Château La Mission Haut-Brion 2022

Enchantingly floral, with depth, dark fruits, dried herbs, violets, sour cherries; dense, compact palate, very precise, clear and pure, delicate fruit, grandiose length and almost sharply spicy echoes on the finish. A stunningly beautiful La Mission Haut-Brion.

Wonderful aromatics on the nose - chocolate, tobacco, blackcurrants, figs and strawberries. Clean and crystalline, such a lovely texture to the wine - beautifully refined, the tannins super fine but coating the palate in a layer of chalky powder and leaving a fine mineral grip on the tongue. Well constructed, certainly not plush or heavy, this is straight and streamlined, svelte but with power running underneath and the muscles flexing towards the finish giving a flash of heat and grippy spice. There's tension but it comes across as more energetic than making the wine feel compact. I love the salty, crushed stone and graphite touch on the finish. Nothing is out of place. Very much like its Primeurs sample. 3.95pH. 62% new oak.

Showing blackcurrants, crushed stones and flint undertones, this is full-bodied and very tight with great length and precision, both refined and rather timid at this stage. The strong tannins come out at the end, muscular and beautifully formed, giving tension and power. This needs lots of time to soften. Best after 2030.

The 2022 La Mission Haut-Brion has a touch more reduction on the nose, a mélange of red and black fruit, cassis and light floral scents. Fine delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with finely chiselled tannins. Impressive tension and linearity, touches of black pepper and graphite furnish that quite classical finish. A fabulous wine but, as I wrote before, it must take the silver medal to the gaff on the other side of the road. Tasted blind at the Southwold tasting in London.

This incredible wine has truly blossomed since I tasted it in barrel, exceeding expectations. It starts with an inky, deep black and purple color. The fruits are just as dark and rich. They deliver endless waves of smoky black and dark red fruits that coat every part of your palate. The over 60-second finish is smooth, intense, and lengthy, with otherworldly concentration that still feels effortless to enjoy. The final note is rich, long, lively, and mouth-coating. This is a future legend in the making! The wine is a blend of 51.7% Cabernet Sauvignon, 43.2% Merlot, and 5.1% Cabernet Franc. Best enjoyed from 2030 to 2065.

Deep dark ruby in colour with an opaque core, purple reflections, and subtle brightening on the rim. A compact nose of dark fruits of the forest, black cherry, some cassis, candied orange zest and some nougat, with hints of sweet tobacco. The palate is full-bodied, elegant and finely structured, with pleasant ripe cherry fruit, ripe tannins, and minerality, already very well developed, could be enjoyed straight away, but will continue to improve, even if it is difficult to be patient. (01/2025, PM).

As for the Grand Vin, the 2022 Château La Mission Haut-Brion is pure perfection—seamless, pure, and layered—while still delivering incredible intensity and richness. Smoky red and black currants, leafy tobacco, scorched earth, and a hint of violets define this remarkable wine. It’s full-bodied on the palate, with a layered, multidimensional mouthfeel, velvety sweet tannins, moderate acidity, and a gorgeous finish. I love this sexy, opulent, straight-up heavenly wine today, and it will offer incredible pleasure at any point over the next 50+ years. Reminiscent of the 2009 and an undeniable candidate for wine of the vintage, the 2022 clocks in at a solid 14% alcohol with a lofty pH of 3.95.

Reserved and closed down right now, you can feel the muscularity on the opening beats but as it widens through the mid-palate a ton of spice and fragrant freshly cut herbs come crowding in, giving a light and finessed touch to the deep blueberry and plum fruits. Great quality, these wines have kept their typicity in the heat of the vintage.

Magnetic on the nose from the very first aromas, with spicy complexity, cheerful red fruit, and an intoxicating scent of sweet flowers. On the palate, it’s fresh, precise, vertical, with a cashmere-like texture and a sumptuous note of crunchy, deeply layered raspberry that keeps expressing itself: juicy, vibrant, full of energy. The finish, simply delicious, is smoky, chocolatey, never-ending. A wine that is already incredibly accessible.

Superb intensity on the bouquet, complex to boot, with many facets. It reveals notes of liquorice, violets, red and black berries, and even a touch of garrigue. On the palate, the wine shows exceptional finesse. Deep and elegant, it also displays perfectly controlled power—imposing yet composed—which goes hand in hand with the structuring effect of the present tension. A tonic, sapid, mouthwatering and engaging wine! A magnificent achievement culminating in an interminable finish. I had not tasted it this well en primeur. Mea culpa.

The nose is elegant, racy and sincere, with depth, a fine textured side that is delicately peppery and sappy at once, with elegant concentration and, dare I say, a sense of lightness. It reveals notes of concentrated black plum, violet and, more lightly, crushed strawberry, joined by touches of camphor, spices and anise, as well as discreet hints of cacao husk, an almost discreet roasted-elegant edge, with a subtle hint of tobacco, iodized bass notes and an imperceptible smoky touch. The palate is beautifully guided—supple, fresh, airy—with richness, a lovely velvety texture and balance. It shows notes of graphene, cacao and, more lightly, juicy/pulpy blackberry, together with touches of cornflower, fairly ripe red berries, as well as hints of toast, roasting, a sappy note and a subtle hint of toasted hazelnut. The tannins are flavorful, sappy and gourmand. Cocoa and roast in the background. Good length. A wine offering freshness, elegant darkness and depth. Lovely balance and an airy side despite the richness and concentration. A fruit bomb.

Dark, intense, purple color. Very aromatic nose—refined, fruity, subtle, floral, and delicately smoky. Broad on the attack, broad mid-palate, highly aromatic, rich, powerful and energetic; the wine carries far on the finish, complex and flavorful. Then come the tannic touches that weave the whole together. Blend: 51.7% Cabernet Sauvignon, 43.2% Merlot, 5.1% Cabernet Franc. Alcohol: 14.2% - pH: 3.9 (above average). IPT: 75. Yield: 28 hl/ha.

95-97 Barrel sample. The wine is so balanced with acidity and ripe spice. It has a generous character, offering softness within firm tannins plus beautiful blackberry fruits and balanced acidity. The wine is set for the long-term.