2022 La Mission Haut Brion
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Tasting notes
There’s a serious step up here from the second wines – with the expressive nose both more profound and delicate. It’s beautifully layered on the palate with good depth of fruit. There’s a caress of sweetness, not at all overdone, on the nose, while the palate offers a hint of salinity on the finish, which could be a bit more subtle. Aged in 63% new oak. Blend: 51.7% Cabernet Sauvignon, 43.2% Merlot, 5.1% Cabernet Franc
Critic scores
Average Score
Yohan Castaing, Wine Advocate
James Suckling
More reviews and scores
The 2022 La Mission Haut-Brion has a touch more reduction on the nose, a mélange of red and black fruit, cassis and light floral scents. Fine delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with finely chiselled tannins. Impressive tension and linearity, touches of black pepper and graphite furnish that quite classical finish. A fabulous wine but, as I wrote before, it must take the silver medal to the gaff on the other side of the road. Tasted blind at the Southwold tasting in London.
Less muscular and more approachable than it appeared en primeur, the 2022 La Mission Haut-Brion has turned out beautifully in bottle. Unfurling with aromas of spices, smoke, dark berries, pencil lead and licorice mingled with delicate floral top-notes, it's full-bodied, deep and concentrated with a velvety attack that segues into an elegantly structured and energetic mid-palate that's nicely framed by sweet but abundant tannins, concluding with a long, penetrating and perfumed finish. It's a blend of 51.7% Cabernet Sauvignon, 43.2% Merlot and 5.1% Cabernet Franc.
As to the Grand Vin, the 2022 Château La Mission Haut-Brion is pure perfection, and it's as seamless, pure, and layered as they come, while still bringing incredible intensity and richness. Smoky red and black currants, leafy tobacco, scorched earth, as well as a hint of violets, all define this incredible wine, and it's full-bodied on the palate, with a layered, multi-dimensional mouthfeel, velvety sweet tannins, moderate acidity, and a gorgeous finish. I love this sexy, opulent, straight-up heavenly wine today, yet it can be drunk with incredible pleasure any time over the coming 50+ years. Reminding me of the 2009 and an undeniable candidate for the wine of the vintage, the 2022 hit a solid 14% alcohol with a lofty pH of 3.95.
About the producer
Ch. la Mission Haut-Brion – sister estate of Ch. Haut-Brion and part of the Clarence Dillon stable – is one of the greatest estates in all of Bordeaux. Based in Pessac-Léognan but not officially classified, it produces outstanding red and white wines.