La Chapelle de la Mission Haut-Brion 2021

Gorgeous pink rose floral notes on the nose, so aromatic and pretty with red cherries and strawberries. Tannins are firm on the palate, gripping the tongue but the density is so appealing, bright with high acidity giving a high tone and a chalky edge to the flavour and texture on the tongue. You get the crushed stone and graphite edges too. It's direct and linear, all travelling in one line, just stopping short of sharp but well defined with real clarity and drive. Lovely density of flavour with a weightless texture except for the grippy, mint and slate tannins that are so cooling and fresh. Charming and lively. Decanter 92 Points

La Mission Haut-Brion, a sacred charm Crossed by the road that goes from Pessac to Talence, in the heart of the Graves appellation, the two properties stand facing one another like twin sisters, extremely close yet so very different. Linked by their history since 1540, these properties share also an remarkable terroir. La Mission Haut-Brion stands opposite Château Haut-Brion and shares the same vast terrace of superb gravelly soils, ideal for cultivating vines, already referred to as “Haut-Brion” on ancient maps and deeds. Its vineyard covers a total area of 29 hectares (approximately 72 acres). Almost 25 hectares are planted with red grape varieties and just over 4 hectares are devoted to white grape varieties. La Chapelle de la Mission Haut-Brion is the second wine of the estate. Produced in small quantities, this wine is a gateway to the world of Château La Mission Haut-Brion. Its name is a nod to the chapel of La Mission Haut-Brion, built by Lazarist priests in 1698. The 2021 vintage 2021 has once again shown magic of La Mission Haut-Brion's terroir: after a cool Spring, its gravelly soils provide the vines with indirect sunshine, by their capacity to reverberate. In August, thanks to a warm, dry turn in the weather and cool temperatures at night, eagerly awaited ripeness gradually reaches all the early-ripening plots of La Mission Haut-Brion. Every year, it is a decision-making process that takes into account the grapes’ ripeness and weather conditions which determines the date for the start of the harvests. In 2021, after a season of changeable weather, these two factors reach a fine balance and enable us to pick the grapes serenely. The berries are healthy with lower quantities of sugar than in previous years, predicting quite a different alcohol/acidity balance to the past solar years, recalling too, from an analytical point of view, Bordeaux’s classic vintages of the 1990s. Ultimately, 2021 is positively and most definitely a surprising year. Behind 2021 vintage's scenes: https://bit.ly/LaMissionHautBrion2021 Tasting note A beautiful dark colour with bright red glints. The nose is fragrant, fruity and ripe and as for the woodiness, it is discreet and delicate. The first taste is gentle and smooth; then the tannins appear, but without dominating, on average length. Maturation in barrels will smooth and hone the structure to make this Chapelle 2021 even more delicious.