Chateau La Mission Haut Brion Graves Pessac Leognan Bordeaux Wine

Chateau La Mission Haut Brion Graves, Pessac Leognan, Bordeaux wine producer profile, with wine tasting notes, wine ratings, a history of the property, information on wine making and terroir, along with wine tasting reviews. If you want to read about other important, Bordeaux Chateaux: Links to all Bordeaux Wine Producer Profiles

.
Chateau La Mission Haut Brion is not quite as old as Chateau Haut Brion. La Mission Haut Brion only dates back to the late 16^th century. The Bordeaux wine property came into being after it was purchased by Jean de Pontac in 1533. Pontac was also the owner of what later became Chateau Haut Brion. de Pontac was responsible for the birth of several of the best estates and terroir’s in Bordeaux. 

.

Chateau La Mission Haut Brion and its Bordeaux wine vineyards became famous when Arnaut de Lastonnac and the sister of Jean de Pontac were married. In 1607, the estate changed hands. It was inherited by Ms. Olive de Lestonnac.  Olive de Lestonnac eventually bequeathed the property to the Congregation of the Mission. This is where the Bordeaux wine estate earned its current moniker.  This gift was not popular with other members of the family. In 1664, Catherine de Mullet made the gift official. At that point in time, the Bordeaux estate of La Mission Haut Brion became the property of the Roman Catholic Church.

.

In 1698, a small chapel was built in the vineyards.  This chapel was known as Notre Dame de La Mission. 15 years later, in 1713, the official chateau was built on the property.  The estate remained the hands of the Roman Catholic Church until it was repossessed during the French revolution and later sold at a public auction. 

.

In 1815, Chateau La Mission Haut Brion became the property of its first American owner, the Chiapelle family. At the time, the family was already involved in the Bordeaux wine trade. In fact, they knew about the business as they had managed a myriad of different estates including Chateau Cos d’Estournel.  The Chiapelle’s left an important mark on the Bordeaux wine estate. This remains almost untouched today. They designed and built the famous gates that guard the historic Pessac Leognan property.

.

Interestingly, even though La Mission Haut Brion was selling its Bordeaux wine for as much, if not more than the Second Growths, the property was not included in the 1855 Classification.  Haut Brion was the only wine from Pessac Leognan included in the 1855 Classification. La Mission Haut Brion continued to change hands until it was finally sold to another American family, the Woltners.  Frederic Woltner purchased La Mission Haut Brion in 1919. Many people consider this the birth of the modern era for the property.

.

The Woltner’s remained the owners of La Mission until 1983 when the estate was purchased by Domaine Clarence Dillon, the owner of Haut Brion.  The new owners renovated the property starting with the vineyards and the chateau. Their next decision was to build to build a new vat house, which was completed in 1987. In an ever continuing effort to improve the property and wine making, a new bottling line was completed in 1996.  Extensive work was recently completed in the Grand Chai as well. The latest round of renovations was completed in 2007.

.

The  26 hectare vineyard is planted on deep gravely soil over clay and sand. With vines averaging 27 years of age, the vineyard is planted to 47% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42.7% Merlot and 10.3 Cabernet Franc with a vine density of  10,000 vines per hectare. The wine is vinified in large, 180 hectoliter, temperature controlled, stainless steel vats and aged in 100% new, French oak for an average of 22 months. Production averages between 6,000 and 7,000 cases per year.

.

La Mission Haut Brion produces a Bordeaux wine of intensity, richness, opulence and charm. The wine is full-bodied, concentrated and requires several years to develop. The perfume offers smoke, tobacco, earth, truffle, spice and cassis scents.  It’s a bigger and more tannic wine than Haut Brion. Depending on the vintage, it might not show the same level of elegance. Yet, in some years, La Mission Haut Brion produces a better wine than Haut Brion. Today, La Mission is at the op of list for Super Seconds. If a reclassification were done, this is one wine that would be promoted to First Growth status.

.

The property produces an outstanding second wine, La Chapelle La Mission Haut Brion. Starting with the 2006 vintage, the quality of this wine improved when fruit normally reserved for La Tour Haut Brion was merged into La Chapelle La Mission Haut Brion. The estate also produces one of the top wine white wines from Bordeaux, Laville  Haut Brion.  Although it must be said, as good as it is,  Laville Haut Brion lacks the complexity and depth found in Haut Brion Blanc. The estate changed the name of the white wine to Chateau La Mission Haut Brion Blanc in 2007. There is a new second wine for the white wine as well, La Clarte de Haut Brion Blanc, which is a blend of La Mission Haut Brion and Haut Brion white grapes.

.

Chateau La Mission Haut Brion as well as Chateau Haut Brion are currently managed by Jean-Philippe Delmas. Jean-Philippe is the third generation of Delmas to manage Haut Brion and the second to take care of La Mission Haut Brion, where he followed in the footsteps of his well-known father, Jean-Bernard Delmas.

 www.mission-haut-brion.com/

www.domaineclarencedillon.com/prehome/