Château La Mission Haut-Brion 2019

A rare white Grand Cru Classé de Graves from a sunny and fresh vintage

The estate
A neighbor of the illustrious Château Haut-Brion, Château La Mission Haut-Brion has served for centuries as one of the most iconic references of Bordeaux. Founded in the 16th century by the Lestonnac family, the property was then managed by the Lazarist priests. Now belonging to the Clarence Dillon estates and Prince Robert of Luxembourg, Château La Mission Haut-Brion continues to shine as one the greatest châteaux in the world.

The vineyard
Located in the municipalities of Talence and Pessac, Château la Mission Haut-Brion is classified under the Pessac-Léognan appellation. The Château La Mission Haut-Brion vineyard covers 29 hectares of vines, 25 of which are dedicated to red grape varieties and 4 to white grape varieties. The vineyards of Château de La Mission Haut-Brion are planted in beautiful gravelly soils resting upon a subsoil of clay, sand, limestone and faluns (a shelly limestone).

The vintage
Combining freshness and significant heat, 2019 will be remembered for its major climatic contrasts. The summer brought several heatwaves which did not, however, lead to water stress in the vines or blockage of the ripening process. Rainy days in September made it possible for the grapes to become perfectly ripe in time for the harvest. The harvest began on August 29 for the whites and on September 10 for the reds.

The blend
Sauvignon blanc (30,1%), sémillon (69,9%).

The tasting
Tasted en primeur, the Château La Mission Haut-Brion white 2019 displays a pale yellow colour with shimmering green reflections. The first nose highlights the ripness of the fruit. Meanwhile, aeration reveals the personality of semillon through lime notes. From the attack on the palate, this wine floods the palate with a full-bodied and delicious texture. The palate is quite generous, while also offering a discreet and lively acidity, which brings a nice depth to this wine. The lingering finish is full of energy. Reminiscent of the sunny 2015 vintage, 2019 is undoubtedly in line with the greatest vintages at Château La Mission Haut-Brion. This rare and exceptional white wine, sought after by wine lovers around the world and produced in very limited quantities, reflects the essence of the property, transcribing the true nature of Semillon in a wine that will continue to evolve in the bottle for years to come.