Wine Advisor
La Mission Haut Brion 2011
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
The small production (4,150 cases) of 2011 La Mission-Haut-Brion displays the nobility and complexity of this great terroir. Burning embers, scorched earth, blueberry, black currant, licorice and spice aromas jump from the glass of this dense ruby/purple-colored wine. With full body (atypical for a 2011), but no hard edges, this opulent, multidimensional, fleshy, rich, stunningly long, well-balanced La Mission is another great achievement in what has been nearly a century of producing remarkable wines from this hallowed vineyard. The long 2011 should be reasonably mature in another 4-6 years, and last for two decades. It will always be a revelation in a vintage that is unlikely to receive a lot of exciting press. The final blend was 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, and 11% Cabernet Franc. Jean-Philippe Delmas continues to quietly and authoritatively turn out one great wine after another at La Mission-Haut-Brion and Haut-Brion.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The La Mission is a blend of 33.7% Merlot, 11.3% Cabernet Franc and 55% Cabernet Sauvignon. The nose takes time to coalesce: very classic with ripe blackberry and briary fruit, fine minerality, a hint of black olive and crushed stone. The palate is medium-bodied with tensile tannins. This is an edgy La Mission with crisp acidity, a silver citric thread, dark broody brambly fruit and an almost angular, but very fresh, focused finish. I like the classicism of the 2011. Excellent. Tasted April 2012.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
The production of the 2011 La Mission-Haut-Brion (55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot and 11% Cabernet Franc) was a tiny 4,100 cases, compared to 6,000 cases in 2009 and 5,100 cases in 2010. The 2011 is a big, sexy, smoky, classic La Mission displaying lots of road tar, graphite, barbecue, meats, mulberry, black currant and blueberry notes. It is full-bodied with sweet tannin as well as an expansive, fleshy style. The harvest was late in 2011 despite the fact that this micro-climate is one of the warmest and most precocious in all of Bordeaux since it is essentially in the city of Bordeaux. This brilliant wine, one of the vintage's superstars, should drink reasonably well in 3-4 years and keep for 25 or more. I can't say enough good things about the job Jean-Philippe Delmas has done after taking over for his well-known father at La Mission-Haut-Brion and Haut-Brion. As long-time readers know, I am an addict for both of these wines.
Reviewed by: Ian d'Agata
Good full ruby. Expressive aromas of raspberry, strawberry, Asian spices and minerals. Youthfully tight and dry, but already shows noteworthy focus and lift to the youthfully medicinal cherry and floral flavors. This could use a little more generosity on the long finish, but it's an outstanding wine of noteworthy purity.
Reviewed by: Ian d'Agata
(55% cabernet sauvignon, 34% merlot and 11% cabernet franc; 3.67 pH): Bright, dark ruby-red. Enticing aromas of strawberry, blackcurrant and white pepper, with a strong mineral overlay. Dense and rich but also juicy, with pure mineral and dark berry flavors and a delicately peppery element. The finish is pure and long. This La Mission seems almost too open today, but there's plenty of structure to support its fruit and acidity. Another classic vintage for this property.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 2011 La Mission Haut-Brion is well defined and very focused on the nose: blackberry, briary and graphite, quite mineral-driven with an impressive sense of energy. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, good tension, quite precise with attractive black pepper and graphite notes, poised and showing good breeding on the finish. This is excellent. Tasted blind at the annual 10-Year-On tasting.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 2011 La Mission Haut-Brion has a fragrant, perfumed, Margaux-like nose, beautifully defined and revealing hints of cassis and blueberry – a feminine, alluring, very pure bouquet designed to seduce, which it does. The palate is medium-bodied with fine, silky-smooth tannins and near-perfect acidity. The new oak comes on a little strong toward the finish, but it will fully integrate with time. A gorgeous wine in the context of the vintage.
About the Producer
25 hectares of red grape varieties, including Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, are planted in the traditional vineyard of the winery; the Werner family's vineyard also has 4 hectares of white grape varieties, including Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc, used for Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion Blanc at different times during the Werner family's reign And the production of the original Chateau Laville Haut-Brion Blanc (Chateau Laville Haut-Brion Blanc). The Werner family's original Chateau La Tour Haut-Brion ceased production after 2005, and the 5 hectares of vineyards it owns are mainly used for the blending of the second red wine of Chateau Meixun. In terms of wine production, the winery will set up screening stations on trucks in the vineyard to screen the manually picked grapes for the first time. Fermentation is then carried out in a stainless steel wine tank equipped with a computer-controlled system that monitors the homogenization and temperature of the wine after measuring the temperature of the pressed grape juice and residue. Clarified with fresh egg whites before bottling, but not filtered.
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