Chateau La Mission Haut Brion - Pessac-Léognan 2011

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

91 / 100

byIan D'Agatathe8/31/2014

Good full ruby.  Expressive aromas of raspberry, strawberry, Asian spices and minerals.  Youthfully tight and dry, but already shows noteworthy focus and lift to the youthfully medicinal cherry and floral flavors.  This could use a little more generosity on the long finish, but it's an outstanding wine of noteworthy purity.(91(+?) points)

Wine Advocate

95 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe5/2/2014

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.

Jean-Philippe Delmas continues to quietly and authoritatively turn out one great wine after another at La Mission-Haut-Brion and Haut-Brion.

Jamessuckling.com

93 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe2/19/2014

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. Try in 2019.      

Wine Spectator

93 / 100

byJames Molesworththe2/10/2014

This sports a pleasantly grippy edge of briar and cassis bush notes, with a densely layered core of dark fig, blackberry and black currant fruit that should move to the fore soon enough. The long, mesquite-tinged finish has solid grip. Best from 2016 through 2030.

La Revue du Vin de France

16-17 / 20

the5/31/2012

Jean-Philippe Masclef l'annonce sans détour: "Nous avons vu les cabernets (franc et sauvignon) souffrir comme rarement au printemps, avec des grillures rédhibitoires sur les baies, entraînant des nécroses dans la grappe et des baies qui sont restées vertes! La réussite s'est faite grâce au tri optique et, de façon étonnante, ce sont les parcelles de cabernet les moins exposées au soleil qui ont donné les meilleurs résultats". Il y a donc eu une sélection plus sévère sur le grand vin. La finesse prévaut sur la puissance, tout en gardant une réelle intensité aromatique.

Le Point

16,5 / 20

byJacques Dupontthe5/17/2012

Fruits noirs, mûre, bouche tendue, assez fraîche, vive, nerveuse, tanins accrocheurs, frais, élégant, serré en finale. O= 2017 G= 15 ans

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

91-94 / 100

byIan D'Agatathe5/12/2012

(55% cabernet sauvignon, 34% merlot and 11% cabernet franc; 3.67 pH): Bright, dark ruby-red. Enticing aromas of strawberry, blackcurrant and white pepper, with a strong mineral overlay. Dense and rich but also juicy, with pure mineral and dark berry flavors and a delicately peppery element. The finish is pure and long. This La Mission seems almost too open today, but there's plenty of structure to support its fruit and acidity. Another classic vintage for this property.

Decanter.com

17,5 / 20

the4/30/2012

Earthy, even smoky nose, lots of grippy vigour now, richness and depth to come through. Drink 2018-2035.

Wine Advocate

93-95 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe4/30/2012

The production of the 2011 La Mission-Haut-Brion (55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot and 11% Cabernet Franc) was a tiny 4,100 cases, compared to 6,000 cases in 2009 and 5,100 cases in 2010. The 2011 is a big, sexy, smoky, classic La Mission displaying lots of road tar, graphite, barbecue, meats, mulberry, black currant and blueberry notes. It is full-bodied with sweet tannin as well as an expansive, fleshy style. The harvest was late in 2011 despite the fact that this micro-climate is one of the warmest and most precocious in all of Bordeaux since it is essentially in the city of Bordeaux. This brilliant wine, one of the vintage-s superstars, should drink reasonably well in 3-4 years and keep for 25 or more. I can-t say enough good things about the job Jean-Philippe Delmas has done after taking over for his well-known father at La Mission-Haut-Brion and Haut-Brion. As long-time readers know, I am an addict for both of these wines.

TAST

18,5-19 / 20

by Bettane & Desseauvethe4/30/2012

Texture particulièrement complète et accomplie pour le millésime, parfaite définition du tanin, grande suite en bouche, vin magnifique d'élégance et de classicisme. Chapelle, le second vin a de la rondeur et du charme mais son rapport qualité-prix ne sera sans doute pas idéal. Clarté en blanc le surpasse largement en intérêt.

Wein Wisser

18 / 20

byRené Gabrielthe4/30/2012

55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Franc. Sattes Purpur-Granat, dicht in der Mitte, lila Schimmer aussen. Verhaltenes Bouquet, Teernoten, Laktritze, schwarze Trüffel, wenig Süsse, im zweiten Ansatz Brazil-Tabak und doch noch eine feine Süsse zeigend mit etwas Cassisnoten im Innern. Wirkt fleischig mit einer gesunden Cabernet-Arroganz, viel Baumnussschalen, mehliges Extrakt, guter Rückhalt und eine verlangende Adstringenz. 2018-2045

The Wine Cellar Insider

93-95 / 100

byJeff Levethe4/27/2012

Produced from a blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33.7% Merlot and 11.3% Cabernet Franc, the wine reached 13.5% Alcohol - Deep ruby in color, the wine offers tobacco, earth, smoke, cassis and coffee with ripe tannins and a classic, bright, fresh and pure crème de cassis finish. This classic styled Pessac Leognan lacks the concentration of the more recent 2009 and 2010 vintages. 93-95 Pts

Wine Advocate

93-95 / 100

byNeal Martinthe4/27/2012

The La Mission is a blend of 33.7% Merlot, 11.3% Cabernet Franc and 55% Cabernet Sauvignon. The nose takes time to coalesce: very classic with ripe blackberry and briary fruit, fine minerality, a hint of black olive and crushed stone. The palate is medium-bodied with tensile tannins. This is an edgy La Mission with crisp acidity, a silver citric thread, dark broody brambly fruit and an almost angular, but very fresh, focused finish. I like the classicism of the 2011. Excellent. Tasted April 2012.

Jancis Robinson

17,5 / 20

byJulia Harding MWthe4/20/2012

Drink 2021-2035
33.7% Merlot, 11.3% Cabernet Franc, 55% Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep dark crimson and elderberry core. Initially a little dusty on the nose, a touch of vanilla. Quite reticent but opens up to spicy dark cherry. Lovely enveloping texture, deep and smooth, so fine you can't feel any grain. Some of that smoky warm brick. Rich and open-armed. (JH) 13.5%

Asian Palate

93-96 / 100

byJeannie Cho Lee MWthe4/20/2012

Tasted alongside Haut Brion, La Mission stole the stage with its exuberance and expressiveness. The aromatics are complex and enticing with cedar, spices and black tea notes. The wine has cashmere-like tannins and fine texture. All of its elements are finely knit, gorgeously layered and built for long-term ageing. This excellent wine is among my favourites from this challenging vintage.

Wine Spectator

93-96 / 100

byJames Molesworththe4/10/2012

Tightly wound, with a good chalky vibrancy and taut red currant, damson plum and bitter cherry notes that show ample length. Tasted non-blind.—J.M.

Wine Enthusiast

93-95 / 100

byRoger Vossthe4/5/2012

An impressive wood- and tannin-laden wine, with intense, solid fruit. It’s powerful, very dry and complex. —R.V

Jamessuckling.com

94-95 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe4/1/2012

What a beautiful nose of Cabernet Sauvignon with currants, berries and hints of dark chocolate. Full and super silky with fine tannins and a very firm and long finish. Very long.