La Mission Haut Brion 1983 Graves Trophy Bordeaux Wine Review

The property was originally purchased in 1533 by came into Jean de Pontac (who also owned Chateau Haut Brion). In 1607, it was inherited by Ms. Olive de Lestonnac, who bequeathed the property to the Congregation of the Mission. At that point in time, La Mission Haut Brion became the property of the Roman Catholic Church. The estate remained in the hands of the Roman Catholic Church until it was repossessed during the French revolution and later sold at a public auction.

In 1815, the Chateau was purchased by the Chiapelle family. The winery changed hands a few more time until 1919, when Frederic Woltner purchased it. The Woltner family remained the owners of La Mission Haut Brion until 1983 when the estate was purchased by Domaine Clarence Dillon. Once Clarence Dillon established control, they renovated the entire property starting with replanting the vineyards.

The winery has 27 hectares planted for red wine grapes and 3.7 hectares reserved for white wine grape varieties. The vineyard for red wine grapes is planted to 45.8% Cabernet Sauvignon, 43.8% Merlot, and 10.4% Cabernet Franc. There has been an increase in Merlot planted over the years.

The vineyard has a terroir of deep gravel over clay, sand, and chalk in the topsoil. Underneath, you find more gravel, which is less refined, along with clay and sand. The vineyard is well placed on 2 ridges of gravel hills that reach up to 25 meters in elevation at its highest point. The vineyard is perfectly situated between 2 streams, Ars and Peugue, which help provide moisture in hot, dry vintages. The vines are on average 27 years of age. Interesting note is that while most of the vines used by Chateau Haut Brion are in Pessac Leognan, the majority of the vines for La Mission Haut Brion are in Talence.

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. The annual production of La Mission Haut Brion averages between 6,000 and 7,000 cases per year. The blending for Chateau La Mission Haut Brion takes place shortly after malolactic fermentation is finished. The chateau believes it is better to blend the wines before the influence of the wood begins to be felt in the wine.

La Mission Haut Brion wines are intense, rich, opulent and charming with smoke, tobacco, earth, truffle, spice, and cassis aromas. It is generally more tannic wine than Haut Brion and not as elegant.

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 the Delmas family to manage Haut Brion and the second to take care of La Mission Haut Brion.

For more information about the winery, please visit their website at https://www.mission-haut-brion.com/en/