Château La Mission Haut-Brion

Pessac-Léognan

1999

Blend

52% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Cabernet Franc

Wine designation

Château La Mission Haut Brion, Red, 1999
Category: Pessac-Léognan, Grand Cru Classé de Graves, Bordeaux

Food pairing

Enjoy with roasted squab with shallots, veal chop with pan-fried chanterelle mushrooms.

Château La Mission Haut-Brion

Pessac-Léognan

1999

Tasting notes

The deep ruby red color remains young and lively. The ever so typical aromas of the wine invade the nose and the mouth. Scents of burnt wood, toasted bread, and a light whiff of leather lead up to an awareness of an odor of cocoa powder bursting in at the finish. The volume in the mouth is balanced and harmonious. The finale is soft and long evolving towards a great complexity. It is a great wine in a classic year.

Vineyard

Vineyard size: 25.6 hectares for red
Soil composition: Gravel based with a subsoil composed of clay, sand and limestone.

Winemaking

Fermentation container: Stainless steel tanks with temperature control.
Maceration technique: Blending takes place following the malolactic fermentation prior to the barrel maturation.
Aging: Oak barrels
18 to 22 months 63% new oak barrels.
Type of oak: French
Bottles produced: 77 916
Winemaker: Jean-Bernard Delmas

Heritage in the vineyard

Domaine

Originally part of a larger estate belonging to Arnaud de Lestonnac, before being acquired by Pères Lazaristes in 1540, the congregation of priests would develop the vineyards significantly. The name « La Mission » was added during the time the Lazarists priests operated the estate. Confiscated by the state during the French Revolution before being purchased in 1821 by Martial-Victor Vaillant. The estate was purchased by Domaine Clarence Dillon in 1983, managed alongside Château Haut-Brion.

Green in the vineyard

Environmental practices

Sustainable agriculturally minded with the objective being to reduce the amount of phytosanitary treatments per season. The soil structure is maintained to improve the conditions for active microbial life.