetrating finish.

The 2022 La Chapelle de La Mission Haut Brion is a powerful, dense wine, almost shockingly so. Gravel, spice, leather, menthol, and dried flowers give the 2022 tons of aromatic presence to play off a dark, red-toned fruit core. I don’t recall tasting a Chapelle with this much tannin in recent times, going back to the 2010. Readers will find a wine that delivers immense pleasure and great character.

Drink 2027 - 2042

The 2022 La Chapelle De La Mission Haut-Brion is based on 56% Merlot, 36% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the rest Cabernet Franc. A red and black-fruited, forward, beautifully textured second wine, it’s medium to full-bodied and offers ripe red and black fruits, notes of leafy herbs, flowers, scorched earth, supple tannins, and outstanding length.

Powerful damson colour, with cloves, incense, dried roses, liquorice root, rosemary and waves of raspberry and damson fruit. Firm tannic architecture, silky in texture. One of the lower alcohols in years at these estates, mainly due to some blockages during the growing season, even with small amounts of irrigation of vines between 3 and 7 years old. 

No leaf removal during the growing season, careful soil work, fascinating to see the evolution of this estate as it deals with the changing climate, under the spotlight of being one of the highest profile names in Bordeaux.

Drink 2028 - 2040

Really fresh and linear with graphite, tar, berry and stone aromas and flavours. Medium and fine on the palate showing no heat or over-maturity. Attractive tannins at the end. 55.9% merlot, 35.4% cabernet sauvignon and 8.7% cabernet franc.

Super aromatic, fragrant, dark blackberries, and perfumed touches with minty freshness and chocolate. Supple and generous, really quite fruity and lively but also quite tannic. A nicely weighted palate with concentrated blackcurrant and strawberry fruits with freshly picked mint, liquorice spice and clove. 

You can feel the heat of the vintage in the depth and concentration of the fruit, but there’s no overt heaviness and nothing harsh here. Tannins are nicely supportive and fleshy, giving some bounce and fun to the palate. Juicy and bright, mouthwatering but cool and crunchy too. Really lovely texture and intensity. 

Maybe not so refined and delicate, but wow, this gives a lot of flavour and punch while keeping the juiciness. 3.9pH.

Drink 2026 - 2040