A beautifully perfumed and refined second wine from La Mission Haut-Brion. Aromas of violets, raspberry, and blackcurrant lead into a silky, medium to full-bodied palate with almost invisible, seamless tannins. There’s great structure and elegance here, with creamy fruit, spice, and a long, juicy finish. Mostly Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, aged in 30% new oak.

Jamessuckling.com | JS 96
Published: Mar 29, 2023

A powerful 2020 for a second wine with blackberry, black olive and blueberry aromas and flavors. Blackcurrants as well. It’s full-bodied yet racy and structured with a long and intense finish. Give it three or four years to soften. Better after 2026.

The Wine Advocate | RP 93
Published: Apr 6, 2023
Drink: 2025-2045

A particularly successful effort, the 2020 La Chapelle de la Mission Haut-Brion opens in the glass with aromas of dark berries, cassis, burning embers and spices. Medium to full-bodied, velvety and concentrated, it's layered and integrated, with a fleshy core, powdery structuring tannins and good tension.

Decanter | D 91
Published: Dec 14, 2022
Drink: 2024-2034

Aromatically expressive, with redcurrant, red berry and soft floral flecks with soft cedar edges. Such high and piercing acidity, but then softens quite quickly, sharp then creamy, giving lots of life and then body. Still quite streamlined and focused, a lovely purity to the fruit with mineral-edged tannins giving that soft salinity and saltiness on the palate which also hints at wet stone. Feels nicely complete and accessible with touches of clove and cinnamon. I like the intensity but it's refined, giving a pleasing palate that's full of flavour. Does get a bit hot on the finish, making you question the alcohol. Minerality the final flavour.
Closure: Cork
Alcohol: 14.50%
Body: Medium
Oak: Oaked
Grapes:  55.3% Cabernet Sauvignon 44.7% Merlot

Jancisrobinson.com | JR 17.5
Published: Jan 24, 2024
Drink: 2027-2040

Tasted blind. Deep crimson. Scented and inviting. Black and dark-red fruits. A touch leafy on the palate – so elegant, with paper-fine tannins and a long, fresh finish

Mission-haut-brion.com

Produced in small quantities, this second wine is a gateway to the world of Château La Mission Haut-Brion. Its name is a nod to the chapel of La Mission Haut-Brion, built by Lazarist priests in 1698.

- 2020 - 

Tasting notes
Beautiful dark, garnet color.
The initial nose is impressive with red and black fruits. Upon swirling, notes of raspberry and blackcurrant dominate, underlined by a very nice oaky note. The attack on the palate is round and fleshy, attractive.
Then, the wine evolves on a more pronounced tannic structure but juicy and rich in fruity flavors.
The medium-long finish is very pleasant with aromas of freshly picked fruit and spice.
The Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignons respond to each other between the entry and the finish.

The weather
The 2019/2020 winter was mild and wet. Vegetation started very early (it was the earliest year since 1989). In spring, regular rainfall was favorable to mildew, so we redoubled our attention. Flowering, very early, proceeded normally. From mid-June until mid-August, an exceptionally hot and dry period set in, during which we noted three heatwaves. As a result, we reduced our interventions, particularly leaf removal, to preserve the integrity of the bunches and aromatic freshness. From August 11, regular rains allowed the grapes to perfect their ripeness. The white harvest was early and took place in very good conditions. Temperatures were above seasonal norms, perfect for completing the ripening of all the red grape varieties, which were brought into our vats and in very good sanitary conditions.

Harvest date
From September 7 to 29

Assembly
Merlot: 44.7%
Cabernet Sauvignon: 55.3%

New barrels
30.1%

Alcohol
14.3%