Chateau La Mission Rouge Haut Brion Pessac Leognan 2018 750ml

The 2018 La Mission Haut-Brion is a blend of 53.5% Merlot, 42.9% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 3.6% Cab Franc. Deep garnet-purple in colour, it emerges from the glass with a first wave of stewed black and red plums, mulberries, and black raspberries, followed by pronounced notions of warm cassis, clove oil, violets, and chocolate box, with hints of cast-iron pan, pencil lead, and forest floor emerging after a few minutes.

The medium to full-bodied palate sparkles with vitality, delivering layers of crimson and black fruits with earthy and mineral sparks, as well as a texture so satiny you have to remember to seek for it, before concluding with incredible vibrancy. This is really expressive and unique, but it feels like it is holding something back. It’s an impressive glass right now, but give it a solid 5 years in the bottle to allow for more nuances to emerge, and anticipate it to significantly reward those who can wait 12-15 years, when it should really start to shine.