Château La Mission Haut Brion 2011

Tim Atkin

VertdeVin

The nose is elegant, delicate and offers a certain little excellence in power, depth as well as a nice grain. The wine should be decanted. There are notes of blackberry, almost dried cassis and more slightly violet associated with bergamot, cherry / morello cherry as well as hints of pepper, saffron, nutmeg and discreet hints of iodized. The palate is nicely structured, balanced, racy and offers minerality, delicacy, a nice definition, a nice tartness, a restrained power, excellence, a nice freshness as well as a nice tangy frame. On the palate this wine expresses notes of pulpy / juicy raspberry, pulpy / juicy cassis and fleshy cherry associated with violet, lily, nutmeg, hints of toasted almond, cardamom, fine hints of chocolate as well as discreet hints of saffron, cloves and racy / saline minerality. Presence of crushed / powdery almond at the end of the mouth / persistence. A small chewiness. Presence of fine crushed almond and crushed hazelnut on the finish / persistence.

James Suckling

A wine with pretty dark-chocolate, berry and currant character. Stones, too. Full body, chewy but polished tannins and a firm finish. Already showing the sea shell and iodine. Needs at least four or five years to soften. Reminds me of the excellent 1978.

Robert Parker Wine Advocate

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.