La Mission Haut-Brion is one of the top wine estates in the Pessac-Leognan appellation, which extends to the southern suburbs of Bordeaux. The chateau has been owned by the Dillon family since 1983.
In terms of history and terroir, La Mission Haut-Brion is closely linked to Cháteau Haut-Brion. Separated only by the road that leads from Pessac to Talence, the two estates stand opposite each other like twins, very close and yet so different."
Both estates share a large terrace with excellent, gravelly soils up to three metres deep, which are referred to in old maps and documents as "Haut-Brion". The subsoil consists of clay, sand, limestone and shell limestone.
The vineyard covers an area of 29 hectares. Almost 25 hectares are planted with Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. The rest is divided between Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc.
After hand-picking and careful further selection, fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks. After around two weeks, the colour, tannins and main aromas have developed their full potential. „This is the moment of truth, because each tank contains a wine with its very own personality.“ This is followed by blending.
For the assemblage, the team led by Jean-Philippe Delmas (Managing Director), Jean-Philippe Masclef (Technical Director) and Florance Forgas (Cellar Master) blind-taste many of the drafts in a first round. A total of 30 to 40 blends are evaluated and discussed until the final wine is created.
The wines selected for the assemblage mature for 18 to 20 months in barriques, with the proportion of new barrels being adjusted for each vintage.
© Images: Château La Mission Haut-Brion
